The Boar's Head - 30th June 1916 - The Wounded Officers Letter – “The Men Were Magnificent”

This is another report in the Eastbourne Gazette on 19th July 1916. No name is given by the wounded officer, but his letter confirms the other reports without overemphasising the carnage of the attack.

The Wounded Officers Letter – “The Men Were Magnificent”

No warmer tribute to the splendid work of “Lowther’s Lambs” in the recent operation on the Western Front could be given than contained in a private letter by a wounded officer, who says:-

“The men were magnificent; there is no doubt about that. If the men in the rest of Kitchener’s Army are anything like the ‘Southdowns’ nothing will stop us now that we have made the right start.

Our divisional General said only a few days before the beginning of this great push, “You men (meaning the Southdowns) do not require leading, we know their reputation.” And he was right. When their officers and men fell on the survivors went, right through the hell of fire. ‘My Company (‘A’ Company of the 13th Royal Sussex) went 150 to 200 yards in the face of it with never a falter. It was a superb test.

The men were absolutely wonderful. Their training had fitted them for what they had to go through, and the pity of it is that so many had to fall to accomplish what they did.
We had not counted on the enemy being so prepared for our reception with heavy guns and machine guns. You can imagine what we had to go through.

“Corporal Parsons, an Eastbourne man who is missing, showed indomitable pluck , and all through the ‘Southdowns’ a similar spirit was apparent. No regular soldiers could have been finer.

Sergeant Baker, an old regular army man, is attached to the “Southdowns”. When his officer was knocked over he led the men on to the second line of German trenches. I heard him shouting, “Come on boys, here are the Huns!” This was followed by cries of ‘Kamarade’ from the German soldiers. But the blood of the ‘Southdowns’ was up, for the enemy had been bombing them only a few minutes before. Sergeant Baker showed a splendid example both to the N.C.O’s and men.”

“I had a narrow escape in this attack. I was wearing a Dayfield body shield and a bullet struck me just below the shoulder blade and about an inch below the top of the shield. It did not penetrate the shield but turned upwards and gouged its way out through the fleshy part of the shoulder."

"An amusing incident of the attack was recalled a few days ago when I visited a wounded sergeant of my company who is now in hospital. I had taken a little German prisoner who insisted upon following closely upon my heels. The sergeant recalling the fact said, ‘I could not help laughing when I saw that little German chap following you about the trenches like a lap-dog.’

I got rather tired of him following me about. There were a lot of rifles lying about and I did not know when this fact might occur to him. Finally, I showed him my revolver and pointed to our trenches in the distance, and he very soon took his departure there.

The Germans were more than willing to surrender when we got close to them, but they were throwing things at us when we did get close?”

Corporal Percy Parsons metioned above, of the ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion had dodged a sick parade to ensure his part in the attack, died on the German wire. He was 37 and was married to Susanna Parsons, of 20, Lower Rd., Gore Park, Eastbourne. He is buried in CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ.

The Boar's Head - 30th June 1916 - How The South Downs Fought - Eastbourne Hero

Reports continued to filter into the newspaper about the fighting on 30th June 1916. The Eastbourne Gazette on 26th July 1916 contained these reports.

The first is from a letter by Lieutenant Robinson where he writes about the heroism of CSM Nelson Carter who would later be posthumously awarded the V.C. for his actions during the battle.


"How the Southdowns Fought


Eastbourne Hero


Loses his life while rescuing comrades


In a private letter to a friend an Eastbourne officer, Lieutenant Harold C.T. Robinson, who is at home wounded, tells of the gallantry of a local soldier who lost his life in the great advance on the morning of June 30, while rescuing comrades who had fallen wounded over the parapet.

Lieutenant Robinson, who is the younger son of Mr. C. Wyndham Robinson, of Kya Lami, The Greys, Eastbourne, was the officer commanding A Company, 12th Royal Sussex Regiment and the soldier of whose heroism he speaks was Company-Sergeant Major N.V. Carter (formerly an attendant at Old Town, Cinema) whose widow resides at 33 Greys road. “He was a splendid type of soldier”. Writes Lieutenant Robinson “and had already been recommended for the Military Cross for gallantry before the incident of June 30. "
“Several men were lying wounded over the parapet and C.S.M. Carter went over many times under heavy fire to help carry them to safety. He succeeded in rescuing a number of them but was finally killed while engaged in the heroic work.”

