The Battle of the Boar's Head was an attack on 30 June 1916 at Richebourg-l'Avoué in France, during the First World War.
Tim Loughton MP and I joined the mayor, alongside more recent veterans and the county history group, in Beach Park to remember the battle which lasted less than five hours but left such a lasting legacy.
In such a short time, the three Southdowns’ battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment lost 17 officers and 349 men killed, including 12 sets of brothers, three from one family. Many others suffered greatly. Another 1,000 men were wounded or taken prisoner.
Tragically, the Royal Sussex Regiment was made up of locals, recruited during Lord Kitchener's famous drive for volunteers 'Your Country Needs You'.
Almost 110 years later, the battle continues to be remembered as "The Day Sussex Died" - the worst tragedy felt during the Great War for the people of Worthing, Arun and Sussex.
As West Sussex continues to flourish, may we continue to remember the sacrifice of those who gave so much.
