The Essex Regiment 1929-1950 History

I'll do a search of ABE books and see if i can get a copy of this book. Not much online about the Essex Regiment. How many Bn's were raised during the war ? I found something on the BBC site about 19th Bn Essex Regt ? Was there a 19th ? Besides the Home Guard Bn's I was only aware of the 1st, 2nd, 1/4, 2/4, 1/5 and 2/5.

The Essex are my local Regiment, i live just down the road from the Regimental chapel at Warley. My Father served in 4/5 Essex before it became the East Anglian and then Royal Anglian Regiment. I served in C Essex Company of 1 Royal Anglian.

Regards

Rich

Hi Rich,

I found my copy through AbeBooks, I've found it to be quite a good site. If you are after a copy I would highly recommend it. The book has been a good read so far, and even though I haven't finished it yet, it has definitely been a good insight.

My interest with the Regiment comes from my Grandfather who served with the 1st Essex from 1930-41. I decided to get the book to discover a little bit more about where he served, etc. And as you said, there isn't much online about them.

There was indeed a 19th Battalion, raised in Egypt in 1943 and disbanded in 1944. Their role was primarily to relieve the 1st Welch in Sudan, garrison duty in Khartoum and the training of Free French forces, amongst other things.

Overall the Wartime battalions of the Essex Regiment were the; 1st, 2nd, 1/4th, 2/4th, 5th (1/5th), 2/5th, 59th (The Essex Regiment) H.A.A R.A, 1/6th (64th Searchlight), 2/6th (65th Searchlight), 8th (153rd R.A.C), 9th, 10th (9th Para), 19th and the Home Defence (7th, 30th, 70th Essex).

Regards,

Nipper

 

Hi Nipper, many thanks for that, greatly appreciated.
I haven't finished reading the scans yet but it appears to be a somewhat abbreviated version of the fuller accounts in Warmen Courageous. Very useful.

Rich, I am just down the road from you in Hornchurch and I used to work in Warley (an office - not the Hospital!).

 

Nipper,

Thanks mate - the narrative was much more detailed than I had hoped for. I think that the C.O. also produced a narrative for the offical historians which I hope to track down at the National Archives. If so, I'll post what I find here.

Again, many thanks.

Tom

 

Hi Nipper, many thanks for that, greatly appreciated.
I haven't finished reading the scans yet but it appears to be a somewhat abbreviated version of the fuller accounts in Warmen Courageous. Very useful.

My pleasure Mike, I'm glad the info still turned out to be useful

Nipper,

Thanks mate - the narrative was much more detailed than I had hoped for. I think that the C.O. also produced a narrative for the offical historians which I hope to track down at the National Archives. If so, I'll post what I find here.

Again, many thanks.

Tom

It was no problem at all Tom. if you do manage to find anything I would love to have a quick squiz, cheers!



Regards,

Nipper

 

welcome Viking!

I had some of your chaps as my Honour party
when I got my Essex memorial installed at the
Boleyn
the West Ham Pals of 13th Essex: The Hammers Battalion Memorial

all the best

Hi,

I read about it in Castle magazine, good articule. When i left the Regiment i spent a bit of time with The Green Jackets at the TA centre at the Cedars in West Ham. Used to be an Essex Regiment TA centre during the war. In fact i think it was the same drill hall that Lt Col Newman paraded at (St Naziare VC -2 Commando). Great building with lot's of history.

Rich

 

Hi Nipper, many thanks for that, greatly appreciated.
I haven't finished reading the scans yet but it appears to be a somewhat abbreviated version of the fuller accounts in Warmen Courageous. Very useful.

Rich, I am just down the road from you in Hornchurch and I used to work in Warley (an office - not the Hospital!).


Hi Mike,

Did you know that the nursing home down the road was the original Officers mess.
Many years ago as a kid you could still see the remains of the WW1 trenches on the training area in the woods. Thorndon park was also a big Army camp before D-Day.

Richard

 

Hi Rich, here is the Roll of Honour as requested, apologies for the delay

Regards, Nipper

(Second lot incoming with next post)

 

Roll of Honour continued

 

The barracks at Warley were a disgrace, ex crimea war I think.Did my national service square bashing there. The Essex were at Luneburg, Germany then, 1952 and the ex jerry barracks were superb.Col Newmans son was a corporal on the training staff.

 

Hi ya . Hope you could help maybe.?
My grandfather served in the Essex regiment during ww 2
6th anti aircraft,59th regiment , 164 battery
He never talked to his family about this while he was alive ,I would appreciate any information that could help us piece together his past.

 

Hi Squeeze, welcome to the forum!

