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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

Essex Yeomanry

Territorial Force:

  • 1/1st Essex Yeomanry
  • 2/1st Essex Yeomanry
  • 3/1st Essex Yeomanry

       The Essex Yeomanry were a Territorial Unit, part of the Eastern Mounted Brigade with their HQ at 17 Sir Isaac's Walk, Colchester. A Squadron was drawn from Colchester, Clacton on Sea, Harwich, Walton on the Naze, Great Bentley and Ardleigh. B Squadron was drawn from Braintree, Halstead, Chelmsford and Tiptree. C Squadron from Waltham Abbey, Epping, Loughton, Bishop's Stortford, Newport and Dunmow. D Squadron from Southend on Sea, Brentwood, Grays, Stratford and Orsett.

       1/1st Essex Yeomanry were based in Colchetser when war broke out in 1914. They proceeded to France as part of the 8th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division and remained on the Western Front until the Armistice.

    4th Aug 1914 Mobilisation

    5th Aug 1914 Territorials mobilise  At Colchester Camp, which has historically been an important military garrison, territorial units are mobilising for war. The men of 8th (Cyclist) Battalion Essex Regiment, The Essex Yeomanry and Essex Royal Horse Artillery are all ordered to prepare to take up their war stations.

    Newspaper clipping


    12th Aug 1914 On the Move

    31st Aug 1914 On the Move

    29th Nov 1914 On the Move

    29th Nov 1914 On the Move

    1st Dec 1914 On the Move

    1st Dec 1914 On the Move

    2nd Dec 1914 Horses

    2nd Dec 1914 Remounts Arrive

    3rd Dec 1914 On the Move

    3rd Dec 1914 On the Move

    4th Dec 1914 On the Move

    4th Dec 1914 Poor Conditions

    5th Dec 1914 Very Wet

    5th Dec 1914 Very Wet Day

    6th Dec 1914 Postings

    6th Dec 1914 Training

    7th Dec 1914 Very Wet Day

    7th Dec 1914 Working Parties

    8th Dec 1914 Musketry

    8th Dec 1914 Musketry

    9th Dec 1914 Inspection

    9th Dec 1914 Inspection

    10th Dec 1914 Orders

    10th Dec 1914 Field Exercise

    11th Dec 1914 On the March

    11th Dec 1914 On the March  location map

    12th Dec 1914 Inspection

    12th Dec 1914 Inspection  location map

    13th Dec 1914 Orders

    13th Dec 1914 Orders Received  location map

    14th Dec 1914 On the March

    14th Dec 1914 On the March  location map

    15th Dec 1914 Stand To

    15th Dec 1914 Stand to  location map

    16th Dec 1914 On the March

    16th Dec 1914 On the March  location map

    17th Dec 1914 Training

    17th Dec 1914 Training  location map

    18th Dec 1914 Exercise

    18th Dec 1914 Training  location map

    19th Dec 1914 Lecture

    19th Dec 1914 Lectures  location map

    20th Dec 1914 Enquiry

    20th Dec 1914 Church Parade  location map

    21st Dec 1914 Squadron Work

    21st Dec 1914 Training  location map

    22nd Dec 1914 Exercise

    22nd Dec 1914 Training  location map

    23rd Dec 1914 Training

    23rd Dec 1914 Recce  location map

    24th Dec 1914 Scheme

    24th Dec 1914 Reconnaissance Training  location map

    25th Dec 1914 Church Parade

    25th Dec 1914 Church Parade  location map

    26th Dec 1914 Training

    26th Dec 1914 Training  location map

    27th Dec 1914 Church Parade

    27th Dec 1914 Church Parade  location map

    28th Dec 1914 Patrols

    28th Dec 1914 Patrols  location map

    29th Dec 1914 Billets

    29th Dec 1914 Patrols  location map

    30th Dec 1914 Training

    30th Dec 1914 Recce Patrols  location map

    31st Dec 1914 Drills

    31st Dec 1914 Improving of Billets  location map

    1st Jan 1915 Training

    2nd Jan 1915 Heavy Rain

    3rd Jan 1915 In Billets

    4th Jan 1915 Training

    5th Jan 1915 Training

    6th Jan 1915 Training

    7th Jan 1915 Wet Day

    8th Jan 1915 Training

    9th Jan 1915 Training

    10th Jan 1915 Church Parade

    11th Jan 1915 Training

    12th Jan 1915 Training

    13th Jan 1915 Lecture

