The Boar's Head - 30th June 1916 - Southdowns in Action

The Eastbourne Gazette on 2nd August 1916, had these two reports of the action at 'Boar's Head'.

Southdowns in Action


Letter from Sergeant Rowsell


Writing from the V.A.D. Hospital, Fernlagul, Larkfield, near Maidstone on July 29th. Lance-Sergeant T.S. Roswell says:-

“As an old Eastbourian I have been a reader of your valuable paper for some years and I received it weekly in the trenches before I was wounded. I belong to one of the Southdowns Battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment and am able to tell you that our long training in England enabled the men to become not only good fighters but good workers as well. If any trenches needed making or repairing by our division one of the ‘Southdowns’ Battalions was sure to get the job. With regard to the fighting, all were eager to go over the parapet to meet ‘Frtiz’ when the time came and the ‘Squareheads’ the other side of No Mans land soon learnt what they were up against. You were quite correct in your surmise that some day Sussex people will hear the official truths of what did actually occur and when that is known it will be seen that the Southdowns did their bit in the true British way. Before closing I would just mention that the editor of an influential London weekly once said, “The Southdowns will never fire shot in the Great War.”

Southdowns Capture Prisoners

Private T Hart, Royal Sussex Regiment, writing to his mother, Mrs Turner, 1 Salehurst Road, Old Town, Eastbourne describes the operation on June 30 as being “like hell”.

He says, “The bombardment was enough to drive us off our heads, but we took three lines of trenches and faced the shells as coolly as anything. I had the bottom of my rifle blown off, but I didn’t get a scratch myself. We were up to necks in mud. We gave them (the Germans) a few pills to go on with. We took several prisoners and all they could say was ‘Mercy, kamarade.’ Our colonel said we stuck it grandly. I think we have got them done for this time. I saw I lot of my chums fall by my side, but I was one of the lucky ones. It is your prayers that have saved my life mum,” concluded the writer, “and I thank God for it.”

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.

Lowthers Own in Camp at Cooden.

This is one of my favourite articles published in November 1914 in the Eastbourne Gazette.

Under the title “Lowthers Own” in camp at Cooden, it really captures the feeling of the great adventure in 1914. All lads joining up together and no one ‘missing out’.

The chap putting his head out of the tent with the caption “Sorry I joined? Don’t think” is priceless.

(Click on image to enlarge)

South Downs Battalion - Claude Lowther's Appeal.

The Southdown’s Battalion were formed from the men of the Home Defence Force and those that volunteered after this notice was published in the Eastbourne Gazette on 9th September 1914.

Lord Kitchener had authorised the raising of a new Sussex battalion. Mr. Lowther’s appeal letter is fascinating; encouraging friends and relatives to sign up together and the special appeal to all ‘who have distinguished themselves upon the field of sport to decorate this town with laurels from the battlefield.’


GREAT RECRUITING EFFORTS

ANOTHER BATTALION OF SUSSEX INFANTRY

TO BE RAISED BY MR. CLAUDE LOWTHER, M.P.

With the sanction of Lord Kitchenner. Mr. Claude Lowther, M.P. (Hertmonceux Castle) is raising another Sussex battalion of infantry which he will command and will accompany wherever it goes. Already the services of a number of local gentlemen have been secured as officers and Sussex men are wanted as rank and file. Mr. Lowther will do his best to make the best commissariat arrangements, but all who join must understand that they will be soldiers under the orders of the Government. The age of enlistment ranges from 19 to 36, a concession which men who have completed their 35th year will appreciate. Mr. Lowther’s great object is to assist the work or recruiting by looking after it himself. Mr. A. Millward (the well known county cricketer and umpire) is the local secretary in Eastbourne; and the appeal for men is being made in the surrounding districts so to form a purely Sussex battalion with separate companies for Eastbourne men, Hailsham men and Hertmonceux men. In some parts of the country men who have gone to enlist have been asked to come in later in the day and this delay has caused some waverers to decide not to join the Army.

