Richebourg trip 2006
We travelled to
Next morning we awoke early and, having
breakfasted, this time truly in French style, we set off for the first of our
locations for the day,
After one false start we found the cemetery,
and as we parked the car, noticed an empty Landrover
bearing British number plates just a few yards away. We spent a few moments in
quiet contemplation, and then set about our first task for the day, which was
to photograph the graves of those killed in action on
After some while our
sitter stirred, and came over to ask if we knew what was happening at the evening
service of remembrance. Having admitted that we knew no more than he did, we
got onto the subject of the reason for his being there. It turned out that
Neville had driven overnight from
Having briefly discussed our plans for the
day, our new friend asked if he might tag along, and so our party of three
became a group of four.
Next stop on our
itinerary was The Royal Irish Rifles Cemetery, at Laventie,
just a few miles up the road. We had just arrived there, and were in the
process of writing the card of the wreath which we intended to lay on the grave
of CSM Nelson Carter, “A” Coy. 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who won a
posthumous V. C. for his actions on 30th June 1916, when another car drew up
with UK number plates, out of which piled four chaps, two of whom we recognised
as Paul Reed, the tour guide, and Geoff Bridger of the Western Front
Association. They were down on the
There were gardeners of the Commonwealth Wargraves Commission working in the cemetery when we
arrived. As usual the cemetery was perfectly groomed. Carter’s grave was
obscured by a growth of flowers, but after a few words with the groundsmen, the plant was pruned back to allow full view of
the headstone. As we laid our wreath they respectfully downed tools, and joined
us in observing
two minutes silence.
From Laventie we drove down towards La Bassee,
passing through Neuve Chappelle,
to
After a little searching, we indentified the area of the Boar’s Head, and spent about an
hour on the site of the 1916 action, which is by the way only a few hundred
metres from the area
where the 2nd and 5th Battalions had
fought during the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915.
A local resident, who we met and spoke with whilst trying to ensure we were
actually at the right spot, was kind
enough to show us a small collection of items found nearby, most of which were
from the Great War period.
Having had a good look around, we realised
that it was well after 13.00hrs, and decided to look for a place to eat.
Finally we found somewhere that was open, and with a few words of English from
our host, and equally limited French from us, we ordered a meal. In typical
French style the meal was somewhat leisurely, and we emerged from the bistro at
about 15.30hrs, to return to our billet to prepare for the evening
commemoration.
The Commemoration Ceremony.
Setting out in good
time, our preparations in the morning meant that we arrived at Richebourg St. Vaast Post
Military Cemetery at around 17.45, and were amazed to see a considerable number
of cars already there.
As we parked we were aware of what was a fair
crowd of people in the cemetery, many wearing medals and carrying standards.
Our number plates, and the Royal Sussex wreath that we were carrying, made it
fairly obvious that we were British, and we were quickly approached and made
most welcomed by Anne-Lise, our contact at the Office
of the Mayor of Aubers, without whose help the
commemoration would not have happened.
We were introduced to Mrs Annie Lung, Mayor
of Aubers, and also to the local teacher who was to
act as interpreter. Whilst awaiting the arrival of the Mayor of Richebourg, we were chatting with the interpreter, and
telling her about our chance meeting that morning with Neville, and had just
said that he had probably travelled the furthest to be there, when we heard someone say
“I can beat that, I come from Gloucester!”
As six o’clock approached the Mayor arrived,
and the eighteen standard bearers formed up in two rows from the Cross to the
Altar Stone. The Mayor of Aubers, made a speak of welcome, which was duly interpreted for our
benefit. Gerard Delahahaye, Mayor of Richebourg, then spoke about the battle, and of the numbers
of men who died in the early morning of 30th June 1916, and said that he
considered it an honour to lead this, the first act of commemoration in
eighty-nine years, to such brave men.
