Celebrating our armed forces, veterans and cadets

A number of free events, including a Spitfire flyover, are taking place on Saturday 28 and Monday 30 June to celebrate Armed Forces Day and commemorate the Battle of Boar’s Head.

Armed Forces Day is marked annually to show support for the Armed Forces community, including currently serving troops, service families, reserves, veterans and cadets.

To join in on the nationwide celebrations and show our support, we’ll be flying Armed Forces Day flags from council buildings in the run up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 28 June.

Commemorative events will also be held on Monday 30 June to mark the anniversary of the First World War Battle of the Boar’s Head in 1916 at Richebourg-l'Avoué in France.

The events are dedicated to the memory of the 366 men of the Southdown’s battalions of The Royal Sussex Regiment who lost their lives at the battle, known in regimental history as ‘The Day that Sussex died’.

Events in the City

Saturday 28 June

Brighton & Hove Armed Forces Day celebrations at Take Shelter

10am to 4pm, Downs Junior School, Rugby Road, Brighton BN1 6ED

A fantastic day of activities for the entire family has been planned to celebrate our Armed Forces at Downs Junior School, the home of Take Shelter WW2 Museum.

You can look forward to displays and demonstrations with the Army Cadet Force, displays of wartime music and dancing, tours of the air raid shelter, vintage and emergency vehicles and a Spitfire flyover at 2.55pm.

The event is free and fully accessible, but tickets are required to access the air raid shelter.

Learn more about the event on the Armed Forces Day website.

Spitfire flyover

2.55pm, Downs Junior School, Rugby Road, Brighton BN1 6ED

Enjoy a flyover of the legendary Spitfire fighter aircraft and listen out for the distinctive roar of its vintage engines at the Take Shelter Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Monday 30 June

The Royal Sussex Regimental Association Charity Walk Event and Service to commemorate Boars Head

6.30am to 7.30am, American Express Stadium, Village Way, Falmer, BN1 9B

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 109th anniversary of the Battle of Boar’s Head, British Army veteran Guy Radlett will conduct a loaded march of approximately 120 miles along the Sussex coast from Rye Harbour to Chichester Harbour.

The first leg, approximately 55 miles long, ends near Brighton, where on the morning of 30 June at the AMEX stadium, a 1916 trench whistle will sound in tribute to the Royal Sussex Regiment’s fallen, Sussex’s wider contribution to the wars, and to more recent losses.

Learn more about the event.

Boar’s Head Memorial

10.45am, The Boars Head Memorial, Brighton War Memorial, Old Steine Gardens, BN1 1EN

An event commemorating the First World War Battle of the Boar’s Head in 1916 at Richebourg-l'Avoué in France.

Pledging our support to the Armed Forces Community

This spring we pledged our continuous support to the Armed Forces Community by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

The pledge demonstrates our commitment to removing disadvantage that members of Armed Forces Communities might face and recognising the sacrifice and contribution that active service personnel, reservists, veterans and military families make to our city.

As signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have been awarded silver status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and are currently working towards gold status.

By promoting forces-friendly policies and raising awareness, we aim to be a frontrunner in the nationwide effort to understand the complex issues that can impact reservists and to provide the support needed.

Celebrating bravery and sacrifice

Councillor Amanda Grimshaw, Mayor of Brighton & Hove and Armed Forces Champion for Brighton & Hove, said: “It’s an honour to be able to dedicate a day of celebration to the bravery and sacrifice of our Armed Forces Communities.

“Earlier this year, we celebrated the anniversary of VE-Day, an important date that defined our way of life for 80 years.

“Now we have an opportunity to show our appreciation to the currently serving troops, service families, reserves, veterans and cadets with an exciting day of activities and even a flyover of the iconic Spitfire.

“We will also be marking the anniversary of the Battle of 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’.”