Local Guards attached to the 6th Essex 1914-1916

Local Guards were formed for Home Defence in 1914.

Although they had a separate command they were based with the 6th Battalion at West Ham and were shown on its payroll as a Supernumerary Company.

When the Royal Defence Force was constituted in May 1916 the Local Guards became part of this Force.

Their stations in Spring 1915 were-

1 Company based at Abbey Mills Stratford

3 Company based at Bishops Stortford ( from Chelmsford)

4 Company based at Chelmsford

6 Company based at Lexden ( from Witham)

8 Company based at Mistley

9 Company based at Longfield Camp ( from Dartford)

10 Company based at Wellingborough ( from Rainham)

11 Company based at Lessness Park, Woolwich ( from Dartford)

12 Company West Ham

13 Company Waltham Abbey

14 Company Marconi Works at Chelmsford with detachment to guard Fambridge Ferry

In May 1916 the Local Guards joined the Royal Defence Force

1 company became 107th

3,4 and 6th companies became 44th

8 Company became 57th

9 Company became 64th

11 Company became 122nd

12 Company became 107th

13 Company became 149th

Source - The Essex Regiment Vol 5 by John Wm Burrows