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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.
The regiment formed the rearguard of the British Indian Army on the retreat from Kabul during the [[1st Afghan War 1839-42]]. There were only two survivors from the last stand at [[Battle of Gundamak|Gundamak]] - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/44th_(East_Essex)_Regiment_of_Foot#First_Anglo-Afghan_War_.281839.E2.80.931842.29 1st Afghan War - Wikipedia]. The regiment had to be reconstituted for the Crimean War.
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.
