CCF visit from the Royal Sussex Regiment Association
At the start of term, the CCF were fortunate to have had a visit from members of the Royal Sussex Regiment Association.The Association is made up of former members of the Royal Sussex Regiment which was disbanded in 1966. Longhill High School CCF are the only remaining uniformed unit that still wears the cap badge, proudly keeping the regiment alive in Sussex.
Led by Major Barry Lane (ret), he and his team gave the cadets an in depth look at the regiments history dating back to when it was formed (as the 35th Regt of foot) in 1701. Its history took the regiment through the Colonial wars in America, the Napoleonic wars including Waterloo, India, the Boer war, WWI and II, Korea, Malaya and many other smaller conflicts.
In addition to this, they brought with them a number of artefacts from the regimental archives. These included a number of medals including ones from Waterloo (the first campaign medals ever to be awarded) and most impressively, three Victoria Crosses.
The VC’s were awarded to soldiers of the regiment during WWI. It is the highest military award for gallantry. It was a unique and extremely rare opportunity for the cadets to get so close to such historic and valuable medals.
The cadets learnt a vast amount about those who have proudly served our county for over two hundred years. With thanks to our guests from the RSRA, we hope that this knowledge will allow them to continue to wear the cap badge with dignity and pride.
We thank Major Lane, his team and the Association for their time and for bringing such valued items to display to our cadets.