Can you provide your Grandad's name or service number? And is there anything specific you would like to know? Perhaps some of us might be able to help you

Do you know you can also apply for his service records if you are the next of kin, here is the link to the MOD Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel

Regards,

Nipper

 

Hi,
My father joined the Essex Regiment 5.10.25. 1st battalion 17.3.26, then 2nd Battalion 7.3.28 served in India from 7.3.28 to 6.4.34. North West Fronier.
Any info most appreciated.

 

Hi BrookBrack,
Best idea would be to apply for his Service Record, see link in post#31.
That should answer most questions but it will cost £30 and take several months to arrive.
Good luck,

Mike

 

Thanks for that will sort it out

 

Hi BrookBack,

Sounds like your dad was in the 2nd Bt and India the same time as my Grandad. ('33-'35)

Unfortunately the book doesn't have much regarding India, only a brief mention of Gallantry awards, etc. The Pompadours (2nd bt.) did however, win the Indian Football Association Shield at Calcutta and the Vizianagram Tournament in Delhi.
Their stay in India was quite peaceful before being shipped in Sudan (or Egypt) in 1935/36.

Sorry I couldn't find much, but I wish you all the best with the service records, they really are a wealth of information!
If you live in England, you can try giving the Essex Regiment Museum a visit, they might have copies of the Essex Regiment Gazette you might be able to read or have any other information you are after.

All the best,

Nipper.

 

Hi, my Grandfather, Corporal Herbert Benjamin Fincher 6021417, was in the 1/5th Essex Regiment. I know that he was called up in 1939 and as a small arms expert was training troops in Gravesend for some time, eventually being deployed to North Africa in 1941 - I think... He was in italy and was involved in the Sangro River Battle. On the 23rd of November 1943 he was injured and was brought home. He was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on the 23rd of November and I would love to know more about that day and the days preceding. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

Maria,

Here is a copy of his MM citation:

 

Thank you very much. M

 

I've just seen my great uncles name on the Role of Honour, Private Arthur H Morley.

I've also used the CWGC website to find out when he died, which was 11 June 1944.

I'd be interested to know what he would have been involved in around the time of his death, I believe it may have been Battle of Essex Wood.

Would anyone have more info about this?

Thanks

Charlotte

 

Hi Charlotte, welcome to the forum! Sorry about taking so long to reply.

From your Great Uncle's CWGC page, I can see he was in the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment.
The 2nd Bn. took part in D-Day operations and the Invasion of Normandy on the 6th of June 1944, landing slightly off-course to the east of Le Hamel and over 2 hours later than expected, albeit with no casualties. From Le Hamel they pushed through to capture Bayeux, encountering resistance in Buhot and St. Sulpice along the way.
On the 11th of June the order came through for the 2nd Essex to move forward to Bernieres-Bocage (roughly SSW of Bayeux) and attack the the orchard north of Lingveres and west of Verrieres. The terrain in the area was a "killing ground" with flat, open country for miles dotted with hedges and shrubs, although ideal ground for defending forces, it was exceptionally hard to traverse as an attacking force. It was not until that the 2nd Essex were within 500 yards of their objective that the enemy opened fire with mortars, artillery and small arms. The Battalion took casualties but continued to push to their objective and quickly cleared it of hostiles. As they started to dig in and form a defensive, the enemy followed up with a combined infantry and armoured counter attack, there was no sign of the Battalion's anti tank weapons or supporting allied armoured units and the Battalion took heavy casualties. It was recorded that the enemy tanks worked in pairs, with great co-ordination and blasted Battalion sections from point blank range.
Nevertheless the 2nd Essex held its ground and by nightfall the enemy armour withdrew. However soon after, the enemy launched another counter attack with infantry supported by flame throwers mounted on half tracks. The counter attack was halted by a combination of mortar fire and Piat, although the situation was still serious and the Commanding Officer called for an artillery fire on the Battalion location (on the assumption that Battalion itself would be immune due to their slit trenches). The gamble was successful and artillery barrage proved to be too much for the enemy and they withdrew. By 1am on the 12 of June, the situation was still grave and there was still no contact with Armoured Brigade, but contact was made and the anti tank guns and armoured units arrived shortly thereafter and the situation improved, allowing for the position to be reorganised and the wounded to be evacuated.
Casualties had been severe for the Battalion, however they stood their ground and Verrieres Wood (named Essex Wood after their memorable battle) remained firmly in their grasp.

Although I have only summarised information, I hope it helps and answers any questions you have. If you would like to know more or need any help please don't hesitate to message me or ask anyone else on the forum.

Regards,

Nipper

(P.S. a previous post of mine (#31) contains a link about applying for service records from the MOD - I highly suggest giving it a look!)