The 19th Century

19th Century Service, Afghanistan, Crimea and China, 1881

19th Century Service
Afghanistan
Crimea and China- The First Victoria Crosses
The Essex Regiment, 1881

19th Century Service

After the final defeat of Napoleonic France in 1815 came an era of peace which lasted until the Crimean War in 1854. The regular army, however, saw much service in what may be termed the small wars of colonial expansion. The 44th served in Ireland, India, Assam and Burma, Afghanistan, Gibraltar and Malta. By its participation in the expedition which occupied the Arakan and Assam in 1824 it was awarded the battle honour "Ava".

Afghanistan

In 1841 it was sent to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, a country then occupied by the British in what is known as the First Afghan War. Violent insurrection, however, placed the British garrison of Kabul in jeopardy. It attempted to retire on Jellalabad. Incessantly attacked, without shelter or food, the force waded in deep snow through the narrow passes for four days, at the end of which the entire column had been annihilated. A last stand was made by twenty men of the 44th at Gundamak. During the final stage of this bitter retreat Lieutenant T.A. Souter tore the Regimental Colour from its pike and attempted to conceal it by wrapping it round his body. In the final massacre his life was spared because the Afghans, seeing the rich material of the Colour, took him for a person of high birth and rank. Lieutenant Souter and the Colour eventually returned unharmed, but the Queen's Colour was lost. Remnants of the Gundamak Colour hang in the Regimental Chapel at Warley.

Crimea and China- The First Victoria Crosses

In 1854 came the Crimean War. Both Regiments served in this campaign, the 44th being one of the earliest units in the field. It was awarded the battle honours "Alma" and "Inkerman", while both 44th and 56th were awarded "Sevastopol", having participated in the siege of that place. Stirred by the gallantry of her troops in this war, Queen Victoria instituted the award of the Victoria Cross, one of the very first to be awarded being won by Sergeant W.McWhiney of the 44th.

The close of the Crimean War was quickly followed by the Indian Mutiny (1857), both 44th and 56th being dispatched as reinforcing units. They arrived too late, however, to take any part in that arduous campaign, but four years later the 44th was again to see active service. This was at the storming of Taku Forts in North China. Lieutenant R.M. Rogers and Private J. McDougal were both awarded the Victoria Cross for valour in this action.

The Essex Regiment, 1881

In 1881 important changes, known as the Cardwell Reforms, were made. As a result the various infantry units of a county or district were grouped territorially. In Essex the 44th (East Essex) Regiment and the 56th (West Essex) Regiment were brought together and called the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Essex Regiment. The two units of the ancient militia, the East Essex Militia and the Essex (Rifles) Militia, were re-designated the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions of The Essex Regiment, while the depot companies of these four units were brought together at Warley Barracks and formed into the Regimental Depot. Finally the various Corps of Essex Rifle Volunteers became the four Volunteer Battalions of the Regiment. In this manner was the foundation laid for the Territorial Army.

Under the Cardwell system it was intended that one regular battalion should be at home while the other served abroad. So we find the 1st Essex at home from 1880, and the "Pompadours" serving in Gibraltar, Malta, Egypt and the Sudan, Cyprus, India and Burma. In 1884 they formed part of the River Column under Lord Wolseley which struggled up the Nile to relieve Khartoum and save General Gordon from the Mahdi, who had overrun the Sudan. For this campaign the Regiment was awarded the battle honour "Nile, 1884-5".