A SCHOOL is setting out a new project looking at the Day Sussex Died.

Bishop Bell School in Eastbourne is embarking on a new project exploring The Royal Sussex Regiment in the Battle of Boar's Head in the First World War.

The project was made possible by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £9,200 for Eastbourne PALS, a not for profit organisation promoting local history.

Working in partnership with Sound Architect Creative Media, Eastbourne PALS gave a class of year 8 students from the school a lesson on the battle.

Chris Richards from PALS, led the session during which the students could examine artefacts from the war including weapons.

He said: “It’s very important to keep this history alive, even though no doubt 100 years seems like a long time ago to the students.

"The Battle of Boar's Head was hugely significant to Sussex, especially the Eastbourne area.”

The battle, in Richebourg, France, took place on June 30 1916 and more than 1,000 Sussex men were killed or wounded.

The attack was a crucial strategic manoeuvre to deflect attention from the attack at the Somme further to the north which was due to start the next day: both battles resulted in a huge loss of life.

It is known at the Day Sussex Died due to the number of men from the country wiped out.

History teacher Jenny Clifton said: “In this current age it’s hard for the students to really understand how it was to live through war.

"This is an exciting opportunity for them to research something crucial to the area, and start tracing the descendants of the men in that battle. Maybe they will find a great grandfather or great uncle who was actually there.”

Stuart McLeod, head of Heritage Lottery Fund South East, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players we’re pleased to support this project which will ensure the important stories and knowledge of the First World War’s continuing legacy are passed to the next generation.”

Project co-ordinators would like to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to research and anyone who had relatives in the Regiment.

Contact the project manager Susanne Crosby on 07592 021590.