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BBC News
15 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
March to remember 'the day Sussex died'
A British army veteran is marching along the Sussex coastline from Rye to Chichester in remembrance of those from the Royal Sussex Regiment who fell during a battle in World War One. On his second day, Guy Radlett arrived in Brighton as the city marks the 109th anniversary of the Battle of Boar's Head, also known as "the day Sussex died".Some 366 officers and men of the Southdowns Brigade were killed during the battle, while over 1,000 were wounded or holding a memorial at the Amex stadium, he said: "I have a 1916 trench whistle that I will blow as a tribute here at the Amex to all the men who lost their lives." Amanda Grimshaw, Mayor of Brighton & Hove and Armed Forces Champion for Brighton & Hove, said: "Sixty-two men from the city died in the battle - the city's greatest loss of life in one day and scarcely a town or village in Sussex did not have men who were affected."Setting off on the second leg of his 120-mile (193km) march, the Royal Sussex Regiment veteran said he was optimistic about reaching Chichester Harbour on time."The first day was a gruelling day carrying weight on stretches of shingle and sun, yesterday took it tolls and my legs are tired, but I'll get there," he said. "We need to learn the lessons of the past. We need to live today, but to look back so we can move forward to better shape the future without war."He is raising funds for the the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal and Veterans' Growth.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
'I lied about my age to fight in World War Two'
'I lied about my age to fight in WW2' Just now Share Save Joshua Askew BBC News, South East Share Save PA Media Bob Piper says he still thinks about all the boys who died during the war A 99-year-old D-Day veteran has told BBC Radio Sussex he lied to enlist in the army during World War Two. Bob Piper, from Southwater, joined the Home Guard at the outbreak of fighting when he was 14 years old. He later joined the Royal Sussex regiment when he was underage after being told by a recruitment officer to say he was 18. Mr Piper - soon to celebrate his 100th birthday - was later transferred to the Royal Signal Regiment and arrived on mainland Europe one week after D-Day. In the Home Guard, he spent time patrolling beaches, guarding airfields and looking after the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk at Arundel Castle as there was a fear at the time the Germans might try and "snatch" members of the royals. Mr Piper's stories from Europe were among those the Ministry of Defence shared when it highlighted the exploits of the D-Day veterans on the 80th anniversary of the landings last year. Family handout Bob Piper with his son (pictured) When Victory in Europe was declared, Mr Piper said he was still deployed in war-torn Germany. "There was no jollification," he told BBC Radio Sussex. "We were inundated with German POWs." The 99-year-old said people who had been sent by the Germans to work in the country were trying to get home, while German civilians were also trying to flee the advancing Russian army. "There were thousands and thousands of people that had to be looked after," he said. "It ended up instead of fighting everybody, you were trying to organise and feed them." Mr Piper, who sat behind the King at VE Day celebrations in London on Monday, said he will go to a service at Westminster Abbey to mark the occasion on Thursday. 7:03 The vet that met the King "I think about the boys that never came home," he told the BBC. "I often say that the children today should go out and stand in the middle of a cemetery. This is the price of the freedom that we have today. It's not money, but look around at those headstones." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
