A century ago today, the downtrodden and needy people of Europe were turning towards Sussex for sanctuary.

A home in St Helen’s Road in Hastings was opened as a hostel for Belgium refugees escaping the horror of the front line of war.

The Argus reported that “every possible comfort” had been provided for the Belgian visitors.

Mr AG Witteryek, from Bruges, praised the generosity of Hastings folk in accepting his countrymen, expressing the “heartfelt gratitude of the Belgians for all the English had done for them”.

On the front line, two Sussex Police officers were injured during fighting.

Eastbourne’s Sergeant Joseph Joy and Private James Jarman, of the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment, were both injured in France, with Private Jarman said to be “dangerously wounded”.

But it was not all bad news, with reason to cheer on the home front as the charge for admission to concerts in Devonshire Park in Eastbourne were reduced from a shilling to sixpence.

The Argus reported that the first weekend of lower prices led to audiences “both large and enthusiastic”.

The performance of HMS Pinafore was praised and our reporter said that patriotic music had a “good doing” among the spectators.

“Speaking Pictures” were set to be shown in the pavilion twice a day, including the latest war footage.

And there was more good news for the town as Councillor CW Bolton was retained as Mayor of Eastbourne for another year – his third as chief magistrate.

Coun Bolton was described as “thoroughly businesslike in his methods”.

A man of his “proven ability” was needed for the coming year, which The Argus said was expected to “lack much of the social and festive atmosphere of previous years prior to the war”.