Royal Sussex Regiment - 12th (2nd South Downs) Battalion

Royal Sussex Regiment - 12th (2nd South Downs) Battalion

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 men who served with the 12th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment, whether they took part in the battle at Boar's Head or not, and includes all those who died, were wounded, or somehow survived relatively unscathed.

Created by: , Yvonne27542

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  • British Army SD/4869 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • British Army SD/1418 Warrant Officer Class 2 Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Born 1897

    Died 1916

    British Army SD/1913 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

    British Army SD/1913 Lance Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment 12th Battalion

    British Army 1913 Lance Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment 12th Battalion

  • Profile picture for George Shore

    Born 1892

    Died 1916

    British Army SD/3022 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • British Army SD/3025 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Died 1916

    British Army SD/4853 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • British Army 1469 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

    British Army 155354 Private Labour Corps

  • British Army SD/1550 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Profile picture for Edwin Benjamin Phipps

    Born 1897

    Died 1916

    British Army SD/1434 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • British Army SD/4234 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • British Army 10372 Private Wiltshire Regiment

    British Army Second Lieutenant Royal Sussex Regiment

    British Army Captain Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Profile picture for William Frederick Smith

    Born 1880

    Died 1916

    British Army SD/1203 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Born 1893

    Died 1916

    British Army Second Lieutenant Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Born 1885

    Died 1916

    British Army SD/3040 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 12th Battalion

  • British Army SD/1313 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • British Army 1595 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

    British Army 60062 Private Royal Scots

    British Army GS/91101 Private Royal Fusiliers

  • British Army 1696 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

    British Army G/58648 Private Middlesex Regiment

  • Profile picture for Arthur Edgar Virgo

    Died 1916

    British Army SD/1623 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

  • British Army 1385 Private Royal Sussex Regiment

    British Army 86337 Private Northumberland Fusiliers

  • Profile picture for Cyril Henry

    Born 1895

    Died 1918

    British Army SD/1359 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 3rd Battalion

    British Army SD/1359 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 11th Battalion