“Another Eastbourne man notable for his pluck is Corporal E.A. Dewey (formerly doorkeeper at the Hippodrome theatre). Although he was suffering from a painful malady, he rose from his bed of sickness and insisted upon accompanying his comrades to the enemy’s trenches. ‘I’ve been with the boys all along’ he said ‘and I intend to go over the parapet with them.’ He was allowed to go, and did his duty well but he was badly wounded in several places and lost his right eye.’
“Corporal Dewey, who is 45 years of age and has a son at the front, had never seen service prior to the war, but joined up shortly after the outbreak in order to ‘do his bit.’

“Speaking of the Southdown’s generally and my own Company in particular, I have nothing but the highest praise for them. As soon as they heard that they were going to attack and knew at last they were to have the chance to do something, they were exceedingly keen and enthusiastic. We rehearsed the attack and the night spent in completing the arrangements.”

“At 2.50 am an intense bombardment by our artillery began and at 3.5 am – all our watches synchronised- the artillery lifted and infantry went over parapet. The enemy had replied to our bombardment with a terrific fire, but this mattered nothing. The men simply poured over wave after wave of them, with the results that you know, ‘the news that reached England next day that a ‘strong raiding party had reached the enemy lines.’

“From the number of killed and wounded Germans lying in the trenches and the great damage done to the trenches it is evident that the British artillery was very accurate.”

“A particularly gratifying feature of the attack and one which bore evidence to the splendid training of the men was the way in which the N.C.O’s took over the duties of the officers when they fell.”

“My Company was almost entirely composed of Eastbourne men, and although losses are to be regretted it must some slight consolation to bereaved friends to know that the men all do so splendidly. I have the greatest admiration for them all and could never wish to command a better company.”

The second report was a small piece by the Gazette itself, which correctly assesses where the battle took place and the failure of the bombardment to destroy completely the enemies’ wire.

The Scene of the Fighting


From statements which have reached us from various quarters it would seem that the Soutdowns were in action not near the Somme but a good many miles further north. Two battalions went first to the attack and the third battalion suffered less severely. Notwithstanding the prolonged bombardment the enemy’s wire remained intact in certain places and the Southdown’s suffered from machine gun fire. As the official lists show the casualties were heavy. The attack which was made may have been in the nature of a feint advance due to assist operations elsewhere, but it is not for us to do more than outline the facts which have come to our knowledge. "

The Boar's Head - 30th June 1916 - The South Downs Battalion

On 30th June 1916 the Southdowns Battalions took a major part in their first battle. It was a diversionary operation at the village of Richebourg L’Avoue in northern France. A set piece battle had been planned to straighten out the line of a German position known as Boar’s Head.

The first reports started to trickle back in early July 1916 together with the start of the Battle of the Somme which was further south. The casualties from the the Somme were enormous, in fact the 1st July 1916 was the worst day in the history of the British Army; 60,000 casualties either, dead, wounded or missing.

The Battle of 'Boar's Head' has today been largerly forgotten about, in fact many books about that time do not even mention it. The cost to the three South Downs Battalions and to the people of Sussex was terrible. The total causalities were 15 Officers and 364 other ranks killed or died of wounds and 21 Officers and 728 other ranks wounded. In total nearly 1,100. A conservative count of men killed coming from Eastbourne alone stands at 47, hardly a town in the county escaped without some casualties.

The Eastbourne Gazette on the 5th July 1916 carried the first reports as the wounded arrived .

Cheery Wounded

"Several of the men who arrived at Eastbourne on Sunday night have been serving in the Southdowns battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment; and we hear that most of them were wounded in the fighting last Friday. They are all bright and cheerful. A gentleman who visited a hospital ward on Monday was spoken to by the men who said, “We are in disgrace today. We have been laughing ever since we have been in here.”
The ambulance brought 142 men – eighty cot cases and sixty-two sitting cases. "

A week later on 12th July 1916, the Eastbourne Gazette received more information from a wounded soldier.

Southdowns in Action

Terrific Artillery Fire on Both Sides

Eastbourne Man Wounded Twice

"In August 1914, Private Leonard P. Newham (eldest son of Mr. L.G Newham, a director of Bobby & Co, Ltd.) joined the band of the 11th (Southdown) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment: and has been serving in France for several months. The strictness of military regulations precludes our giving the exact position of the troops engaged in the recent fighting. Private Newman, it appears, was wounded on July 1st and he seems to have written without delay a very cheery letter, from which it would seem that the Southdowns have emerged with credit from a severe ordeal.

