Lives of the First World War
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The Day Sussex Died - The Dead, Missing, and Wounded
The Day Sussex Died - The Dead, Missing, and Wounded
The 11th, 12th and 13th Battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment, consisting of approximately 4,500 men, were known colloquially as “Lowther’s Lambs”. This was a reference to local MP Claude Lowther, who had taken personal responsibility for raising the battalions. The 12th and 13th Battalions, supported by the 11th, were sacrificed in a diversionary raid on the Boar’s Head salient at Richebourg on 30th June 1916 in an attempt to draw German attention away from the main Somme battle area further south. The Battle at Boar’s Head lasted less than five hours, but the Southdowns Brigade lost 17 officers and 349 other ranks. Over 1,000 men were wounded or taken prisoner, and the 13th Battalion was all but wiped out. June 30th 1916 was subsequently known as “The Day Sussex Died”. This community remembers the lives of those men of the South Downs Battalions who died, or were reported as missing, wounded, or taken prisoner on that day. More information about the battle is available at http://www.royalsussex.org.uk/richebourg.htm . There is also an excellent book called "The Day Sussex Died", by the late John A Baines, which has been used as a major source of information about the men in this community. ( I've also set up separate communities for each of the 3 battalions, which include those who served and survived, as well as those who were killed or wounded ... 11th Battalion: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/community/2855 ... 12th Battalion: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/community/2856 ... 13th Battalion: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/community/2857 )
Created by: , Yvonne27542
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Born 1897
Died 1916
British Army 3547 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 13th
More about Edward Albert Clout -
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British Army 1291 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army 235145 Private Labour Corps
More about Walter Clarke -
British Army 2390 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army 65825 Private North Staffordshire Regiment
More about Arthur R Goble -
British Army SD/29 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army G/6366 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about George Barton -
Born 1889
Died 1916
British Army SD/1659 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Frank Blaker -
Born 1893
Died 1916
British Army SD/2143 Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment
More about George Edmund Baines -
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Died 1916
British Army 8038 Private Army Cyclist Corps
British Army SD/3883 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 11th Battalion
More about William Henry Amos -
Born 1896
Died 1916
British Army SD/2078 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about William Francis Bedding -
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British Army SD/1635 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 3rd Battalion
More about Albert J Cushman -
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Born 1893
Died 1916
British Army SD/4163 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
British Army SD/4163 Lance Serjeant Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
More about William James Blackford -
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British Army SD/4013 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
More about Frederick Walter Dann -
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British Army SD/3057 Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion
British Army SD/3057 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
British Army L/12176 Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Edgar Thomas Barnes -
Born 1892
Died 1916
British Army SD/2252 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 12th Battalion
More about Arthur Ernest Bennett -