Christmas 1914 for Essex Armed Forces
At the declaration of war in August
1914 most of the rush of patriotic volunteers felt that the war
would be over by Christmas yet at Christmas 1914 the war had not
yet started in earnest for most of these men and the next three
Christmas's would feel very different.
The list below indicates where the Essex
men and some of those from other Regiments who were stationed in
Essex spent Christmas 1914.
1st Essex
Yeomanry
On front line near Hazebrouck, France
2/1st Essex
Yeomanry
Stationed at Wickham Market
A turkey lunch
was carved by the Officers.
In the evening a
concert was arranged by Sgt McEnvery and Bandmaster Cocks which
was attended by a large number of people including Colonel and
Lady Colvin.
3/1st Essex
Yeomanry
not yet formed
Essex Yeomanry
Reserve
Stationed at Melton
A concert was arranged by Lt Myers and
Lance Cpl Powditch for local people and Officers who included
Major R Woodhouse ( OIC) Lt Winter, Lt Rose, Lt Pelly and Lt
Hoare.
ESSEX REGIMENT
1st Essex
Battalion
Stationed at Harwich
The Battalion was
mainly at Harwich having just arrived from postings at Pretoria,
South Africa and Mauritius
2nd Essex
Battalion
In front line trenches at Ploegsteert,
Belgium.
Corporal Basham,
who was formerly caretaker at Braintree C of E School and a
Regimental reservist who was called up, sent a Christmas
greeting to the school.
He said that he
was quite well but that he would reserve his own Christmas
celebration until he returned home to Braintree and he did not
think that the war could last long at the rate that things were
being made warm for the Germans.
3rd Essex
Battalion
At Harwich
4th, 5th, 6th and
7th Essex Battalions
At Norwich
4/4th
Essex Battalion
Stationed at Stanford
2/5th , 2/6th and
2/7th Battalions
Stationed at Peterborough
Mr Silas Pledger
and Mr Sampson Marriage at the suggestion of Col Taylor
undertook a collection at Chelmsford Market Place for a fund to
provide Christmas fare for the men of the 2/5th Essex who are
stationed at Peterborough. In just one hour they raised 41
pounds.
8th
Essex Battalion
On coastal duties for whole Essex
Coastline
F Company enjoyed
a concert with entertainment by Captain Taylor.
B Company of the
8th Essex stationed at Rochford dined on Christmas Day at the
Congregational hall.
On Boxing night
there was a dance and on 30 December the Officers gave a dinner
for the NCO's and men.
9th
Essex Battalion
In training at Shorncliffe, Kent
10th Essex
Battalion
Stationed at Hyderabad Barracks,
Colchester
Had competitions
for best decorated dining halls with excellent Christmas fare
provided by Master-Cook Hurrell
11th
Essex Battalion
Stationed at Shoreham
12th
Essex Battalion
Stationed at Harwich
13th to 17th
Essex Battalions and 1st/2n Garrison Battalions
Not yet formed- 13th would be formed 27
December 1914
18th Essex
Battalion
Stationed at Great Yarmouth
OTHER ESSEX ARMED
FORCES
Essex Royal Field
Artillery (RFA)
Stationed at Colchester
East Anglian
Field Ambulance Brigade
Stationed at Colchester
Essex Royal Horse
Artillery
Stationed at Woodbridge
Officers and men
enjoyed a turkey lunch and then an evening concert.
Those present at
lunch included Major W A B Daniel (OIC), Captain Gordon
Dickson, Captain A Thurk, Captain Gwynne, Lt Busbow, Lt Dawson,
Lt Flannery, Lt Warrell and Lt Bowers.
Essex Royal Horse
Artillery ( Reserve)
Stationed at Colchester
Held festivities
in the evening arranged by Quartermaster Sgt Johnson in presence
of Lord and Lady O'Hagan, Mrs Munro (wife of General Munro), the
Misses Edwards, Major W A B Daniel (OIC), Lt F Flanery and Lt
Calrow.
OTHER REGIMENTS
AT THE TIME STATIONED IN ESSEX
Field Ambulance
Corps
Stationed at Colchester
Held festivities
attended by Col Cross (OIC) Major Archibald, Lt Coombes, Lt
Fawsett and Lt Ashurst.