About 150 men join the Home Defence Force at Herstmonceux, Mr. Lowther being the commandant and Mr. J.H.C. Norton the hon. Lieutenant. Last Thursday, Mr. Lowther assembled the men and asked how many would join the regulars. Thirty men stepped forward at once and on Monday morning the number had increased to Fifty-five; and it was hoped that by last (Tuesday) evening the full strength required for the Herstmonceux Company would be available.

AN APPEAL FOR AN EASTBOURNE CONTINGENT.

Lord Kitchener, in spite of his strenuous work, has spared time to think of your wants.

He recognises that men often prefer to serve side by side with friends and relatives than to be drafted into different regiments to serve with strangers. He has given me permission to raise another Sussex battalion of infantry which I am to have the honour to command – assisted by other officers who live in the county.

I look confidently to the men of Eastbourne to send a contingent –m to be known as the Eastbourne Company. This contingent will train together, will fight together and will, pray God, return together.

Eastbourne has already responded loyally to the Nation’s call. She has sent men – she will send more.

I make this special appeal a to cricketers, footballers and others who have distinguished themselves upon the field of sport to decorate this town with laurels from the battlefield. But all men between the ages of 19 and 36 will be welcomed.

Claude Lowther.
Herstmonceux Castle.

For particulars apply to Wm. A. Millward, 46, Cavendish Place or to me direct.

Lowther of the "Lamb." - His Play Reviewed.

The New York Times carried a review of Claude Lowther’s famous play. It was not a glowing report, unfortunately.



Play By An M.P.

“The Gordian Knot,” by Claude Lowther, Produced in London – Is Not a Success.

London Times – New York Times.
Special Cablegram.

London, May 21 – The Times, in criticising “The Gordian Knot,” produced at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, says the author, Claude Lowther, M.P. is too evidently a diligent student of the younger Dumas.

The young Vicomte de Selignac is being ruined by Garielle Belleville, whereupon his old friend Roger Martens conceives the idea of killing her. Gabrielle gives him a chance to effect his purpose through he vain determination to rehearse a sham strangling scene. She lets down her golden hair, intending to mock at Martens, but he plays the scene in real earnest, strangling her with her own hair.

Miss Olga Nethersole played the heroine in wonderful costumes and languorous poses. No English actress would make more the part. Beerbohn Tree played Martens with a never-failing sense of picturesque character.

Eastbourne Recruiting - September 1914.

The Eastbourne Gazette reported on Wednesday September 2nd 1914 a current update of the recruiting in the town and district.

Lowther’s Lambs would come from these recruiting efforts. The work was well organised with every effort made to spur men on to join the colours.

As was pointed out no uniforms were available to new recruits and most were left to find their own entertainment in the evening.


ACTIVE RECRUITERS

Work in the Eastbourne District

CAPTAIN ARGALL AND HIS HELPERS PATROITIC FERVOUR ON THE SEAFRONT

In describing the onrush of the Germans in a recent engagement a British officer remarked that they came “like peas poured out of a sack.” While the influx of recruits in Eastbourne and the surrounding district does not justify the use of such expressive language, it showed a marked improvement at a time when rumours of disaster (happily unfounded) had gained general currency and this may surely be taken as an encouraging indication of the spirit of the nation.

Owing to the pressure of other work Surgeon-Colonel G. Somerville Robinson asked to be relieved of his duties as recruiting officer at Eastbourne and he was succeeded on Friday last by Captain P.B. Argall (National Reserve) who formally served under Colonel Keyser and has lately been assisting at the Depot at Chichester. The captain has thrown himself very zealously into his work and by reason of his attendance at Royal and patriotic gatherings he is already known to a large number of people.

VILLAGERS DOING BETTER THAN THE TOWNSMEN.

The medical examination of men who wish to enlist is conducted by Surgeon-Colonel Robinson and assistance is being rendered by Surgeon-Major Brannigan (late of the R.A.M.C.) and Colonel Hawkins (late of the Indian Medical Service).

