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
Born 1883
Died 1916
British Army SD/1263 Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army SD/1263 Lance Serjeant Royal Sussex Regiment 12th (2nd South Downs) Battalion
Born 1893
Died 1916
British Army SD/3313 Lance Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
British Army SD/3313 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
Born 1881
Died 1916
British Army SD/1591 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 12th (2nd South Downs) Battalion
Born 1880
Died 1917
British Army SD/2388 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army G/6389 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
Died 1916
British Army SD/657 Acting Serjeant Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
British Army 657 Royal Sussex Regiment 11th Battalion
British Army SD/657 Serjeant Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion
Born 1880
Died 1916
British Army SD/3090 Serjeant Royal Sussex Regiment
Born 1879
Died 1916
British Army SD/2865 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 13th Battalion