    14th Jan 1915 Training

    15th Jan 1915 Scheme

    16th Jan 1915 Machine Guns

    17th Jan 1915 Church Parade

    18th Jan 1915 Snow

    19th Jan 1915 Routine

    20th Jan 1915 Training

    21st Jan 1915 Instruction

    22nd Jan 1915 Brigade Exercise

    23rd Jan 1915 Routine

    24th Jan 1915 Church Parade

    25th Jan 1915 Staff Ride

    26th Jan 1915 Routine

    27th Jan 1915 Inspection

    28th Jan 1915 Change of Billets

    29th Jan 1915 Reinforcements

    30th Jan 1915 Dismounted Training

    31st Jan 1915 Heavy Snow

    1st Feb 1915 Orders

    1st Feb 1915 Exercise

    2nd Feb 1915 Billeting Party

    2nd Feb 1915 Advance Party

    3rd Feb 1915 On the Move

    3rd Feb 1915 In Trenches  location map

    4th Feb 1915 Shelling  location map

    4th Feb 1915 Shelling  location map

    5th Feb 1915 Quiet

    5th Feb 1915 Instruction  location map

    6th Feb 1915 Quiet

    6th Feb 1915 Instruction  location map

    7th Feb 1915 Quiet

    7th Feb 1915 Quiet  location map

    8th Feb 1915 Shelling  location map

    8th Feb 1915 Shelling  location map

    9th Feb 1915 Quiet

    9th Feb 1915 Reliefs  location map

    10th Feb 1915 Quiet

    11th Feb 1915 Quiet

    12th Feb 1915 Reliefs

    12th Feb 1915 Reliefs  location map

    13th Feb 1915 On the March

    14th Feb 1915 Reliefs

    14th Feb 1915 Reliefs  location map

    15th Feb 1915 In Billets

    15th Feb 1915 Exercise

    16th Feb 1915 In Billets

    16th Feb 1915 Exercise

    17th Feb 1915 In Billets

    17th Feb 1915 Inspection

    18th Feb 1915 In Billets

    18th Feb 1915 Exercise

    19th Feb 1915 In Billets

    19th Feb 1915 Training

    20th Feb 1915 In Billets

    20th Feb 1915 Exercise

    21st Feb 1915 In Billets

    21st Feb 1915 Church Parade

    22nd Feb 1915 Fog

    22nd Feb 1915 Parade

    23rd Feb 1915 Machine Guns

    23rd Feb 1915 Snow

    24th Feb 1915 In Billets

    24th Feb 1915 Training

    25th Feb 1915 Inspection

    25th Feb 1915 Parade

    26th Feb 1915 Staff Ride

    26th Feb 1915 Staff Ride

    27th Feb 1915 Parades

    27th Feb 1915 Training

    28th Feb 1915 Church Parade

    28th Feb 1915 Church Parade

    1st Mar 1915 Inspection

    2nd Mar 1915 Training

    3rd Mar 1915 Working Party

    4th Mar 1915 Working Party

    5th Mar 1915 Training

    6th Mar 1915 Working Party

    7th Mar 1915 Working Party

    8th Mar 1915 Training

    9th Mar 1915 Outpost Scheme

    10th Mar 1915 On the March

    12th Mar 1915 Ready to Move

    13th Mar 1915 On the March

    14th Mar 1915 Ready to Move

    15th Mar 1915 On the March

    16th Mar 1915 Ready to Move

    17th Mar 1915 Inspection

    18th Mar 1915 Orders Received

    19th Mar 1915 Snow

    20th Mar 1915 Training

    21st Mar 1915 Church Parade

    22nd Mar 1915 Training

    23rd Mar 1915 Practice Attack

    25th Mar 1915 Courts Martial

    26th Mar 1915 Parade

    27th Mar 1915 Very Cold

    28th Mar 1915 Church Parade

    29th Mar 1915 Inspection

    30th Mar 1915 Training

    31st Mar 1915 Training

    1st Apr 1915 Inspection

    2nd Apr 1915 Training

    3rd Apr 1915 Training

    4th Apr 1915 Wet Day

    5th Apr 1915 Prize

    6th Apr 1915 On the March

    7th Apr 1915 Instruction

    8th Apr 1915 Training

    9th Apr 1915 Training

    10th Apr 1915 Training

    11th Apr 1915 Sports

    12th Apr 1915 HQ Moves

    13th Apr 1915 Training

    14th Apr 1915 On the Move

    15th Apr 1915 Training

    16th Apr 1915 Training

    17th Apr 1915 Lecture

    18th Apr 1915 Sports

    19th Apr 1915 Training

    20th Apr 1915 Inspection

    21st Apr 1915 Training

    22nd Apr 1915 Training

    23rd Apr 1915 On the March

    24th Apr 1915 On the March  location map

    25th Apr 1915 On the March  location map

    26th Apr 1915 On the March  location map

    27th Apr 1915 Heavy Shelling  location map

    28th Apr 1915 On the March  location map