The experienced recruiting sergeant at the Ordinance Yard is Sergeant Thomas Hayward, and on Monday afternoon it was stated that the number of men enrolled from Eastbourne and the district was increasing; that 56 had enlisted since Friday and that 76 had joined previously, making a total of 132.

Up to Monday afternoon, we believe the villagers had joined in larger numbers than the townsmen. We mention the fact not by way of reproach but in order to arouse a spirit of emulation. The physique of Eastbourne men is above, rather than below, the average and they are capable of doing their country good service. Those who know them best consider that they will yield to persuasion rather than to dictation. Nearly a score of young men assembled near the office in the Ordnance Fields about five o’clock on Monday. They had, it appeared, already enlisted; and were told that they could sleep in one of the barrack room at night. During the evening they were free to do as they pleased and we noticed some of them on the Sea Front during the band performance in the evening. Most of them looked under 25 years of age and were dark haired and rather slim. There was, however, nothing approaching any uniform type of appearance or physique.

SUPPLY OF FORMS EXHAUSTED

The work which is being carried on at the Ordinance Yard is far more intricate than might be supposed. In the case of each recruit an elaborate form has to be filled in; and then a duplicate copy has to be made. By Monday Afternoon the supply of forms had run out, so that application had to be made for authority to employ a local printer to produce additional copies. The War Office seems to share the fondness of other Government departments for minute details. One might have imagined that at a time like the present all red tape methods would go by the board; but such is not the case.

CENTRAL OFFICE IN TERMINUS ROAD – MOTOR SERVICE.

By the kindness of Mr. Beardall, the gratuitous use of the central premises at the corner of Terminus Road and Gildredge road has been granted. Mr. Mullaly and Mr. Beatty are in charge. In the window there are pictures of various types of the British Army and any needful information can be supplied.

Colonel Stainforth, Colonel Broome, Colonel Moody, the Mayor (Councillor C.W. Bolton, C.S.L.), the deputy Mayor ( Councillor R.T. Thornton) and others are rendering help. Councillor O. Darell and Mr. Plummer have organised a motor service the object kept steamily in view being to have cars constantly available without over taxing willing owners.

ANOTHER BATTALION OF THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT

In compliance with the desire of the authorities a special effort is being made to raise a service battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment and it is this battalion which men of the Eastbourne and district recruits will join.

The pay is 1s a day clear. The men are well fed; the war ration includes 1lb of meat a day and plenty of bread, jam and bacon. In the case of a married man the wife receives 1s a day (7s a week) and 2d a day (1s 2d per week) for each child. Any soldier disabled whilst on active service will enjoy a liberal pension for the rest of his days.

Men between 19 and 35 years of age may join. The standard height is 5ft 9ins and 6ft 3ins; while the chest measurement is 34ins.

LOCAL CENTRES OF INFORMATION

The Eastbourne district has now been divided into four parts (Hailsham, Herstmonceux, Mayfield and Willingdon) and any information may be obtained of the following local representatives:-

Hailsham – Mr. A.K. Burtenshaw.
Hellingly- Mr. J. Grant Duff Ainalie.
Arlington- Mr. Hobden.
Upper Dicker- Mr. S. Russell.
Chiddingly- Mr. Muddle.
Pevenset and Westham – Mr. C. Allen.
Herstmonceux- Mr. Barchard.
Windmill Hill- Mr. Nash.
Rushlake Green – Mr. Sidell.
Willingdon – Mr. H.R. Bean.
Polegate – The curate.
Jevington – The Rev. E.E. Clarke.
Alfriston – The village constable.
Wilmington – The landlord of the Black Horse Inn.
Mayfield – Mr. Usborne and Mr. Farrer.
Heathfield – Mr. Stone.
Fives Ashes – Mr. R.A. Bangham.

The Rev. F.S. Williams (headmaster of Eastbourne College) and the Rev. W.N. Willis ( Ascham – St. Vincent’s School) were among the helpers at the recruiting office at the Ordnance Yard on Monday.

RECRUITING MEETING AT HAILSHAM.

