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== Introduction ==
The information on this page has been extracted from a number == Campaign Actions ==[[Battle of sources, including Thomas Carter's 'Historical Record Bemaru]] 1841<br>[[Battle of the Forty-Fourth or the East Essex Regiment Gundamak]] 1842<br>[[Battle of Foot' (1864), John W. Burrows' 'The Essex Regiment : Short History and Chronology' (undated, but after World War One), 'The British Army Sinho]] 1860<br> [[Battle of 1914' and various War Office documents such as Muster Rolls and pension records.Taku Forts 1860|Battle of Taku Forts]] 1860
== Brief History == This The regiment was formed in 1741 as Long's Regiment, then in 1751 it was numbered as the 44th Footrearguard of the British Indian Army on the retreat from [[Kabul]] during the [[1st Afghan War]]. In 1782 it was designated There were only eight survivors from the 44th, or East Essex, Regiment then in 1881 it was renamed simply last stand at [[Battle of Gundamak|Gundamak]]. The regiment had to be reconstituted for the Essex RegimentCrimean War.
The regiment has a distinguished history: '''''Memorial in Alverstoke Church, near Gosport''' - "Sacred to the memory of Colonel T. Mackrell, ADC to Her Majesty. Major W.B. Scott, Captain T. Swaine, Captain R.B. McRea, Captain T.R. Leighton, Captain T. Robinson, Captain F.C. Collins, Lieutenant W.H. Dodgin, Lieutenant W.G. White, Lieutenant W.G. Wade, Lieutenant H. Cadett, Lieutenant S. Swinton, Lieutenant F.J.C. Fortye, Lieutenant A.W. Gray, Paymaster T. Bourke, having fought at Waterloo Lieut. and Qr. Master R.B. Halahan, Surgeon J. Harcourt, Assistant Surgeon W. Balfour, Assistant Surgeon W. Primrose. And 645 non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the 44th Regiment, who fell upon the field of battle in 1815 the disastrous Affghan War of 1841 and throughout 1842. They sank with arms in their hands unconquered, but overpowered by the Crimean War 1854-1856united horrors of climate, treachery, as well as numerous other famous and not-so-famous battlesbarbarous warfare; their colours saved by Captain J. HoweverSouter, as one of the few survivors, hang above this website stone, which is primarily concerned with family history in Indiaerected to their memory by the officers of the 44th Regiment, only the India-related history will be recountedJune 1844."'' (http://glosters.tripod.com/FAfghan. htm)
→Historical books online
[[Image:essex.gif|thumb|230px|right|Essex Regt Badge]]
'''The Essex Regiment known as The Pompadours'''
== Chronology ==
[[Image:Essex_Regiment_1905_India.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Essex Regiment in India 1905]]*'''1741''' raised as James Long's Regiment of Foot (ranked as the 55th Regiment of the Line)
*'''1748''' re-ranked as the 44th Regiment of the Line
*'''1751'''renamed the 44th Regiment of Foot
*'''1782''' became the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot
*'''1881''' amalgamated with the [[56th Regiment of Foot|56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot ]] to become 1st Battalion '''Essex Regiment'''
*'''1958''' merged with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment to form the 3rd East Anglian Regiment (16th/44th Foot)
*'''1964''' became 3rd Battalion of the new Royal Anglian Regiment
*'''1992''' 3rd Battalion disbanded
== History ==
{{Template:Origin|text=The information in this section has been extracted from a number of sources, including Thomas Carter's 'Historical Record of the Forty-Fourth or the East Essex Regiment of Foot' (1864), John W. Burrows' 'The Essex Regiment : Short History and Chronology' (undated, but after World War One), 'The British Army of 1914' and various War Office documents such as Muster Rolls and pension records.}}
The regiment has a distinguished history, having fought at Waterloo in 1815 and throughout the Crimean War 1854-1856, as well as numerous other famous and not-so-famous battles. However, as this website is primarily concerned with family history in India, only the India-related history will be recounted.
In consequence of the [[Indian Mutiny]], reinforcements had to be sent to all the Presidencies at short notice. The 44th had not long returned to England from the Crimea when it was selected as one of the regiments to reinforce India. On 26th August, 1857 the regiment embarked for [[Madras]], arriving on 12th January, 1858. The women and children were left at home. During the years 1858 and 1859, the regiment remained at [[Fort St George]], [[Madras]], from whence it proceeded on active service.
War with China ([[2nd China War]]) had broken out, owing to the Emperor refusing to ratify the treaty which had been signed two years previously by his ministers at Tien-Tsin. In this campaign, as in the Crimea, the French and British forces acted together. The 44th embarked for China on 31st January, 1860. The women and children of the regiment arrived at [[Madras]], from England, after the first detachment had departed, and were again left behind.
