Living in Newick
Private Wilfred Anger, 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, was born on
24 September 1919. The son of Lilian May and Ernest John Anger, a
cowman living at Manitou, Western Road in the parish of Newick.
Lilian, Wilfred's mum died in Newick in 1931 at the age of 30
Newick
1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Origin
Sussex’s county regiment was established in 1881 by amalgamating the 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment and the 107th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Light Infantry). The 35th was the senior of the two and had been linked with Sussex since 1805. It became the 1st Battalion, while the 107th was made the 2nd Battalion.
1st Battalion fought against Arabi Pasha in Egypt in 1822. It then took part in the First Sudan War (1884-85), fighting at Abu Klea (1885).
Over the next two decades, both battalions served on garrison duties in India, Britain and Ireland. 1st Battalion also joined the Boer War (1899-1902) in 1900, serving in Cape Colony.
First World War
1st Battalion remained in India and 2nd Battalion on the Western Front throughout the First World War (1914-18).
The regiment also formed 19 Territorial and New Army battalions during the conflict. These served in Salonika, Palestine, Mesopotamia, India and Russia. Over 6,800 men of the regiment were killed in the war.
The inter-war years also saw the two regular battalions undertake garrison duties in Germany, the West Indies, Northern Ireland, Britain, Malta, Singapore, India, Palestine and Egypt.
Second World War
1st Battalion remained in Egypt for the first year of the Second World War (1939-45), before fighting in Abyssinia (1940-41), Libya (1941-2) and Tunisia (1942-43). It spent 1943 alternating between Egypt and Palestine, prior to landing in Italy in December and fighting at Monte Cassino (1944). In November 1944, it moved to Greece following the German retreat.
Private Wilfred Anger's death
Private Wilfred Anger was killed in action on 28 March 1944 near Monte Cassino, Italy
The 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment took part in the Western Desert Campaign and the Italian Campaign, where it had a terrible time and was involved in the bloody Battle of Monte Cassino. During the battle the elements of the battalion were ordered into an attack in which they sustained well over 50% casualties.
Private Wilfred Anger Commemoration
Private Wilfred Anger is buried at the Cassino Military Cemetery in Egypt (plot 14, row F, grave 16).
The inscription on the headstone reads:
"MY DEAR SON YOU ARE EVER IN MY THOUGHTS. YOUR LOVING DAD"