On Saturday evening a largely attended meeting was held in the Market Square, Hailsham, when an appeal for recruits for the Army was made.

Mr. A. F. Smith acted as chairman and the speakers included Dr. A.P. Sherwood (Eastbourne), Mr. Davall amd Mr. A.K. Burtenshaw. The last named gentleman, who is acting as recruiting officer, has already sent the following recruits who volunteered to Eastbourne: Messers N.E. Mansfield, J. Shirley, E. Bragg, Percy Noakes, James Harmer, Joseph Clapham, Walter Elphick, Ernest Mathews, H. Moon, Arthur Walker and Joseph Matthews.

Lowther of the "Lambs" - Part 2.

In the second and final part of the Eastbourne Gazette article published in 1914 on Mr. Claude Lowther, it goes into his military career, political life and some “amusing” stories of his wicked sense of humour.

It all paints an elaborate picture of the new Colonel of the South Downs battalions.


MILITARY EXPERIENCE

The Southdown Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment have as their colonel no tyro in the art of war. The command has been given to a man who served with more than ordinary distinction in the South African War. He was A.D.C to Sir Charles Warren and for one act of valour was recommended for the Victoria Cross. From South Africa he went straight into politics.

The constituency he had to woo (this was in 1900) was an old Liberal stronghold and I have wondered how a man of his disposition and temperament managed to gain the affections of the aloof, unimaginative, dour Northern farmers. Yet I am told he carried them by storm. His success in the House of Commons was just as surprising. Beyond his brief electoral campaign he had no oratorical experience before he took his seat; and yet upon his maiden speech Sir William Harcourt congratulated him and he quickly caught the eye of Mr. Chamberlain. He had become an adherent of the latter immediately upon entering into politics and he remained his staunch follower.

Politicians say that one important way to gain the attention of the House is to be yourself as a critic upon some prominent member of the other side. Mr. Claude Lowther fastened himself on to Mr. Winston Churchill. Upon Mr. Churchill’s vitriolic attacks on Mr. Balfour or Mr. Chamberlain he would follow with equally sarcastic comments. At a time when discussion ranged round the “beri-beri” disease one of the symptoms of which was said to be a swelled head. Mr. Lowther accused Mr. Churchill of being a victim of the complaint. The two are personal friends and when they met at a dinner party a night or two after, the First Lord remarked, “You are wrong Claude, about beri-beri. It doesn’t cause a swelled head but swelled feet.” “Oh,” came the apt retort, “then I should have said, ‘you were too big for your boots!’”

AN ANTI-SOCALIST

Undoubtedly, had his own health and his party’s fortunes gone differently, M. Lowther might by now be a widely known politician. Had he kept his seat in 1906 (he lost it by a small majority) he would have had a splendid chance among the little ban of Unionists in the 1906-1910 Parliament; for he has the real Parliamentary manner and that saving grace of humour which the House loves. A Tariff Reform Government would certainly have seen him in some post (he was one of the select few permitted to visit Mr. Chamberlain after his breakdown compelled the retirement to Highbury) and when the Unionists expected to win in 1910 he was “tipped” as a possible Under Secretary for the Colonies. His health, however, has sadly interfered with his political activities of late years; he regained his seat in December, 1910 but has rarely sat in the present House, although he has concentrated a good deal of interest upon the anti-Socialist movement.

His antipathy to Socialists once took an amusing turn. He was watching a mob orator in Hyde Park and had with him, Norman Forbes, the actor. Now Norman Forbes was abnormally thin; so thin that when his brother, Sir J. Forbes Robertson, was producing “Hamlet” and wanted a role for Norman, somebody suggested that he should be cast for the part of the skull in the graveyard scene. To divert the attention of the crowd, Claude Lowther began to refer to the man beside him as the celebrated fasting man. “Saccho” or “Zaccho” who was then startling London. Before long the whole crowd were staring at the man and the orator was wasting his eloquence on the park trees.

