3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment

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There are:5229 items tagged 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment 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
3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Garbutt Lawrence Mark. 2Lt. (d.10th Aug 1918)
Haley Arthur. 2nd Lt. (d.1st Jun 1918)
Kennefick Edward Hammerton. Capt. (d.8th July 1916)
Paterson John Henry. 2nd.Lt. (d.24th Sep 1918)
Rider Kenyth Westley. Pte.
Thompson Walter Lincoln. 2nd Lt. (d.9th Oct 1917)
Thompson Walter Lincoln. 2/Lt. (d.9th October 1917)
Thrift A. J.. Pte. (d.9th March 1916)
Wearne VC. Frank Bernard. 2nd Lt. (d.28th June 1917)
Whitmore William Ernest. Pte

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Records of 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment from other sources.

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2nd Lt. Frank Bernard Wearne VC. 3rd Btn. Essex Regiment (d.28th June 1917)

Frank Wearne served with the 3rd Bn. attached 10th Bn. Essex Regiment. He died of wounds on the 28th of June 1917, aged 23 and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France.
An extract from The London Gazette dated 31st July, 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery when in command of a small party on the left of a raid on the enemy's trenches. He gained his objective in the face of much opposition and by his magnificent example and daring was able to maintain this position for a considerable time, according to instructions. During this period 2nd Lt. Wearne and his small party were repeatedly counter-attacked. Grasping the fact that if the left flank was lost his men would have to give way, 2nd Lt. Wearne, at a moment when the enemy's attack was being heavily pressed and when matters were most critical, leapt on the parapet and, followed by his left section, ran along the top of the trench, firing and throwing bombs. This unexpected and daring manoeuvre threw the enemy off his guard and back in disorder. Whilst on the top of the trench 2nd Lt. Wearne was severely wounded, but refused to leave his men. Afterwards he remained in the trench directing operations, consolidating his position and encouraging all ranks. Just before the order to withdraw was given, this gallant officer was again severely hit for the second time, and while being carried away was mortally wounded. By his tenacity in remaining at his post though severely wounded, and his magnificent fighting spirit, he was enabled to hold on to the flank."
s flynn

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2nd Lt. Arthur Haley 55 Squadron (d.1st Jun 1918)

Arthur Haley, born September 1895 and a telegraphist in civilian life, enlisted in the Royal Engineers on 10th of November 1914 to be attached to the 34th Signals Company. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 26th of June 1915 as a signaller. On 16th September of that year he was admitted to hospital after being burned by a shell, and he returned to England for a short spell, but he rejoined his unit in France on 15th of October 1915.
He returned to England on Christmas Day 1916 for a commission. On 29th of May 1917 he was discharged from the Royal Engineers to take up his commission in the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment, firstly in Felixstowe before being sent to France as an observer in 55 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, later to become the Royal Air Force in April 1918. He flew in a DH4 with his pilot, 2nd Lt Lennok de Graaf Godet. It is known that 55 Squadron undertook bombing raids over German-held territory in addition to their reconnaissance duties.
On 1st of June 1918 their aircraft was shot down over Antilly, near Metz in France, in German held territory at the time, killing them both instantly. According to a local French newspaper report, their Airco DH4 no. 7422 was shot down at 6.50am, the kill being claimed by Ltn G Weiner of K4. However, an alternative account of events has been found in the RAF Archives, "On 1st of June 1918, the D.H.4's of No.55 Squadron were detailed for the railway station at Karthaus. 12 machines in charge of Captain W.B. Farrington ascended between 4.20 a.m. and 4.25 a.m. The lines were crossed at 14,500 feet near Nomeny whence the formation proceeded up east of Metz and Thionville to Karthaus which was reached at 6.55 a.m. by eleven of the D.H.4's one having been forced to return with engine trouble. Captain Farrington reported that owing to the high wind which was blowing obliquely across the target the shooting was not very good. Seven enemy machines in all were observed at various places on the route. Near Metz one of the D.H.4's Second Lieutenants L. de G.Godet (pilot) and A.Haley (observer) - fell to pieces in the air. Some of the observers were of the opinion that Haley might have wrecked his own tail while aiming at an enemy machine firing from very long range." (Might this be classed as Friendly Fire?)
Both men were buried by local civilians who also erected a memorial at the site. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission later re-buried them at Chambieres Antilly (Moselle), near Metz in France.
Roger Bowen

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2Lt. Lawrence Mark Garbutt 9th Btn. Norfolk Regiment (d.10th Aug 1918)

Lawrence Mark enlisted on 10th of December 1915, in Army Reserve. His physical description was given as fresh complexion, brown hair, brown eyes, height 5ft 6½ins, girth when expanded 37 inches with a 3 inch range of expansion, with no distinctive marks. His religion was Church of England.
He was mobilized on 17th of April 1916. He was with 24th Division on 30 August 1915 and 6th Division 11 October 1915 and tested on 17th April 1916, where he was sent to 7 (FT) Artillery Training School as a Driver on 19th April 1916.
On 7th September 1917 he was transferred to No.12 Cadet Battalion, Newmarket for training as an Officer. He was discharged to Commission on 17th December 1917 as 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Battalion) Essex Regiment. On 12 February 1918 Lawrence was passed as fit for his transfer to the Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Branch).
Whilst attached to the 9th Norfolk Regiment he went to the Western Front with 71st Brigade. He was gassed and had just returned to his unit when he was wounded in action on 18th July 1918. History tells us that the British Command decided that as they had taken so many hits that day the order was given to withdraw and to leave all the dead and dying lying on the battlefield. The ANZACS were sent to move into position and Lawrence was picked up and taken to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He had been hit in the lower right lumbar and kidney region. Lawrence died there three days later, cause of death "of wounds received in action".
Lawrence Mark was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He is buried in Esquelbecq Cemetery in France. The newspaper report of Lawrence Mark's death states that he was 28 years of age, his death certificate and report from the Ministry of Defence confirms that he was wounded on 31st July 1918 and died on 10th August 1918. This is also reinforced by the War Diaries for the 9th Norfolk Regiment held at the National Archives, Kew, London.
Vivienne Parker

