The 2nd Essex were the only Essex Regiment to be part of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF) at the start of the Great War in 1914.

They were part of the 4th Division which landed in France on the 22nd/23rd August 1914 and quickly moved to the front to engage with the German Army and fought together through the largely defensive campaign of 1914.

For family history researchers looking at the Essex Regiment details of the Division  is useful not only for details of the Field Ambulances who would treat injured men but as the Division fought  and died together it provides other sources for background details of the life of the 2nd Essex.

The composition of the 4th Division was:

Command

Major General T D'O Snow CB , Colonel J E Edmunds CB , Brigadier General G F Milne CB, DSO  , Lt Col H B Jones

Infantry

10th Infantry Brigade

1st The Royal Warwickshire Regiment , 2nd Seaforth Highlanders( Rossshire Buffs & Duke of Albany's) , 1st Royal Victoria's ( Royal Irish Fusiliers) , 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers

11th Infantry Brigade

1st Prince Albert's ( Somerset Light Infantry) , 1st East Lancashire Regiment, 1st Hampshire Regiment, 1st Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)

12th Infantry Brigade

2nd Essex Regiment, 1st King's Own ( Royal Lancashire Regiment) , 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Divisional Troops

Mounted

B Squadron 19th Hussars ( Queen Alexandra's Own) , 4th Cyclist Company

Artillery

14 Brigade RFA (39, 68 & 88th Batteries 14th Ammunition Column) , 25 Brigade RFA (125,126 & 127th Batteries 24th Ammunition column), 32 Brigade RFA ( 27,134 and 135th batteries  32nd Ammunition Column) , 37 Howitzer Brigade RFA ( 31,35 & 55th Howitzer Batteries 37th Howitzer Ammunition Column)

Engineers

7 and 9th Field Company Royal Engineers

Signals

4th Signal Company

Service Corps

4th Divisional  ASC Train

Medical

10, 11 & 12th Field Ambulances