A FIRST World War battle known as ‘The Day Sussex Died’ will be honoured on Saturday when the Mayor of Richebourg is granted the freedom of the borough of Worthing.

The Mayor, Gerard Delahaye, and schoolchildren and officials from Pas-de-Calais, will visit Worthing to receive the award from the Mayor of Worthing Councillor Alex Harman.

Cllr Harman said: “Honouring the town of Richebourg by bestowing the the freedom of the borough of Worthing upon the Mayor’s office is long overdue. It’s important to not only remember the past, but also look to the future.

“I’m very proud that this has been brought forward during my year as Mayor.”

Officially known as the Battle of Boar’s Head, the battle which so affected the county took place on June 30, 1916.

In less than five hours more than 1,300 soldiers from the three South Downs Battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment were either killed, wounded, captured or missing.

Of the 366 who died, 22 were from Worthing.

The freedom will officially be bestowed during a ceremony in Worthing Town Hall.

It will be proceeded by a short commemoration service at the Battle of Boar’s Head memorial in Beach House Park.

During the visit, a Royal Sussex Regiment flag, paid for by Chris Coopey, president of Worthing Adur Chamber of Commerce, will fly outside Worthing Town Hall.

The weekend will also see an unveiling of a piece of collaboratively-designed stained glass on Worthing Pier.

The glass was jointly designed by the students from Chatsmore Catholic High School, Worthing, Ecole Marcel Lejosne and Ecole du Sacré Cœur in Richebourg. A duplicate piece of glass will also be presented to the town of Richebourg.

The visit by the French delegation has been arranged by Chatsmore Catholic High School, who forged links with Richebourg through their Legacy 110 programme which encourages schoolchildren to become involved in projects to pass on the legacy of remembering World War One. The school also unveiled the permanent memorial to the battle in Beach House Park in 2016.

Julian Morgan, assistant headteacher at Chatsmore, said: “We are very excited about the visit. It’s not only a chance for our pupils to appreciate how close to home events of the First War were felt, but also to engage with children from Richebourg in a cultural exchange while exploring our shared history.”

“It’s incredible that this is happening as it is building on the long-lasting friendship between the two areas built nearly a century ago,” added Councillor Harman.

The events also builds on the links created by former Worthing Mayor Ellen Chapman, who first formed connections with the town back in the 1920s.