Troops leave Horsham early in World War One

In the Horsham Museum & Art Gallery archives is this fascinating photo from August 1914.

It shows troops from the 4th Battalion (or division as the caption says) Royal Sussex Regiment marching along Park Street, in Horsham, watched by a big crowd..

The notable feature is that war was only declared in July that year so the picture is from the early days during the conflict.

The 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment was a part-time Territorial Force with its base in Horsham. In April 1915, though, they were transferred to the 160th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division at Cambridge which was sent overseas.

Quite possibly some of the troops pictured would have been in the 160th Brigade which served during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915, during which heavy losses were endured.