A MEMORIAL to the those who fought in the First World War battle which has become known as The Day Sussex Died will be unveiled on the 100th anniversary.

A special sculpture has also been commissioned and will be unveiled at a ceremony in Beach House Park, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, on Thursday, June 30.

The date is exactly 100 years on from one of the defining moments in this county's history.

More than 350 men from the Royal Sussex Regiment's pal's battalions were killed and more than a 1,000 injured in the diversionary attack ahead of the Somme.

As the costly offensive followed the day after, the Battle of Boar's Head - as it is otherwise known - has been largely forgotten.

Chatsmore Catholic High School in Goring and its feeder primary schools have been working for the last few months on the project to develop the memorial.

The school sought sponsorship from local businesses and Caring Lady Funeral directors donated a memorial stone engraved with World War One poems, maps and illustrations designed by pupils.

The memorial will be displayed alongside a commemorative sculpture that includes illustrations produced in a series of workshops by the school children.

Gary Baines, from Shoreham Fort, has been helping the school with the project.

He said: "It will be the UK's permanent memorial to commemorate the battle.

"It was one of the defining days in Sussex's history and it is important we remember it on this the 100th anniversary."

There are events and services being held across the county on June 30 to mark the anniversary including a Drumhead ceremony outside Worthing Town Hall in Chapel Road.

In Brighton there will be a ceremony at the Old Steine war memorial.

The Argus will be marking the historic occasion with extensive coverage on the day.

We will feature the story of the battle as well as interviews with relatives of those who fought and photographs from the time.