After landing at Kowloon, on the mainland opposite Hong Kong, the 44th proceeded on 15th May to the north of China, leaving the 'weakly men' behind at Hong Kong. On 16th June the regiment arrived at Talienwhan Bay, near the entrance of the Gulf of Pecheli, where the troops were employed in digging wells. The expedition re-embarked on 24th July and sailed for the Peiho River, and moved to the Pehtang River on 30th July.
The 44th took part in the capture of the [[Battle of Sinho |Sinho]] entrenchments and the storm [[Battle of the Taku fortsForts 1860]], in which two Victoria Crosses were won. The attacking party of the 44th and 67th Regiments swam the ditch and tried to force an entrance by the gate, but without success. Some of them then climbed up the wall to an embrasure and also at a point to the right of the gate. Lieutenant Lenon of the 67th stuck his sword into the wall to enable Lieutenant Rogers of the 44th , who had been wounded, to enter the fort, the first British officer to do so. For this service, 'Taku Forts' was inscribed on the Colours.
The regiment returned to [[Fort St George]], [[Madras]]. It was in [[Kamptee]] in Central India at least from 1876 to 1878, and then moved to Thyetmo in Burma in the first half of 1878. The Regiment was still at Thyetmo in 1881, when it was designated the First Battalion, The Essex Regiment, under which title it served in the South African War (1899-1902).
===1906-1913===
*26/12/1906 Arrived [[Thayetmyo]], Burma. 2 Companies detached to [[Meiktila]] and 2 Companies detached to [[Mandalay]].
*30/11/1908 Detachments embarked.
*14/12/1908 Rest of Battalion embarked at Rangoon on the "Hardinge" for Calcutta en route for Sitapur
*17/12/1908 Arrived [[Sitapur]]
*11/03/1909 HQ and half Battalion at [[Ranikhet]]
*31/10/1909 HQ and half Battalion at [[Quetta]]
*06/11/1909 Remaining half Battalion left Sitapur
*09/11/1909 Arrived Quetta
*05/11/1913 Embarked Karachi, half Battalion to Mauritius on the "Soudan", other half to Durban<ref>Page 9, Anzac Hero, Police Legend: An Adventure like no other by Lawrence J Harvey. The Story of William Harvey MC</ref>
===World War 1===
The [[First World War#Garrison Battalions|2nd Garrison Battalion]], Essex Regiment was formed in Halton Park in January 1916 and moved to India, where it then remained until the end of 1918. It was based at [[Nasirabad]] as part of the Nasirabad Brigade, 5th (Indian) Division.<ref>jimmybobjunior et al. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/60313-essex-regiment-in-india/ Essex Regiment In India?] ''Great War Forum'' 28 September 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2019.</ref>
Charles Dixon, was in B Company based at Inkerman Barracks, Nasirabad. There is a photograph taken at [[Landi Kotal]] Fort, NWF. He was also based at [[Mount Abu]] Sanitorium in May 1918<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/charlesgeorgedixon18961917/lest-we-forget-my-family-s-military-memorial/charles-dixon-1871-1918 Charles Dixon 1871- 1918]</ref> This was during the hot season when many troops were sent to [[Hill station|hill stations]].
A company is reported to have gone to Basra in Mesopotamia for work on Lines of Communication.<ref>[http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/essex-regiment/ Essex Regiment] longlongtrail.co.uk</ref>
==FIBIS resources==
*[[:Category:Essex Regiment images|Essex Regiment images]]
==Regimental flash==
The flash, also known as a pagri (puggaree) badge, or Foreign Service Helmet badge, was generally affixed to the pagri on the sun helmet. Based on the regimental nickname the Purple Pompadours, the flash was a tall strip of purple material.<ref> Bates, Stuart. [http://gmic.co.uk/topic/8447-wolseley-pattern-foreign-service-helmet/?do=findComment&comment=172664 Wolseley Pattern Foreign Service Helmet] ''GMIC Forum'' 30 Apr 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2016.</ref>
==Regimental histories==
*''The Essex Regiment. 1st Battalion (44th) 1741-1919'' by John Wm. Burrows [1923]. Series: [Essex Units in the War 1914-1919. vol. 1.] Available at the [[British Library]] UIN: BLL01001096553 and UIN: BLL01009576055
*''The Depot, 1st & 2nd Garrison, 3rd, 4th (Res), 12th, 14th, 18th, 19th & Training Res Bns, the Essex Regiment 1914-1921''. Series: Men of essex ; v. 6 The Essex Branch of the Western Front Association [2002?] Limited ed. of 50 numbered copies. Available at the BL UIN: BLL01009917819
*''The Essex Regiment, 1929-1950'' by Colonel T. A. Martin. 1952. Available at the BL UIN: BLL01001096547
==Regimental journal==
''The Essex Regiment Gazette'' commenced in 1909 and was suspended from 1914-1921.<ref>owen4256. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/115512-2nd-bn-essex-regiment/?do=findComment&comment=1103713 2nd Bn Essex Regiment] ''Great War Forum'' 23 January 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2019.</ref>