Three wreaths were then laid, for The Royal
Sussex Regiment, the village of Aubers, and finally
for Richebourg, following which a bugler played the
French version of the Last Post, there was a two minute silence, which
concluded with Reveille. The National Anthem was played, following which our
hosts sung, with great gusto, the Marseillese.
The main commemoration over, M. Le Maire asked that we accompany him to thank the bugler and
standard bearers for coming. This done, we then presented him with a cut glass
paperweight, a gift from the Mayor of Worthing, Major Tom Wye M.B.E., reminding
him that Worthing and Richebourg had been closely
associated after the war, and a letter which read:
“The Mayor and people of Worthing send
greetings to the Mayor and people of Richebourg l’Avoué, with this small token of friendship, on the
occasion of the commemoration of this ninetieth anniversary of the Battle of
the Boar’s Head.
After the Great War ended, we were linked in
rebuilding both bricks and mortar, and a way of life, which had been put aside
for the duration of the war.
In July of 1921 M. Paul Boulainguez,
the Mayor of Richebourg, and his son Charles, visited
Worthing. On the Sunday M. Boulainguez laid a wreath
at Worthing’s new war memorial. In a short speech he said that he considered it
a sacred duty to render homage to those sons of Worthing 
who died
for their country and now lay under French soil.
We thank you for continuing to honour the men
of Worthing, and of all Sussex, who remain with you in Richebourg,
especially on this 30th of June, 2006, the ninetieth anniversary of their
sacrifice, which took them from this life into the next.”
The Mayor was clearly moved by this, and said
that he felt deeply honoured.
Worthing lost thirty men at the Battle of the
Boar’s Head, including Private John Searle, possibly the youngest of those who
died that day, at just fifteen and three quarter years of age. He had joined up
in April the preceding year. Also killed were Reginald Charles Manwaring, of Broadwater, age
eighteen, enlisted at sixteen. The Blaker family lost
two sons that day, Leonard is buried at Richebourg
St. Vaast, Frank is
commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing. The Pannell family lost three of their four
sons at The Boar’s Head, Charles (SD/4063, 13th Bn.), and William
(SD/5108 12th Bn.), brother Alfred (SD/5107 13th Bn.) was initially reported missing, but later confirmed
killed in action. All three brothers’ names appear on the Loos Memorial.
Our day was concluded by an invitation to the
Village Community Centre for drinks. The Mayor showed us an aerial photograph
in his office on which many Great War landmarks could be clearly identified,
including of course The Boar’s Head, and also a framed scroll detailing the men
of the Cinque Ports Battalion from Wadhurst, with whom Aubers is
twinned, who were killed at the Battle of Aubers
Ridge. After some conversation it became apparent that M. Delahaye
would like to do something similar for the Battle of the Boar’s Head, and
indeed that the commemoration is likely to become an annual event, a sentiment
echoed by several of the Richebourg residents we met
that day.
We returned to our billet that night knowing
that, on the eve of the Somme Commemorations, for some of us the men of Lowther’s Lamb had not been forgotten.
On the following day we journeyed down to
Loos-en-Gohelle, where we easily
located the
Standing in the Richebourg
St Vaast Cemetery, one could be forgiven for
underestimating the scale of the loss by the Southdowners
that early morning in 1916, but, after visiting The Loos Memorial and Cabaret
Rouge, the enormity of it all is something which leaves an indelible imprint on
ones mind. Only on returning home, and starting the
work of recording the details of each cemetery or memorial, did the impact of
that one battle, lasting just four and half hours, on the families of Sussex
finally bring home why June 30th 1916 became known as “the day Sussex died”.
since the ninetieth anniversary
WE HAVE REMEMBERED THEM.
We will endeavour to continue to do so
at
Richebourg St. Vaast
Post Military Cemetery
At 17.00hrs
on the last Saturday in June
each year until the 100th
anniversary
The 100th Aniversary Commemoration will be held at 17.00hrs on 30th
June 2016.
God willing we will
be there.
The major
Boar’s Head Cemeteries are:
© 2006-2010 John A Baines