“I am more than thankful that I escaped with this little lot. My wounds are only slight.
My word! It was a strafe! Our Brigade had a job to do and they did it, although the odds were against them. The artillery firing on both sides was simply terrific.
I was first wounded in the left forearm by a small piece of Shrapnel. While I was dressing a comrades wounds a shell burst somewhere near, and I stopped one piece with my right thigh.
Neither of my wounds was very serious. I dressed my leg and a sergeant did my arm, I fell in with Percy Clack (formerly of the cabinet department in Bobby & Co.’s) and walked with him till a piece of earth or something caught me and knocked nearly all the wind out of me.
I went up to the aid-post with two walking cases. The trench was smashed up in several places and was still being heavily shelled.
I proceeded to the advanced dressing station, and the enemy shelled that place, but no one was killed although on of the R.A.M.C. doctors received a wound in the head.
It was a marvellous thing that no more mischief was done, for dozens of men were lying practically helpless.
I met two or three of our fellows afterwards, and we all agreed it was the roughest time we had had.”

Private Newham is now in hospital at Colchester.

Mr. L.G. Newham second son (Sapper Hugh M. Newham) is serving in the Royal Engineers, and is in hospital at Maidenhead."

Private L.P Newham survived the war, Private Percy Clack the friend he mentions, (SD/156) died on 18th September 1918 aged 21 and is buried in STE. EMILIE VALLEY CEMETERY, VILLERS-FAUCON, France.

Collecting the wounded at night

This letter was published in the Eastbourne Gazette early in October 1914. Captain Arthur Habgood conveys the terrifying circumstances of evacuating the wounded.

During the war he gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Special Reserve).


Collecting the wounded at night

R.A.M.C . At work under shell-fire.

Dr. Arthur Habgood (son of Dr. Henry Habgood Stafford House, Upperton, Eastbourne) Captain in the R.A.M.C., Special Reserve and attached to No. 9 Field Ambulance, 3rd Division, has been on service with the British Expeditionary Force since August 18.

Writing home recently from the field of battle, Captain Habgood says: -

“My dear Father – This is a great hurry, as a Red Cross car is waiting to take it into Paris.

We are at present in billets and are very busy day and night, evacuating wounded and sick - about 1,500 in three days – so you will see we are very busy. Am quite well, but have had a pretty rough time.

A big battle is starting, and we have had a little lull in the fighting. For the past four days we have had to collect the wounded at night, in a town across a river, and have had to cross on a temporary pontoon by night, under shell fire all the time.

Have had some narrow escapes – Shrapnel shrieking by at night is very unpleasant.

This town is in ruins and dead horses etc. lying all about the roads, makes it very disagreeable.

Many thanks to you all for the letters and parcels, which I was glad to get. What we are hard up for is cigarettes. Have had none for three weeks. A pipe would also be a blessing. I am at present smoking an old cast-off one belonging to my major. Papers and magazines would be interesting, also letters. The letters coming from home are not opened. We all long for England. The officers say that South Africa was a picnic to this war. Which is day and night without intermission.

I am much thinner, but a good dinner will soon alter that. We only had two posts since I left England. There is no harm in telling you now that we sailed to Rouen. No Typhoid yet!

Good-bye for the present.

Your affectionate son,

Arthur.”



(Lt.-Col. Arthur Henry Habgood is the son of Dr. Henry Habgood.2 He married Vera Chetwynd-Stapylton, daughter of Edward Chetwynd-Stapylton and Beatrice Mary Cowie, on 27 September 1924.
He was registered as a Licentiate, Royal College of Physicians, London (L.R.C.P.). He graduated with a Diploma of Public Health (D.P.H.). He was registered as a Member, Royal College of Surgeons (M.R.C.S.). He graduated with a Master of Arts (M.A.). He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine (M.B.). He was decorated with the award of Companion, Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.). He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of the Royal Army Medical Corps (Special Reserve). He graduated with a Bachelor of Surgery (B.Ch.). He lived in 1976 at Mellstock, Skippetts Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.)

Lieutenant Colonel Harman Grisewood.

In May 1915, Lieutenant Colonel Harman Grisewood, from Bognor was given command of the 11th Battalion Royal Sussex regiment, (1st South Downs). He replaced the battalion founder Lieutenant Colonel Claude Lowther , however on the eve of the attack at Boars Head on 30th June 1916, he had serious doubts about the success of the plan of attack.

The plan had to be carried out and Major General R. Dawson dismissed Grisewood beacause of his doubts and dropped the 11th Battalion to a supporting role, replacing them with the 13th Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel Grisewood left his men on the eve of the battle, never to return. After a period in England, he was posted to the 17th Manchesters in 1917 and commanded them in the field until severely gassed.


Lieutenant Colonel Grisewood sent a final message to his battalion which found its way into the Eastbourne Gazette courtesy of Privates D and W Ashby.