    29th Apr 1915 Stand to

    30th Apr 1915 Stand to

    1st May 1915 Stand to

    2nd May 1915 Stand to

    3rd May 1915 On the March

    4th May 1915 On the March

    5th May 1915 Digging in

    6th May 1915 At Rest

    7th May 1915 On the March

    8th May 1915 Standing by

    9th May 1915 Orders

    10th May 1915 Working Parties

    11th May 1915 Draft

    12th May 1915 Working Parties

    13th May 1915 Counter attack

    13th May 1915 Trenches Taken

    13th May 1915 In Action  location map

    14th May 1915 In the Trenches

    15th May 1915 In Reserve  location map

    16th May 1915 Messages  location map

    17th May 1915 In Reserve  location map

    18th May 1915 In Reserve  location map

    19th May 1915 In Reserve  location map

    20th May 1915 Working Parties  location map

    21st May 1915 The Excitement of the Fight

    21st May 1915 Football

    21st May 1915 On the Move  location map

    22nd May 1915 In Billets

    23rd May 1915 Church Parade

    24th May 1915 Usual Routine

    25th May 1915 Rifle Inspection

    26th May 1915 Inspection

    27th May 1915 Route March

    28th May 1915 Recce

    29th May 1915 Reliefs  location map

    30th May 1915 Heavy Shelling

    31st May 1915 New CO

    1st Jun 1915 Working Party

    2nd Jun 1915 Working Party

    3rd Jun 1915 Gas Alert

    4th Jun 1915 Inspection

    5th Jun 1915 Reliefs

    6th Jun 1915 Leave

    7th Jun 1915 Reorganisation

    9th Jun 1915 Horses

    10th Jun 1915 Inspection

    11th Jun 1915 Working Party

    12th Jun 1915 Reinforcements

    13th Jun 1915 Inspection

    14th Jun 1915 Instruction

    15th Jun 1915 Instruction

    16th Jun 1915 Instruction

    17th Jun 1915 Instruction

    18th Jun 1915 Inspection

    19th Jun 1915 Inspection

    20th Jun 1915 Church Parade

    21st Jun 1915 Training

    22nd Jun 1915 Training

    23rd Jun 1915 Training

    24th Jun 1915 Training

    25th Jun 1915 Training

    26th Jun 1915 Training

    27th Jun 1915 Church Parade

    28th Jun 1915 Training

    29th Jun 1915 Training

    30th Jun 1915 Training

    1st Jul 1915 Inspection

    2nd Jul 1915 Courts Martial

    3rd Jul 1915 Baths

    4th Jul 1915 Lectures

    5th Jul 1915 Training

    6th Jul 1915 Instruction

    7th Jul 1915 Course

    9th Jul 1915 Inspection

    10th July 1915 Exercise

    11th July 1915 Baths

    12th July 1915 Working Party

    13th July 1915 Posting

    14th July 1915 Working Party

    15th July 1915 Working Party

    16th July 1915 Working Party

    17th July 1915 Orders

    19th July 1915 Instruction

    20th July 1915 Working Parties

    21st July 1915 Working Parties

    22nd July 1915 Working Parties

    23rd July 1915 Working Parties

    24th July 1915 Working Parties

    25th July 1915 Working Parties

    26th July 1915 Working Parties

    27th July 1915 Baths

    28th July 1915 Training

    31st July 1915 Instructors

    2nd Aug 1915 Sports

    3rd Aug 1915 Exercise

    4th Aug 1915 On the Move

    6th Aug 1915 Exercise

    7th Aug 1915 Promotions

    9th Aug 1915 Exercise

    10th Aug 1915 Training

    10th Aug 1915 Advance Party

    13th Aug 1915 Working Party

    14th Aug 1915 Officer Returns

    15th Aug 1915 Working Party

    14th Oct 1915 Not Fair

    11th Apr 1917 Village Taken

    12th Apr 1917 Reliefs

    11th May 1917 New Horses Arrive

    20th June 1917 Raid  location map

    If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



  • Want to know more about the Essex Yeomanry?


    There are:6902 items tagged Essex Yeomanry available in our Library

      These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


    Those known to have served with

    Essex Yeomanry

    during the Great War 1914-1918.

    • Freeman Edmund Valentine. Sgt. 2/1st Battalion (d.10th October 1918)
    • Harlow Ernest . Pte. 13th Btn. (d.28th April 1917)
    • Harper Carl Horace. Pte.