Army Service
Corps
Stationed at Colchester
Had decorations
made out of cotton wool that included their crest and a
dedication to Captain & Mrs H W Farrow, Lt & Mrs J H Showell and
Lt & Mrs A L Purkis
4th Berkshire
Battalion
Stationed at
Chelmsford
The Officers of
the 4th Berkshire gave a dinner on 28 December 1914 for Military
and civilian guests. The military guest included Major-General H
N C Heath, Brig-Gen W McClintock, Col J H Collett and Lt Col A L
C Clarke.
Notts and Derby
Regiment
Stationed at Braintree
On Christmas day
the Bishop of Derby arrived in Braintree and officiated in a
holy communion at Braintree Parish Church for a large number of
soldiers.
Gifts arrived for
each man from organisations in Notts and Derby.
On Christmas
Night the soldiers met for a smoking concert at the church
hall.
6th Battalion
Notts and Derby Regiment
Stationed at Ongar
A church parade
was held for the 6th Notts & Derby and the RAMC billeted in
Ongar
Royal Army
Mechanised Corps (RAMC)
Stationed at Ongar
A church parade
was held for the 6th Notts & Derby and the RAMC billeted in
Ongar
5th and 8th Royal
Warwickshire Battalion
Stationed at Coggeshall
B Company of 5th
Warwick's were entertained to a turkey dinner and concert
in Feering village hall on Christmas Eve and C Company on Boxing
Day.
The men of both
Battalions were well looked after although many were
disappointed when home leave was cancelled at late notice.
Colonel Innis of
8th Warwick entertained the officers to dinner at the Chapel
Hotel on Christmas Eve.
The Officers
entertained the Sergeants on Boxing Day.
A smoking concert
was given on boxing night in a warehouse owned by W King & Sons
for the men of the 8th Warwick's. On 28th December 1914 a
similar concert was given for the men of the 5th Warwick's.
6th Sherwood
Foresters
Stationed at Bocking
The band of the
6th Sherwood Foresters played a programme of music in the public
gardens where there was a large gathering.
On Christmas Eve
the band of the 6th Sherwood Foresters conducted by Bandmaster
McFarland gave a ball for Commissioned and Non Commissioned
Officers at the Corn Exchange. A number of local young ladies
attended.
South Midlands
Royal Engineers - 2nd Field Company
Stationed at Wickham Bishops
On Boxing Day the
Company, led by Acting Sgt Major H Hurley were invited to
tea and entertainment in the Parish Hall.
6th South
Staffordshire Battalion
Stationed at Epping
A dinner was
enjoyed by 280 men followed by a smoking concert was held in the
Drill Hall which was tastefully decorated.
On 29th December
1914 a concert party was held for the troops in the Church Room.
Worcester Royal
Field Artillery
Stationed at Ingatestone
The men were
split into four and provided Christmas dinner and entertainment.
200 men from the
1st Battery were hosted at the Working Men's Club
200 men from the
2nd battery were hosted at the Girls Schoolroom in Fryering Lane
The 3rd Battery
were hosted in the Boys Schoolroom in Fryering Lane
The Ammunition
and Small Arms Column were hosted at Ingatestone Court
The OIC Col E C
Bullock visited each place
Yorkshire Hussars
Stationed at Harlow
The 500 Hussars
billeted in Harlow were given Christmas Lunch. 300 were seated
in the Drill Hall and 200 in the Victoria Hall.
They were visited
by Col Viscount Helmsley who is in command of the Regiment.
He told the men
that they were unlikely to be uses as a cavalry at the front but
that he had offered their services in any work including
fighting on foot.
Boxing Day road
race for soldiers stationed at Southend on Sea
Southend Harriers
organised a race open to soldiers who were stationed at Southend
on Sea on Boxing Day 1914.
There were 61
competitors with 31 from Kings Royal Rifles, 17 from the Border
Regiment and 13 from the Rifle Brigade.
1st Sgt Raby
Border Regiment , 2nd Rifleman Smith of the Kings Royal Rifles,
3rd Rifleman Jarvis.
1st prize for race of men in full uniform was won by Private Dutton of the Border Regiment.