“Colonel Grisewood’s Farewell Message

Writing to their parents Mr and Mrs D. Ashby of Woodside, Hellingly. Privates D and W Ashby of the Southdown battalion says: - “We are both keeping well and getting on nicely; hope you are keeping fit too. Our Colonel (Lieutenant Colonel H.J. Grisewood) has left us. He was very much upset at going and so were all the men. Everybody was sorry when he went as he was respected by all. I am sending you his last message to the men.

“In relinquishing the command I have been so proud to hold during the past fourteen months. I wish to record my gratitude to each and every man in the battalion for the loyal co-operation they have given me in the great work we undertook together and so to express my appreciation of all the assistance each has rendered. The battalion has earned a great name and a splendid reputation and I know they will add to a record of glory and bravery worthy of the regiment to which we belong. The memory of the two years we spent together will always be with me, and to everyone in the battalion I wish God’s speed and good fortune.””

Private Reginald Buckwell, 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

Private Reginald Buckwell, SD/1578 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.
He was the son of Mrs. Catherine Chapman, of 11, Marine Rd., Eastbourne. He died 11th June 1916 aged 23 and is buried in Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne.

This report of his life and funeral appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette.


Military Funeral

Private Reginald Buckwell

“On June 11, Private Reginald Buckwell, the youngest son of the late Mr. James Buckwell (ex-member of the Metropolitan Police) and Mrs. Chapman, 45, Channel View Road, Eastbourne, died in Nottingham Hospital.

He joined the Royal Sussex Regiment (“Lowther’s Own”) in October, 1914 and underwent training at Cooden. After a short time in France the deceased was shot through the ankle and was invalided to Nottingham, where he died of pneumonia and pleurisy.
Private Buckwell was born in Eastbourne and was educated at Christ Church and St. Andrew’s Church Schools, afterwards entering the greengrocery trade.

The funeral, attended with full military honours, took place on Saturday afternoon at Ocklynge Cemetery. The band of the Convalescent Camp accompanied the cortege and a military firing party was present. The “Last Post” was sounded at the graveside. The coffin was polished oak with solid brass fittings, bore the inscription: “Private Reginald Buckwell, died 11th June 1916 aged 23.” Messers Haine & Sons were the undertakers.”

Private Buckwell's grave lies underneath the tree in the foreground

Private Henry Smith, 9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment.

Private Henry Smith, 9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment

Son of George and Emma Smith, of 1, Parks Terrace, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, Sussex.

Killed in Action by a shell on 9th June 1916. Buried in BERKS CEMETERY EXTENSION, Belgium and is commemorated on the Hampden Park Memorial.

The first reports of his death are in the Eastbourne Gazette 21st June 1916.

Private Henry Smith

Tributes from Three Officers – “One of the Very Best”

Four letters received from France by Mr and Mrs George Smith (1, Park Terrace, Hampden Park) state that their son (Private Henry Smith of the Royal Sussex Regiment) has been killed in action. Deceased, who completed his nineteenth year on November 1 , was brought up in the parish of Willington and attended the church school. As a youth he worked on the land and in May last year he enlisted at Eastbourne. Ten months ago his Battalion was ordered to France, and he wrote home regularly his letters being the most cheery and hopeful character.

Lieutenant Theodore E Bourdillon, writing to Mrs. Smith on June 9 says: - “It is my painful duty to have to inform you that your son, Harry Smith, was killed in action this morning. I feel it useless to try and console you in your terrible bereavement, but I am sure you would like to know that he died a painless death. Officers and men alike mourn the loss of one of the very best.”

Lieutenant Banham wrote to Mrs. Smith:- “I can tell you that this is a grief and a big loss to me, which I feel very much. He was always so brave and so cheerful, always the one to volunteer when we had a tough job; and when he was there I felt we had a man who was going to stick it to the last.”

Second-Lieutenant Vidler writes:- “Private Smith was killed in action by a shell today. He was not in my platoon, but I knew him well and looked on him as a true, hardworking soldier and one who could always be relied on in a tight corner.”

Private A.W. Hawkins writes: - “He (Private Smith) was such a plucky chap. He did not care where he went or what he did."

Later that year, this letter was published in the Eastbourne Gazette 19th September 1916

Mrs G. Smith of 1 Park terrace, Hampden Park, Eastbourne has received the subjoined letter in reference to her son Private Harry Smith, Royal Sussex Regiment, whose death was recently announced.

“c/o 9th Royal Sussex, 73rd Brigade, 24th Division, B.E.F., France.

