The Sister Regiment

Regimental Connection

The Old Essex Regiments

The 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot was raised by Colonel James Long in 1741. It first saw action in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. It then fought in North America during the Seven Years War (1755-1760) and the American Revolutionary War (1775-1780). During the Napoleanic Wars it fought in the Caribbean (1795-1800), Egypt (1800-1801), Portugal (1810-1812), Spain (1812-1813) (during which time they captured a French Imperial Eagle) and finally in Belgium (1815) where the regiment fought in the famous Battle of Waterloo. Then in the War of 1812 it fought in America (1814-1815).

For the next 65 years of the 19th century, the regiment took part in colonial campaigns in Burma (1825-1826), Afghanistan (1840-1842) (The soldiers who fought here were almost all wiped out, 65 survivors formed a last stand at Gandamak and fought to the bitter end, only Captain Thomas Souter arrived as he wrapped the Regimental Colours around his waist; the attackers assumed this meant he was a high-ranking officer.), China (1860-1861). Additionally the Regiment fought in Russia during the Crimean War (1854). 3 Members of the regiment were awarded Victoria Crosses, two in China and one in Crimea.

The 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot was raised by Lord Charles Manners in 1755. It first saw action in Cuba during the 7 Years War in 1765. It then fought in Gibraltar (1779), Caribbean (1794-1795), Holland (1799). It fought in the Napoleonic Wars, specifically: India (1809), Reunion (1809-1810), Mauritius (1810) and Holland (1814). 

After the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment did not see action for 40 years until it fought in the Crimean War against Russia (1855-1856). It then fought in the Indian Mutiny (1857).

The Essex Regiment

The Essex Regiment was formed in 1881 as a result of the Childers Reform which merged the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot and the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot. It received 11 battle honours from the 44th Regiment and three battle honours from the 56th Regiment. At formation the Essex regiment had two regular battalions, two militia battalions and four volunteer battalions. 

From 1900-1902 both of the regular battalions, one of the militia battalions and two companies from the volunteer battalions fought in the 2nd Boer War. The regiment suffered 211 killed during the war. In 1908 one of the militia battalions was disbanded. 

During World War One the regiment expanded massively. The number of volunteer battalions increased to 12. Four service battalions were raised as well eight reserve battalions. Eventually the entire regiment numbered 30 battalions. The regiment fought in the following campaigns: Gallipoli (1915), Libya (1915-1916), Western Front (1916-1918), Sinai & Palestine (1917-1918). The regiment then tried to suppress the Irish war of Independence (1919-1921). 

During the interwar period the regiment helped put down the Arab Revolt (1936-1939). By WW2 the regiment consisted of two regular battalions and two volunteer battalions. This was increased during the war to two regular battalions, four volunteer battalions, three volunteer anti-aircraft battalions (one heavy), one service armoured battalion, one service artillery battalion, one service parachute battalion, one home defence battalion, one youth home defence battalion, one service battalion and one service armoured headquarters defence company.

The regiment fought in the following campaigns: France (1940), The Blitz (1940), North Africa (1941-1943), Syria (1941), Burma (1942-1943), Italy (1943-1945), Liberation of Greece (1944), Liberation of France (1944), Liberation of the Netherlands (1945), Invasion of Germany (1945).

After the war the regiment decreased to just one regular battalion and briefly an anti aircraft battalion. In 1958 it merged with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment to form the 3rd East Anglian Regiment which then became part of the Royal Anglian Regiment in 1964. The Essex battalion of the regiment was disbanded in 1992. Currently the only lineage of the Essex Regiment still in existence is C (Essex) Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment and 3 (Essex and Hertford) Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment (Reserve)