A PRACTICAL JOKE

I have reason to know that M. Lowther dearly loves a joke – even a practical joke. The editor of a certain newspaper tells a story to this effect. He once applied to Mr. Lowther for a portrait of himself which was to be given to the editor’s newspaper. As he knew that Mr. Lowther had an objection to have his portrait in the public press, he had little hope of his request being granted. However, to the editor’s surprise, a portrait was sent and was published in due course. Only then did the editor (who had never seen Mr. Lowther) find that the photograph that had been sent to him and inserted in his paper was that of quite another man.

Claude Lowther once wrote a play. It was called “The Gordian Knot.” And his friend, Sir H. Beerbohm, produced it. Tree engaged Olga Nethersole, then a big London star, at a handsome salary, to play the chief role. All the M.P.’s came down from Westminster to His Majesty’s for the first night and most I am told dozed in the stalls long before it was over. Anyhow, the play ran only about six nights. The smartest thing said about it was that its title should have been “The Claudian Rot.” The author, I believe, came to the conclusion that the British public did not want serious drama. I fancy he has never though much of the dramatic critics from that day to this. As for Mr. Beerbohm Tree, he went back to Shakespeare.

SOME LOWTHER STORIES

Although he failed as a dramatist there can be no doubt that Mr. Claude Lowther would have found an excellent career, had he needed it, as an actor. He has the very style for drawing-room comedy. I can imagine his treading the stage of the St. James quite attractively as Sir George Alexander. His sister, Miss Aimee Lowther, is, of course, well known in society as an amateur actress and has even essayed the role of Romeo. Nearly all the Lowthers, indeed, have a penchant for theatricals. Once the subject of this sketch played the part of a curate. But that was at a country house and for a joke. The deception was carried out most successfully.

For, as I have said, he is an enormous practical joker. The Drury Lane conductor, Mr. Jimmy Glover, known to us in Sussex, for his association with the public life of Bexhill, narrates one of his most daring exploits in his pleasant book of theatrical gossip. “Claude Lowther,” he writes, “once got himself into trouble for an innocent piece of carnavalian humour at Covent Garden. He dressed up a dummy of poor Gus Harris (Sir Augustus Harris, the famous impresario) Inverness cape and all, and worked it in an imitation of making a speech from a private box, to all but an unsympathetic and humourless officer in blue, who promptly carted the offending one off to Bow Street.”

Jimmy Glover’s book also contains the following – “Few people who know that charming lady, delightful sportswomen and excellent actress, Lady de Bathe, will appreciate what a good-natured humanist she is in the cause of charity, She once, with Claude Lowther, M.P. disguised herself as a flower girl and sold flowers in Haymarket outside the clubs to such a state of realism that Lord Brabazon did not recognise her and made an appointment with her the next day to further patronise her floral wares.”

I am sure that “Lowthers Lambs” will all become as much attached to their colonel as his men were in South Africa and his political supporters were in Cumberland. And I am sure that their colonel will find fighting this war an even more congenial task that fighting the Boers. For he will know that while fighting for the British, whose possessions have always made him the most intense of Imperialists, for whose sturdiness and love of fair play he has so much admiration, he is also fighting for “La Belle France,” whose spirit he understands and enters into as can few Englishmen. And he will be fighting the Germans. I can imagine few things about the Germans which would not strike him with a cold shudder.

Lowther of the "Lambs" - Part 1.

Claude Lowther, MP for Eskdale Cumberland who lived at Herstmonceux Castle was a local land owned who formed the 1st Southdowns Battalion. He later went on to appeal for a second and third battalion.

The new recruits were trained at Cooden Camp, near Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, where conditions were basic; bell tents for accommodation, the mess halls were marquees and for washing they used wooden troughs and standpipes.

The Eastbourne Gazette published the following article in 1914 on Mr. Claude Lowther to give the public a character study of the battalion’s new colonel.


LOWTHER OF THE “LAMBS”

A Character Sketch: By Sussexian

The career of Mr. Claude Lowther, M.P.., follows the traditions of the great English territorial house of which he is an offshoot. He has been concerned with diplomacy, with the Army, and with politics; and always the Lowthers have had representatives in one or other of these branches of the country’s affairs.