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Pte. A. J. Thrift 3rd Bn. Essex Regiment (d.9th March 1916)

Private Thrift is buried in the Rosendale Farm Cemetery, Western Cape, South Africa
S flynn

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2/Lt. Walter Lincoln Thompson 2nd Btn. Essex Regiment (d.9th October 1917)

Walter Thompson volunteered at the outbreak of war and served for two years in the ranks of The Duke of Edinburgh's Wiltshire Regiment. He was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment on 30th of April 1917 and reported for duty with the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment (as a BCR) on 15th of August 1917.
He was killed on 9th of October 1917 during the attack on Poelcappelle. He had been an officer for five months and a platoon commander for only seven weeks. He has no identifiable grave and perhaps is one of the 6,321 unidentified buried in Poelcappelle British Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
PPJ Coulter

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Capt. Edward Hammerton Kennefick 3rd Btn. Essex Regiment (d.8th July 1916)

Edward Kennefick was killed in action at the Somme aged 35.
s flynn

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2nd.Lt. John Henry Paterson 3rd Btn. Essex Regiment (d.24th Sep 1918)

John Paterson was executed for murder 24/09/1918 and buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France. He deserted to run off with a French girl. When challenged by a member of the Military Police, Patterson simply shot the officer dead.
An army officer convicted of murder after deserting his regiment during the First World War has been granted a pardon by the Ministry of Defence. Second Lieutenant John Paterson, 28, shot an unarmed detective sergeant in cold blood and went on the run with his girlfriend. He lived on money obtained by forging cheques in the names of his fellow officers. Paterson has been pardoned under legislation introduced by the former defence secretary Des Browne to acknowledge that many of the 306 men who faced a firing squad for desertion were suffering shell shock or had committed minor breaches of discipline.
The MoD has made clear that the pardon applies only to deserters, and does not overturn the conviction for murder, but an official certificate signed by Mr Browne has been inserted into Lt Patersonâ€™s record in the National Archives at Kew, south west London stating: â€˜The pardon stands as recognition that he was one of many victims of the First World War and that execution was not a fate he deserved.â€™
Paterson, who had been a trader in West Africa, was one of only three officers executed during the war. He had been promoted from the ranks after twice being wounded and suffering shell shock. But on March 26, 1918 he went missing while serving with the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment in reserve trenches on the Somme, at Zillebeke near Ypres. He was not seen again until July 3 when two military policemen, Lance corporal Stockton and Det Sgt Harold Collison, tried to arrest him as he crossed the wooden bridge at Pont Coulogne near Calais with his 22-year-old French girlfriend Augustine Duquenoy. After initially attempting to bluff his way out of trouble, Paterson admitted his identity but persuaded Collison to allow him to return home with Mlle Duquenoy to take tea and say his farewells. The military policemen kept watch for nearly two hours, Stockton on a railway embankment on one side of the house and Collison in a lane on the other. At around 9.30pm, as it was getting dark, Paterson emerged from the house and Collison went to speak to him in the yard. Stockton was on his way to join them when he heard two shots and saw Collison fall to the ground, fatally wounded.
It later emerged that the first shot had wounded Paterson in the groin; the second entered Sgt Collisonâ€™s chest, piercing both lungs and his heart. Stockton fled, claiming that Paterson fired a third shot at him, but returned with reinforcements and medical aid. By that time Paterson had hobbled away from the scene, supported by Mlle Duquenoy, and they spent two days and nights hiding out at CafÃ© Belge near Calais. He was captured a fortnight later by French police. Paterson would have been willing to admit manslaughter but the court martial insisted he be tried on the murder charge and found him guilty. He then admitted five charges of forgery of cheques. He denied desertion but was found guilty.
He told the court martial that he had gone into the yard with the revolver in his trouser pocket, intending to use it to scare off the two policemen and escape. It had a loose safety catch and had gone off as he attempted to pull it from his pocket. It had gone off accidentally a second time as he pointed it as Sgt Collison. Paterson was executed by firing squad at Boulogne at 6.27 am on Tuesday September 24th.
s flynn

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Pte. Kenyth Westley Rider 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment

Kenyth Westley Rider was my grandfather, I did not know him that well as he died when I was a child and suffered a terrible stammer brought on from shell shock. According to the military records he enlisted into the Essex Regiment on 6th September 1914 and was posted to the 3rd battalion. On 9th October 1914 he was then posted to the 12 battalion before finally being posted to the 2nd battalion on 27th July 1915. I understand he was mobilised for France on the same day. He was later transferred to the labour corps on 15th July 1918 (33rd prisoner of war company) and them moved into the reserve on 15th June 1919 before being discharged on 31st March 1920. I understand he served in France between 27th July 1915 - 17th May 1919.
John Scale

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Want to know more about 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment?

Those known to have served with
3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.

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The Wartime Memories Project - 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment during the Great War -

3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment

Want to know more about 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment?

Those known to have served with3rd Battalion, Essex Regimentduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment during the Great War -

Those known to have served with
3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment
during the Great War 1914-1918.