<br>The [[British Library]] holds copies from Vol. 7, no. 1 (July 1921) UIN: BLL01001096549
== External Links ==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/44th_(East_Essex)_Regiment_of_Foot 44th Foot] Wikipedia<br>*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_Regiment Essex Regiment] Wikipedia<br>*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Anglian_Regiment Royal Anglian Regiment] Wikipedia<br>*[http://web.archive.org/web/20080113102834/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/044-751.htm 44th (the East Essex) Regiment of Foot] including [http://web.archive.org/web/20080113181810/http://www.regiments.org/deploy/uk/reg-inf/044-1.htm deployments] Regiments.org, an archived site*[http://web.archive.org/web/20071228194647/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/044Essex.htm The Essex Regiment] including deployments: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080113181810/http://www.regiments.org/deploy/uk/reg-inf/044-1.htm 1st Battalion], [http://web.archive.org/web/20071221233610/http://regiments.org/deploy/uk/reg-inf/056-1.htm 2nd Battalion] Regiments.org, an archived site*[https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/visit/essex-regiment-museum/ Essex Regiment Museum] at the Chelsmford Museum, Essex.*[http://www.royalanglianmuseum.org.uk Royal Anglian Regiment Museum] www.royalanglianmuseum.org.uk. Covers the Royal Norfolk Regiment ([[9th Regiment of Foot|9th Foot]]), the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment ([[10th Regiment of Foot|10th Foot]]), the Suffolk Regiment ([[12th Regiment of Foot|12th Foot]]), the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment ([[16th Regiment of Foot|16th Foot]]), the Royal Leicestershire Regiment ([[17th Regiment of Foot|17th Foot)]]), the Essex Regiment (44th/ [[56th Regiment of Foot|56th Foot]]), and the Northamptonshire Regiment ([[48th Regiment of Foot|48th]]/ [[58th Regiment of Foot|58th Foot]])**Includes Virtual Tour/History Wall with Antecedent Regiments/The Essex Regiment 44th/56th Foot) (click or hover mouse)*[http://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk Essex Record Office] appears to hold some material relating to the Essex Regiment, but probably a limited amount.*[http://www.britishbattles.com/first-afghan-war/kabul-gandamak.htm Retreat from Kabul 1842] British Battles website*''Anzac Hero, Police Legend: An Adventure like no other'' by Lawrence J Harvey. The Story of William Harvey MC [http://www.anzacheropolicelegend.com/E-book_availability_files/AnzacHeroPoliceLegendBook.pdf pdf], [http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anzacheropolicelegend.com%2FE-book_availability_files%2FAnzacHeroPoliceLegendBook.pdf html version] William Harvey was initially with the 1st Essexs in India, c 1906 then with the Royal Horse Artillery on the North West Frontier. C 1911 he and Australian soldier friend, deserted and went to Australia.*[https://war-experience.org/lives/desmond-earley-lt-essex-regiment/ Desmond Earley - Lt. Essex Regiment] He fought the Japanese in Assam in 1944. [http://www.war-experience.org The Second World War Experience Centre] ==== Historical books online ====*''Historical Record of the Forty - Fourth, or the East Essex Regiment of Foot'' by Thomas Carter 1864 [http://books.google.com/books?id=iGYVAAAAQAAJ Google Books]. Indian service commences [http://books.google.com/books?id=iGYVAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA114 page 114] in 1822 in Calcutta:[http://www.archive.org/stream/historicalrecor01cartgoog#page/n12/mode/2up ''Historical Record of the Forty-Fourth, or the East Essex Regiment''] by Thomas Carter updated 2nd edition 1887 Archive.org. With updated history to 1881.*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=raQEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA308 "Report on Ophthalmia in H. M. 44th Regt."] by Wm. Daunt M. D. ''Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta Volume 4 1829'', page 308 Google Books. Includes names of some of the soldiers who became ill.*[http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12410282 "Narrative Of Serjeant-Major Lissant, 37th Regt. N. I., from the 6th to the 13th January, 1842"]. ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' Wednesday 5 October 1842. Originally from the ''Englishman''. trove.nla.gov.au. There are references to the 44th Regiment during the [[Retreat from Kabul to Gundamak]], part of the [[1st Afghan War]]. == References ==<references /> {{#widget:Google PlusOne|size=small|count=true}}
[[Category: British Army Infantry Regiments]]