Yet his personality is not that of the typical Lowther. Mr. A G. Gardiner, while regarding, Mr. J.W. Lowther as the greatest speaker of our time, insists that his success is that of “a plain man without a touch of genius, almost without a touch of brilliancy, but with all the qualities of the average man in perfect equilibrium.” Now, Mr. Claude Lowther has more a touch of brilliance and he would be the first to admit that he does not possess, “all the qualities of the average man in perfect equilibrium.” The Lowthers embody to a remarkable degree the love of the open air of the old British Aristocracy; the Earl of Lonsdale is the finest sportsman in England; and the speaker brings to Westminster the freshness of the Cumberland fells on which he loves to hunt. Mr. Claude Lowther, on the other hand, excellent soldier though he makes, belongs, rather to the drawing-room – polished, courtly, a man of exquisite taste, fond of the arts.

He has lived much in Paris; indeed Max Beerbohm once drew him in a cartoon labelled “Mr. Claude Lowther dominating Paris.” It represented the subject with longs legs towering over the roofs of the French capital. He was so popular in Paris that if the English colony there could have obtained a representative in the House of Commons he would never have needed to go to Cumberland for a seat. It is his passion for the picturesque which set him upon buying Herstmonceux just as it had made him select as his home in his constituency a ruined old Border castle long uninhabited and almost uninhabitable until he had adapted it.

THE RESTORATION OF HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE

When it was made known in East Sussex that a gentleman from the north had purchased Herstmonceux Castle with the intention of restoring that historical pile and using it as a dwelling house many men regarded the event with foreboding. They feared that “restoration” in this instance was but another spelling of the word “vandalism,” and it was with very real regret that they gazed upon an army of builders who, as they believed, had come to shear the old castle of those picturesque features with which it had been caparisoned by Father Time. But those who shook their heads did not know Mr. Lowther.

He took the restoration in hand with perfect good taste and a sense of veneration, restoring only as much of the front of the building as would serve him for a dwelling and leaving the remainder of the castle pretty much in the condition in which he found it. The critics were silenced; as a matter of fact they were delighted and the only grumble one now hears in connection with Herstmonceux Castle is on account of the disappearance of the magnificent old tythe barn that once stood near by. The reason for its demolition, I believe, Mr. Lowther has yet to explain.

HIS PATRIOTISM

I think that Mr. Lowther is genuinely proud of his successful “restoration” of Herstmonceux. I judge largely from the fact that many people who have expressed an interest in it have asked by the owner to call and see for themselves what has been done. It sometimes happens that Mr. Lowther gives an invitation of this kind, and then forgets all about it. There are those thus invited who line in the hope that the invitation will, some day, materialise.

If I were to name the most prominent feature of Mr. Lowther’s character I should instantly cry “Patriotism.” With him patriotism is no mere word for love of one’s country; it is almost a fetish. Duty to one’s country should compel a man to give of his best - or a little more than his best – whether he be well or ill. That is how Claude Lowther regards patriotism; and it was this spirit that urged him, soon after the declaration of the present war, promptly to form a Home Defence Company of the men of Herstmonceux and district. Having organised his company for home defence he was yet unsatisfied; his ardent patriotism urged him to do something more and better; to wait for the enemy’s coming into his own country was not, after all, altogether in accordance with his view of a man’s duty in a great war; he must meet the enemy before he arrived.

Therefore Mr. Lowther formed a battalion for service abroad and under his leadership the 1,150 men, now popularly known as “Lowther’s Lambs” will, I do not doubt, bring laurels to the county in which they have been raised.

APPEAL FOR A SECOND BATTALION

The completion of the first battalion, its popularity and the country’s cry “More men” seem to have stimulated Colonel Lowther to further efforts. Read his appeal for a second battalion:

“I call upon every man, with red blood in his veins, to join the second Southdown Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment.”

“You will not be separated!”

“Together (in your own county) you will train.”

“Together you will fight.”

“Together you will die if need be, but together, pray God, you may return.”