Dear Mrs Smith, I am just writing a line as I intended to do some days ago. To try and offer you what poor sympathy I can at loss of your son. He was a great favourite with the ’boys’ of his company and a great member of them turned out to the funeral. We laid him to rest in a little cemetery on the side of the hill near where he was killed. Mr. Bourdillon tells me that you would like to have a photograph of the grave. I am sorry to say that as we are not allowed to take any photos out here that will be impossible. But I can assure you that the graveyard will be well looked after. The cross with the name on it is in position; the exact spot can be obtained from the Graves Registration Commission., who have the keeping of all the registered graves out here. May God comfort you and support you in your time of trial. It is your loss and ours, but I hope not his. Perhaps that thought will be your strongest consolation in the days to come. Please accept these few words of sympathy – Believe me. Yours very faithfully, R.P. Dodd (C. of E. Chaplain).”

He is now buried in BERKS CEMETERY EXTENSION, Belgium.

Private Richard Fry, 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

Private Richard Fry, 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

He was the son of Jesse and Mary Ann Fry, was killed on 30th June 1916 aged 23. He is buried in St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L’Avone and is commemorated on the Hampden Park Memorial.

The Eastbourne Gazette on 9th August 1916, gave this report:

“One of the brave men who fell in the “Great Push” was Private R. (Dick) Fry of Hampden Park. He was educated at Willingdon Church School and previous to joining the Southdown’s was employed at Moffat’s Bazaar, in Seaside Road.
Private Fry formally resided with his sister (Mrs. G. Goldsmith of Hampden Park), who has been the recipient of the accompanying letter from Lieutenant Robinson, which has since been confirmed by official War Office intimation of death.

“Kya Lami, The Greys, Eastbourne, July 1916,

Dear Mrs Goldsmith. – I am very much afraid your brother R. Fry was killed on June 30. I spoke to a man who was quite near to him when he fell and I think there can be no doubt about it. He volunteered to act as my runner during the attack and I hope it may be some small consolation to you to know that he died doing his duty to his King and country like a soldier and a gentleman.
Before I took over the company he was in my platoon (No. 3) and I have many times asked him to accept promotion by the never would, although I know he would have made an excellent N.C.O. Please accept my deepest sympathy. –

Yours very truly.
Harold C T Robinson.””

Sergeant Charles James Percival Breach, Royal Garrison Artillery, 12th Siege Bty.

Sergeant Charles James Percival Breach of the Royal Garrison Artillery, 12th Siege Bty.

He was killed on 5th July 1917 aged 31. He is Buried in Vlamertinghe New Military and is commemorated on the Hampden Park Memorial.

This report appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 25th July 1917:

“Official intimation received by Mrs Marian I. Breach, Littlecot, Hampden Park, states that her husband Sergeant Charles James Percival Breach, Royal Garrison Artillery was killed in action near Ypres on July 5. Deceased who was the only son of Mr and Mrs H.T.Breach, Seaside Nursey, Roselands, Eastbourne was 31 years of age.

Educated at Holy Trinity Church School and Eastbourne Municipal Secondary School, Sergeant Breach entered the teaching profession. In 1902 he was appointed a teacher at the Willowfield Higher Grade School, an appointment he held until 1906, when he became a teacher at St. Marys Church School, Old Town. In 1911, he was appointed assistant head master on the first staff at the new Hampden Park Council School, a post he held until the date of his enlistment. That he was highly esteemed is evidenced by the large numbers of letters of condolence received by the widow.

Mr. Breach enlisted on May 18 1916, with the head master (Mr. R.H. Balcombe). He served at the front for 6 and a half months as a Corporal, was made Sergeant. On June 19th he returned to the front and in less than three weeks he was killed instantaneously, together with three other sergeants. He was buried in a graveyard between Poperinghe and Ypres.
Sergeant Breach was for some time captain of the Hampden Park Bowling Club.

The following tribute to the deceased has been received:

Dear Sir,
As an old scholar of the Hampden Park Council School, and on behalf of other old scholars, I would like, through the medium of your paper, to express the great regret which we all feel at the death of our one-time teacher, Mr. Breach. That he should take his place in the long line and that his name should be added to the list of those who so nobly made the supreme sacrifice, I am sure we are all justly proud.
We heartily appreciate the kind consideration which he always showed to us while under his tuition. Our remembrance of him will always be of the warmest kind, for we owe a great deal to his careful instruction.
To Mrs. Breach and his family we tender our warmest sympathies in the dark period of sorrow through which they are passing.
Yours sincerely,
Wesley Rentall-Read, Stantons, 34, Station Road, Hampden Park."