Lives of the First World War
Discover, explore and remember millions of personal stories from the First World War
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
-
Born 1896
Died 1917
British Army SD/942 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Edward A Hill -
-
Born 1896
Died 1916
British Army SD/1598 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Walter Ernest Hubbard -
-
-
-
British Army 1251 Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army P/9318 Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 Military Foot Police
British Army 614057 Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 Royal Engineers
More about James Balcombe -
British Army 1939 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army 48638 Private Welsh Regiment
More about George W Filsell -
Died 1917
British Army G/9002 Acting Corporal Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army G/9002 Lance Serjeant Royal Sussex Regiment 12th Battalion
More about Thomas Harold Best -
Died 1916
British Army SD/2879 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Frederick Catton -
Died 1917
British Army Temporary Captain Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army Temporary Captain Royal Flying Corps
Air Force (RAF/RFC) Captain Royal Flying Corps and 12th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Clarence Rupert Cox -
-
-
Died 1916
British Army SD/4975 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Ernest Leonard Mepham -
British Army SD/1981 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army G/6672 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about Alfred P Owen -
British Army SD/5183 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
More about William Ernest Linfield -
British Army SD/2138 Private Royal Sussex Regiment
British Army 246737 Private Royal Air Force
More about Allen A T Parker -
Born 1883
Died 1916
British Army SD/1427 Private Royal Sussex Regiment 12th Bn.
More about David Parsons -
-