HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE FORTY-FOURTH, OR THE EAST ESSEX REGIMENT OF FOOT

This history covers the period from the formation of the regiment in 1741 to its linking with the West Essex (56th Foot) in 1881, when it became the 1st Battalion the Essex Regiment. The East Essex began life as 55th Foot but in 1748 it was renumbered 44th, and this history is presented as a chronology, a year-by-year record of the regiment’s services. There are no chapters; the list of contents form a diary showing principal events in each year, some years far more eventful than others. The narrative shows in the margin of each page the year in which the events being described took place, beginning with 1741 and the raising of the regiment, and finishing in 1881. In 1803 a second battalion was formed but disbanded in 1816 after Waterloo in which battle it fought as well as in several battles of the Peninsular War. The 1st Battalion, meanwhile, was fighting on the other side of the Atlantic in the war against the United States.
There is plenty of detail in this history, one incident at Waterloo making unpleasant reading. Ensign Christie (not long promoted from Sergeant-Major) was carrying one of the colours when he was charged by a French lancer and severely wounded by a lance thrust which entered his left eye and penetrated to the lower jaw; despite the agony of his wound he still managed to frustrate the Frenchman’s efforts to make off with the colour. From time to time names of officers present for duty are listed and the other rank strength. The regiment took part in the Crimean War, in the campaigns in Burma and in Afghanistan (1841/42) where, in the retreat from Kabul the regiment lost 22 officers and 632 other ranks killed (out of a total of 684); it also took part in the China War 1860 (Taku Forts). Of the sixty years from 1822 to 1881 the regiment was abroad for fifty!
Appendices list the succession of Colonels of the regiment and commanding officers, in the latter case giving brief notes on service details. They also provide the number, rank and name of all those soldiers who served in the trenches before Sebastopol throughout the siege, of those who were in the Crimea the whole time, and those who distinguished themselves in the Crimea and in China.