That is the Lowther patriotism! It is a patriot appealing to all men wh0 are patriots – men with “red blood in their veins.”

That is why Colonel Lowther has secured his second battalion so quickly and why he will succeed in raising the third he is now asking for.

Herstmonceux Castle today - 2009

The South Downs Battalions

The declaration of war reached Australia on the 5th August 1914. Within days Colonel William Bolton of the 70th (Ballarat) Infantry had handed over command and had appointed a Recruiting Officer at Ballarat. Recruiting officially stated on 14th August 1914, thousands answered the call to arms and the 8th Battalion was formed a few days later.

Twelve thousand miles away, men were queuing all over England to enlist and sign up for new infantry Battalions. Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War on the 15th August called for 100,000 volunteers.

On the Sussex coast in the town of Eastbourne, on the 2nd September, at the Town Hall a meeting was held to answer the request. Local land owned Claude Lowther, MP for Eskdale Cumberland who lived at Herstmonceux Castle, formed a countrywide committee and recruiting started. Within 56 hours some 1,100 men had enlisted and on the 7th September 1914, the 1st South Downs Battalion was formed. The recruits were trained at Cooden Camp, near Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, where conditions were basic; bell tents for accommodation, the mess halls were marquees and for washing they used wooden troughs and standpipes.

By the 3rd November the 2nd Battalion had been formed and a while later the 3rd Battalion. They too joined them at a newly constructed camp in Little Common and early 1915 saw them say goodbye to the Kitchener Blue jacket and trousers for the Khaki uniform and peaked cap. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd South Downs Battalions became known to all across Sussex as ‘Lowther’s Lambs’ after the Battalions were handed a orphaned lamb as a mascot in November 1914.

July 1915 and the Battalions were officially embodied into the British Army. The Battalion founder Lieut-Colonel Claude Lowther was replaced by Lieut-Colonel H.J.M. Grisewood. They were moved to Detling Camp, near Maidstone in Kent. The close of September 1915 saw them more to Aldershot and in November, together with the 14th Hampshire Regiment the formed the 116th Infantry Brigade of 39th Division. They were now known as the 11th, 12th and 13th Royal Sussex Regiment, but all original enlisters were allowed to suffix their Regimental Number with the letters ‘SD’.

The 39th Division was stationed at Witley and stayed there until 5th and 6th March 1916 when it was transferred to France. It consisted of three brigades (12 Battalions), 116th, 117th and 118th. They started off at Le Harve and then onto Sailly-sur-Lys.

The first real action was on 30th June 1916 at a diversionary operation at the village of Richebourg L’Avoue in northern France. There a set piece battle had been planned to straighten out the line of a German position known as Boar’s Head, Paul Reed has written an excellent article on this attack, ‘The Boar’s Head.’

The Battle lasted over four hours and although initially the allied bombardment had successfully cut some of the wire, great parts of it remained intact. With smoke shells causing confusion, the attackers had to bunch together to get through the defences and this gave the Germans easy targets. When the front line was eventually breached, violent counter attacks pushed the British back. The cost to the three South Downs Battalions was terrible as in reality no ground was gained. 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.

It was also at this battle that the South Down Battalions were awarded their only Victoria Cross. Company Sergeant Major Nelson Victor Carter, 12th Battalion, who was fatally wounded whilst bringing in the wounded.
In additions to the VC for the work that day, an officer was awarded the D.S.O., 4 other officers received the M.C., 8 D.C.M's. and 20 M.M. were also awarded.

Afterwards the South Downs Battalions with new reinforcements fought at Festubert, Beaumont Hamel, and later in 1916, Thiepval. In 1917, Ypres, Passchendaele and St. Julien. In March 1918, the First Battles of the Somme and Battles of the Lys.
The 12th Battalion ceased to exist on 8th February 1918 and some of its surviving members were used to reinforce the 11th and 13th.

The 11th was then sent to North Russia in 1919.

For futher Information, see Paul Reed's website on : 11th Battalion, 12th Battalion, 13th Battalion, The Battle of Boars Head.