MORE than a hundred relatives of those who died in a First World War battle will travel to France today to mark the 100th anniversary.

Nearly 400 men from the Royal Sussex Regiment were killed in just a matter of hours at the Battle of Boar's Head on June 30, 1916.

Given the number of the dead from the county, the battle has become known as the Day Sussex Died.

The battle was fought by the county's pal's battalions and as such nearly every town and village across the county was affected.

On the 100th anniversary tomorrow, around 120 relatives of the dead as well as 100 plus representatives from the Royal Sussex Regiment Association will gather at Richebourg-l'Avoué, a small village north of Lens.

The battle, which all but destroyed the village, was a diversionary tactic ahead of the Battle of the Somme the following day.

Gary Baines, from Shoreham Fort, is one of the organisers of the memorial in Richebourg-l'Avoué.

He said: "We have a great relationship with those over in France and we are always well received.

"This battle is largely forgotten given that the Somme was the following day but it is an important part of Sussex history and it is important we mark the anniversary."

At 6pm a military service will begin in Northern France to mirror a service being held in Worthing.

The Drumhead ceremony outside Worthing Town Hall, in Chapel Road, will be conducted by reverend David Farrant, honorary chaplain of the Worthing Combined Ex-Services Association.

A message to the people of Worthing from the deputy mayor of Richebourg will be read and 22 pupils from St Andrew's CHurch of England Boys School, Sackville Road, Worthing, will lay 22 crosses to mark the town's dead.

There will then be prayers followed by The Last Post which will be performed by 12-year-old Grace Heath, from Sompting.

The Lancing Brass Band of the Royal British Legion will also be playing throughout the ceremony.

There will be a similar memorial services across the county including at the Old Steine War Memorial in Brighton starting at 5pm.

Church bells will also ring out across Sussex to mark the 100th anniversary.

At Chichester Cathedral there will be a full peal, with the bells ringing from 1pm for three hours.

Churches across the county will then sound from 5pm to coincide with the start of the service in France.

Don't miss our 100th anniversary commemorative special in tomorrow's Argus.