In November 1915 the 13th Essex embarked  for France from their base in Salisbury Plain.
They were recruited in the West ham area and were popularly known as the Hammers.


The Officers embarking were
HQ
Lt Colonel P R Papillion
Major A L Brown - Second in Command
Captain F J Trumble - Adjutant
Lt L C Holthusen - Signal Section Officer
Lt A G Hayward - MG Section Officer
Lt T E Brind - Quartermaster
 Lt A W Holthusen - Medical Officer
Rev TL B Westerdale - Wesleyan Methodist Chaplain

A Company
Captain R A Swann
2nd Lt A E Bunting
2nd Lt F T Folnard
2nd Lt A W Lee

B Company
Major W H Winthrop
Lt G C Carson
2nd Lt R G Norman
2nd Lt F R Keeble


C Company
Captain J W Patterson
Lt N Lang
2nd Lt C L B Lynne
2nd Lt P G Fountain
2nd Lt B R Page

D Company
Captain H Cardinal-Harford
Lt W W Basley
Lt R T Howell
2nd Lt W Hitch
2nd Lt H Sharman
CSM Cattermole MC 
  
Source The Essex Regiment Vol 6 by John Wm Burrows