At the beginning of the
First World War Reginald Tite was living with
his older brother, Joseph, and the rest of his family at Church Lane,
East Grinstead. Joseph joined the army soon after war was declared
but Reginald remained a civilian until October 1915. Reginald, like
many young men, was appalled by the German authorities decision to
shoot Edith Cavell for spying. Ten days after the execution of Edith
Cavell, Reginald Tite joined the 13th Battalion of the Royal Sussex
Regiment.
Reginald Tite was quickly sent to France and during the next 12 months
he took part in several attacks on the German lines. During the summer
of 1916, Tite took part in the offensive at the Somme. By October
the British had lost over 400,000 men at the
Somme. Reginald Tite survived these repeated attacks on the German
lines but the loss of so many of his friends caused him a great deal
of mental anquish. On 21st October 1916, Private Reginald Tite had
been in a front-line trench for 16 days. Normally, men only served
for eight days in the front-line, but when men were in short-supply,
soldiers had to stay for much longer.
On 21st
October the men of the 13th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment
were told they were to launch another attack on the German trenches.
When the soldiers were given their orders to leave the trench, Tite
refused to go. Tite, who was 27 years of age, was arrested and charged
with cowardice. He was found guilty and executed on 25th November
1916. Soon afterwards, Reginald Tite's brother, Joseph, was killed
at Salonika. Reginald's two cousins, who joined with him in October
1915, also failed to survive the war.
Tom
Chucki and Will Moore (Sackville School)
Available
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