Battle of the Boar's Head, Richebourg l'Avoué, France
2016 marked the centenary of the Battle of the Boar's Head in Richebourg l'Avoué, France:
See also:
About the Battle of the Boar's Head
“The day that Sussex died”
On 30th June 1916, Richebourg l'Avoué in France was the site of the Battle of the Boar's Head that owes its peculiar name to the network of trenches forming a salient in the shape of a boar's head.
This battle aimed to distract the Germans and to make them believe that the Great Offensive would be launched in Richebourg and not in the Somme. The 11th, 12th and 13th Battalions of the Southdowns Brigade were involved in this battle that lasted only 5 hours. Even so, 349 British soldiers and 17 officers died and over 1,000 were wounded or taken prisoners. Ever since, the 30th of June has been regarded locally as “The day that Sussex died”.
A memorial to commemorate the honoured soldiers from the town who lost their lives in this infamous First World War battle was erected in the Beach House Park in Worthing in 2016 to mark the 100-year centenary anniversary of the battle.
2016 was the Centenary, and a number of events took place between 25th June and 3rd July in Richebourg l'Avoué to commemorate. These events are detailed in the booklet below (in French and English):
See also a descriptive paper on the Battle of the Boar's head at Richebourg-l'Avoué:
(note: you may need to 'accept' the copyright restrictions to access the paper)
Exhibitions, commemorations and photos of events
Exhibition panels:
Summary of the events that took place (in French) which also contains cuttings from local papers and other coverage:
Also below are photos from the events and parade that took place:
Photos from the Battle of the Boar's Head Commemoration and Parade in Richebourg l'Avoué, France - 30th June 2016 (6,204KB)- also: map and views of Richebourg l'Avoué, France (below)
Map and views of Richebourg l'Avoué, France
Richebourg l'Avoué Church and war memorial
Where the Commemoration and Parade took place:
St Vaast Post Military Cemetery,
off Rue des Charbonniers
Where the Commemoration and Parade took place (to the north east of the town):
- St Vaast Post Military Cemetery - on Google Street View
- St Vaast Post Military Cemetery - on Google Maps
- St Vaast Post Military Cemetery - on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Rue des Berceaux Military Cemetery
off Rue du Haut Chemin / Rue du Moulin l'Avoué
Another Military Cemetery in Richebourg l'Avoué (to the south of the town):
- Rue des Berceaux Military Cemetery - on Google Street View
- Rue des Berceaux Military Cemetery - on Google Maps
- Rue des Berceaux Military Cemetery - on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Other Military Cemeteries near Richebourg l'Avoué
Useful weblinks
- Richebourg-l'Avoué - on Wikipedia - search result on Google website
- The Day that Sussex died - on the East Sussex WW1 website
See also a descriptive paper on the Battle of the Boar's head at Richebourg-l'Avoué:
(note: you may need to 'accept' the copyright restrictions to access the paper)
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Worthing Civic Office
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Page last updated: 13 February 2024