Bognor Twinning Association

Planning a social programme has not been easy this year, but Bognor Twinning Association came up with a winner

Local historian Dave Smith gave another of his very popular illustrated talks to a large attentive audience on Zoom.

Reflecting a local connection, it was entitled The Day Sussex Died about the fate of many of the ‘pals battalions’ in the devastating conflict of the First World War.

Dave Smith told how the pals battalions came to be formed.

In 1914 our army was small, compared with others, so the country needed young men to join up in large numbers.

The idea sold to the young men was that you trained with your friends, lived with them, had a good time and fought side by side with them.

Filled with patriotism, Claude Lowther, MP and owner of Herstmonceux Castle, obtained permission to form a company of men from Sussex.

So successful was he that he raised three battalions.

After training, these three battalions sailed to France for further instruction and later joined others at the Front, near Richebourg, some miles from the Somme.

On June 30, 1916, in what was described as a diversionary attack to distract the enemy from the great Battle of the Somme, which was due to start the next day, the battalions went over the top to charge the German lines.

Unfortunately, the tragedy was that whole groups of friends not only fought together but also died together that day.

So, the loss in some

Sussex villages and townships was tremendous.

Very sadly, at times, this included brothers and in one family, three brothers were killed in action.

Next on the Bognor Twinning Association list of events is a Quiz on Friday, March 19, although we are all probably experts at these by now!

When restrictions are eased after Easter, a ramble is planned, for groups of up to six people.

Likewise, a boules tournament is being arranged using the boules piste in Hotham Park.

Also a treasure hunt, summer coffee mornings and the group continues to hope that a visit to Germany in the autumn might be possible.

The Bognor Regis Twinning Association is always happy to welcome new members to join and enjoy our varied social programme whilst we also maintain our links with France and Germany.

For more information visit www.bognortwinning. co.uk or call 01243 863225.