June 30th 1916
On June 30th 1916, in a diversionary attack to draw the enemy away from the Battle of the Somme offensive the next day, 366 men of the Royal Sussex Regiment were killed in a matter of hours on the Western Front in France. Since that time it has been remembered as ‘The Day Sussex Died’; the most bloody battle in our country’s history.
The Battle of Boar’s Head
This year on the 100th anniversary of The Battle of Boar’s Head, ceremonies were held all over the country, and church bells rung to mark this solemn occasion. In Brighton at the War Memorial in the Old Steine, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mo Marsh was joined by local veterans, councillors and descendants of some of the families who lost relatives in the battle, to pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice made by those men.
Kohima Epitaph
At the close of the ceremony, Dudley Button, President of the Brighton and Hove city branch of the Royal British Legion, recited the Kohima Epitaph:
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow we gave our today
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I was one of those relatives who attended this service to remember my Grandfather George Lade who was seriously injured at Boar’s Head. Understandably a tremendous amount of media coverage is being given to the Battle of the Somme anniversary so I would also like to send special thanks to Andy Maxted and Amanda Scales for organising the event held at Brighton Museum which recognised the 100th anniversary of this particular battle when so many families in Sussex lost loved ones.
My grandfather was seriously wounded at this battle and died of his wounds on the 14th July 1916. His name is on the memorial there, at St Peter’s Church and also in the old redundant church in Ship Street along with other Brightonian soldiers. I wish I had known about this service but I now live in Surrey and only travel back to see family occasionally. As an old soldier myself and veteran of service overseas I salute those brave men.
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