Archaeologists uncover World War I training camp in Bexhill

21 January 2025

Image Archaeology South East — Image: Archaeology South-East

On 15 January 2025, BBC Sussex reported on an archaeological excavation at Cooden Camp in Bexhill, East Sussex. The camp, which opened in 1914, served as a training base for soldiers, including the Royal Sussex Regiment which suffered devastating losses during the Battle of the Boar's Head on 30 June 1916—a day locally remembered as "The Day Sussex Died."

The excavation, carried out by Archaeology South-East in partnership with East Sussex County Council and housebuilder Bellway, has uncovered numerous artefacts, such as bottles, plates, boots, and spent ammunition. These findings provide a glimpse into the lives of the men who trained at the site, many of whom joined up together, trained together, and tragically died together.

Cooden Camp also hosted troops from South Africa and Australia during the war and later served as Princess Patricia’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital in 1918. It closed in 1919.

The excavation is focused on the northern section of the site and is set to conclude by the end of January. The project balances historical preservation with modern development, as the area is earmarked for the construction of 70 new homes.