    All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please. Add a Name to this List

    More Essex Yeomanry records.


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    251830

    Sgt. Edmund Valentine Freeman 2/1st Battalion Essex Yeomanry (d.10th October 1918)

    My grandfather, Serjeant Edmund Freeman, of the 2/1st Essex Yeomanry, was returning on leave from Ireland to his home in Great Yarmouth. He took passage, with many other service personnel from the Empire and the USA on the RMS Leinster.

    RMS Leinster sailed from Dun Laoghaire (formerly Kingstown) just before 9.00am on 10th October 1918 and was on passage to Holyhead. Just before 10.00am she was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UB-123. She went down just outside Dublin Bay at a point 4 nautical miles east of the Kish light. Over 500 people perished in the sinking, which is the greatest single loss of life in the Irish Sea.

    My grandfather was just one of the 501 souls to perish out of the 771 people (crew and passengers) embarked. He was buried in the Commonwealth War Graves section of the Grangegorman Cemetery in Dublin. My grandfather left a widow, Clara, and three children, Edward (Teddy), Leslie and Phyllis, my mother. My grandmother remained a widow for a further 50 years.

    UB-123 was commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Robert Ramm and was sunk with all hands on 19th October in a North Sea minefield on its passage back to Germany. The attack on a passenger ferry with the imminent end of the war already an undoubted fact was deemed an outrageous and unnecessary act of war.

    E V Freeman - Marksman

    Clara Freeman

    Teddy, Phyllis and Leslie Freeman about 1916

    Commander Graham Edmonds, Royal Navy




    245842

    Pte. Ernest Harlow 13th Btn. Essex Regiment (d.28th April 1917)

    Private Ernest Harlow, born in Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, living and enlisted in Southend on Sea. Initially served with the Essex Yeomanry (service no.2592) then with 13th Battalion, Essex Regiment (service no.33905).

    He was killed in action on 28th April 1917 in France and Flanders and is commemorated Arras Memorial, France. He is remembered on both The War Memorial and The Alamada, St. Andrews Church, Ampthill.

    Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com

    Caroline Hunt




    223503

    Pte. Carl Horace Harper Essex Yeomanry

    Carl Horace Harper was born in January 1898 in Wix, Tendering, Essex. The 1901 census shows him living at 62 Windsor Road, St Matthews, Ipswich with his father Horace (age 25),mother Madaline (age 24), sisters Daisy age 5 & Muriel age 2, and brother Benjamin age 7 months. The 1911 census records Carl living with his grandfather Benjamin Horne at Ocean Wave Farm, working on the farm after he left school.

    On 7th October 1914 he enlisted in the 1st Essex Yeomanary cavalry regiment service no 1362. On 13th February 1915 he was sent to France as part of the B.E.F (British Expeditionary Force), joining up with the Royal Horse Guards & 10th (Prince of Wales Own) Hussars (this explains how Carl finished his career in the 10th Hussars). They formed the 8th cavalry brigade which was part of the 3rd cavalry division.

    In 1915 he saw action at the second battle of Ypres (battle of Frezenberg Ridge) 11th - 13th May & battle of Loos 26th - 28th September. In 1916 there are no notable records of battles. In 1917 he was in the battle of Arras (first battle of Scarpe) 9th - 12th April.

    He was transferred in 1917 to the corps of Hussars & was given service no 80985. On 30th March 1918 the 3rd cavalry division was split up onto 7/8th cavalry brigade as a dismounted unit in the trenches. Later the 7th became a cyclist brigade & 8th was cavalry, which is where Carl served.

    During WW1 Carl was wounded three times. He returned to England on 30th March 1919. All army service personnel had to re-enlist & Carl was given a third service no 537772, transferred to 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars on 6th November 1919 & again transferring to the 10th (Prince of Wales) Hussars on 18th November 1919. Carl married Laura Mepstead on 6th December 1920 at Bridge, Kent. There are no records of children.

    On 6th June 1921 the 10th Hussars were sent to Northern Ireland, where they accompanied King George V on the first state opening of parliament on 21st June 1921. On the 24th June 1921 Carl was killed by rebel IRA activists at Adavoyle, Newry. A bomb was planted on the railway tracks just before the station killing 3 soldiers, 1 guard, 30 horses & injuring 30 men. On Tuesday 28th June Carl's coffin was repatriated at his parents' home in Margaret Street, Walton, Felixstowe and on Thursday 30th June a millitary funeral service was held at St Mary's church, Walton at 2pm. His Commonwealth war grave is at Walton church, High Street, Felixstowe, sited just through the main front gates.

    Read More

    Stephen Harper








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