Tower and Town, November 2025 (view the full edition)Twent-eight Short Days In FranceThe need for soldiers saw Marlborough residents join Regiments across the country. During the First World War, The Royal Sussex Regiment expanded to 23 battalions. Beyond the regulars, 'service battalions' were formed as part of the `New Army' raised by Lord Kitchener in 1914-1915. (see graphic below). John Bussell served with the 7th Service Battalion. As a boy he volunteered to serve in the Imperial Yeomanry in the Boer War. Returning in 1901 he went up to Oxford, was a blue for Rugby in both 1903-1904, and rowed at stroke in a College eight. In 1905 he was invited to play rugby for England which he declined (due to injury). He taught at St Edward's Oxford, was ordained in 1905 and in January 1914 came to Marlborough College as a master. His tenure was brief. Just months after the war started on 28th July, he was commissioned into the 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment as an infantry Captain in September. The 7th was raised with a flurry of recruitment for men between the ages of 19-30 for the duration of the war. The Battalion began its journey to France from Aldershot with an initial detail consisting of 3 Officers, 102 other ranks, 79 horses, 24 vehicles and 9 bicycles. Captain Bussell ('A' Company), followed with 15 Officers and the remaining 450 soldiers, from Folkestone Harbour, departing for Le Harve, France, on the SS Victoria. Arriving at 1am on 1st June (after a smooth voyage) the Battalion disembarked at Boulogne, and marched to Ostrohove rest camp. Brought by train closer to the front, marching then became essential. On 6 June, in a reported 'great heat', a 15 1/2 mile march resulted in the unit being 156 men short on marching in. In billets, further training took place. By 11 June the Battalion was in Armentieres, with Captain Bussell taking 'A' Company into the Royal Irish Fusilier trenches for 24 hours to familiarise the men with the trenches. The casualties began. On the 15th, the Battalion was briefly in billets, before further training and marches until the 25th to reach Ploegsteert ('Plug Street'to British soldiers). The Commanding Officer and four Company commanders reconnoitred the Leinster Regiment trenches, planning for the Leinsters' relief on the 26th. By 9.10pm on the 27th 'A' Company had conducted its relief. Captain Bussell was on the front line. The next war diary entry baldly states, "28 June. 1040. Captain Bussell, Commanding 'A' Coy, killed in advance salient by sniper, when pointing out dangerous spot which required closing" He left behind his wife Dorothea Bussell, of Seven Stars, Marlborough with four children, two boys and two girls. Lawrence, the youngest, was born in December 1915, six months after his death.
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