bᵻfˌoːɹ ðə wˈɔːɹ, ðə sˈɛkənd bɐtˈæliən, ɹˈɔɪəl sˈʌsɪks ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt hɐdbɪn sˈɜːvɪŋ ɪn nˈɔːɹðɚn ˈaɪɚlənd, ˌʌndɚ kəmˈænd ʌv nˈɔːɹðɚn ˈaɪɚlənd dˈɪstɹɪkt.
Before the war, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment had been serving in Northern Ireland, under command of Northern Ireland District.