William Maitland Julius Hannah
by B. van Cleve
William Maitland Julius Hannah was born in Brighton to Reverend John Julius Hannah (1844 – 1931) and his wife Annie Barbara Thomson (1857 – 1907). He had four siblings. He joined the Leicestershire Regiment on 25/03/1896, was promoted to Lieutenant on 18/08/1898 and died in action on 21/10/1899.
The first memorial plaque for William Maitland Julius Hannah in St. Peter’s Church was unveiled in 1901 in the presence of the Archdeacon of Chichester and the Chairman of the Committee of Subscribers, Colonel Hugh J. Verrall.
It was erected in honour of Lieutenant W. M. J. Hannah, the son of John Julius Hannah, Vicar of Brighton. W. M. J. Hannah died in the first days of the second Boer war in South Africa near Dundee on the 21/10/1899, when he was only 23 years old. The second Boer war lasted from the 11th of October 1899 to the 31st of May 1902.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF WILLIAM MAITLAND JULIUS HANNAH, LIEUT LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT KILLED IN ACTION WHILE GALLANTLY FIGHTING FOR HIS COUNTRY NEAR GLENCOE SOUTH AFRICA IN THE BOER WAR 1899. HIS SORROWING FRIENDS IN BRIGHTON HAVE BUILT THIS PILLAR BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION.
The text of the inscription on the second memorial plaque for William Maitland Julius Hannah is in Latin.
IN MEM: FILII DILECTISSIMI W.M.J.HANNAH PRO PATRIA MORTUI PARENTES USQUE MAER ENTES DEDICANT 1907.
The English translation would read:
In memory of the dearly beloved son W.M.J. Hannah, who died for his country. His ever-grieving parents dedicate this 1907.
This memorial plaque was unveiled in 1907 and is of a much more private nature, since the text mainly expresses the grief of his parents over the untimely death of their son.
Eliza G. Cooke
Eliza Georgianna Cooke is commemorated in a memorial plaque in St. Peter's Church Brighton. She was the wife of the curate Thomas Cooke.
Benedict George Hoskyns
Benedict George Hoskyns was Vicar of St. Peter's Church, Brighton, and then became Archdeacon of Hastings and later of Chichester.
John Leonhard Brigden
John Leonhard Brigden was a coach builder and he was four times mayor of Brighton. He is buried in the St. Nicholas of Myra Churchyard.
John Muzzall Newnham
John Muzzall Newnham was churchwarden and chairman of the guardians of the poor. He died in 1892 at the age of 63.
Arthur Blackman
Arthur Blackman was headmaster of the Central Schools, Brighton, for 28 years, and member of the Parish Church Choir for 20 years.
George Attree and Ernest Charles Attree
Two memorial plaques, the first for the churchwarden George Attree, the second for his 24 year old son Ernest Charles Attree.
Charles Campion
Memorial plaque for Lieutenant Charles Campion, who died at Vlakfontein, S. Africa. He was the son of Colonel William Henry Campion.
Charles Gervaise Boxall
Charles Gervaise Boxall was the grandson of William Boxall, who is also commemorated in a memorial plaque in St. Peter's Church.
James Ross Gwatkin
This memorial plaque in St. Peter's Church Brighton commemorates James Ross Gwatkin, who served as a churchwarden for 29 years.
William Boxall
William Boxall D.L. was present as High Constable of Brighton when the foundation stone of St. Peter's Church was laid.
John Hannah
John Hannah was Vicar of St. Peter's Church, Brighton (1870 - 1887), and Archdeacon of Lewes (1876 - 1888).
Richard Durnford
Memorial Plaque in Latin with English translation for Richard Durnford, born in Berkshire, Bishop of Chichester.
War Memorial Plaques
There are four War Memorial Plaques in St. Peter's Church. One for victims of the Second Boer War and three for victims of the Great War.
Commemoration of Construction Milestones
St. Peter's Church underwent several modifications and additions. Some of the construction milestones are commemorated by memorial plaques.
Floor Plan for Memorial Plaques
This floor plan indicates only the position of memorial plaques for individuals, and only if they are to be found inside the church building.
William Robinson
William Robinson had been a verger to St. Nicholas Church and to St. Peter's Church Brighton. He died at the age of 46.
Restoring Damaged Text – The C.G. Boxall Memorial
The memorial plaque for C. G. Boxall has suffered severe damage over time. After painstaking detective work the text could be recovered.
‘This project is kindly funded by Historic England as part of the Everyday Heritage - Working Class Histories. We are grateful to them for this funding.’