Marking Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day flags are flying from council buildings in the run up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 24 June.
The flags are in place at Hove and Brighton town halls from Wednesday 21 June until the day itself.
Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for the Armed Forces community, including currently serving troops, service families, veterans and cadets.
Veterans and serving members will be given a special reception by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, and Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, the council’s Armed Forces Champion, at Brighton Town Hall on 30 June.
A commemorative event is also being held on at 11am on 30 June at the Royal Sussex Regiment memorial in the Old Steine, Brighton, to commemorate the First World War Battle of the Boar’s Head in 1916 at Richebourg-l'Avoué in France.
The service is organised by the Brighton & Hove Branch of the Royal Sussex Regimental Association, and dedicated to the memory of the members of the regiment who lost their lives on the eve of the Battle of the Somme.
Three battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment were used in what was supposed be a diversionary attack. In the space of about 3 hours, 366 men lost their lives and a further 1,000 were wounded or captured.
Councillor Grimshaw said: “It’s important to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Boar’s Head.
“Sixty-two men from the city died in the battle - the city’s greatest loss of life in one day and scarcely a town or village in Sussex did not have men who were affected. As a consequence, it’s known in regimental history as ‘The day Sussex died’.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces to the Mayor’s Parlour.
“It will be a real pleasure to be able to personally say thank you and show our appreciation to them for their service.”