5th Royal Sussex

5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment, was a Territorial Army Battalion of The Royal Sussex Regiment.

Outbreak of War
The battalion was ordered to mobilse on 1 September, and was initially employed guarding vulnerable points in Sussex. They then moved to Dorset to carry out heavy training for deployment overseas, the HQ Wing seems to have been sent to Cattistock, with the other companies at Toller, Melbury & Evershot. Here they joined with the 2nd & 4th Battalions to form the 133rd (Royal Sussex) Brigade of the 44th (Home Counties) Division.

Battle of France
On 3 April 1940, the Bn left Cattistock for Southampton and was then shipped to Cherbourg on the night of the 8/9 April on board the S.S. Amsterdam. The battalion was made up of 29 Offices and 690 other ranks. During the night of the 9/10 April the Bn was then moved onto Vivoin, and did some final training. The Bn then moved to Belleuse, and then after 2 days marched to St.Pol, with the HQ being set up at Conteville, Somme, with the other companies at Eps, Pas-de-Calais and Hestrus. On 11 May they then moved onto Lillers to perform L or C Duties (Line of Communication ???) also listed as Guard duties. The unit then moved onto Vichtrat Peteghen (Belgium) via Motor transport to take up defensive duties. After arrival they were told to march back 17 miles into France, then after marching all night were ordered to turn round again and head straight back to where they had come from, so marched 35 miles in 24 hours !!!! On 20 May they moved onto Wortegem to take up definsive duties covering the river Escaut, with trenches on the forward slopes.

The Bn started combat on 20 May when they came under shell & mortar fire. On the 22nd the Bn retreated to Coutrai, and then on the 23rd to hospital for incurables at St.Andre (near Lille), 160 casualties were reported here. On 24 May the Bn was sent to Viller Berquin, and on the 25th to Strazelle where they encountered German tanks and took heavy fire. On the 25th/26th they moved onto rouge Croix, taking a defensive position facing Hazebrouck, then pulled back to Mont de Cats. On the 27th they come under heavy fire from Dive Bombers and shells. Finally, on the 28th they retreated via Poperinghe, to Bray Dunes from where they were eventually evacuated.