1st Battalion

Second Lt Astur Bertrand Coddington , b Oct 1877. was killed in action at Driefontein 10 March 1900.

The death was mentioned in Despatches of Field Marshal Roberts on 15 March 1900.

Entered Essex Regiment in February 1898

Lt George Archibald Duncan Forbes Cunningham , b Dec 1876, died of enteric on 25 January 1902 at Standerton.

He joined the Essex Regiment from 3 Nattalion Essex Rifles Militia in April 1900 and was promoted to Lt in October 1901.

Captain Wilfrid Arthur Hebden , b Feb 1867 , died of enteric 28 January 1900 at De Aar Hospital.

He joined Essex Regiment in January 1886 and was promoted to Captain in July 1897.

He embarked for South Africa in November 1899 and served in the north of Cape Colony.

Major Hugh Ingoldsby Massy , born January 1853, died of enteric on 22 March 1900 at Kimberley

He entered the Essex Regiment from the Militia in November 1875. He was promoted to Captain in August 1882 and Major in July 1891.

He embarked for South Africa in November 1899 and served in theColesberg Operations and the releif of Kimberley.

Lt Harold Laurence Matthews , born July 1878 , died 24 May 1902 at Elandsfontein.

He joined the Essex Regiment in May 1898 from Royal Military College.

He was promoted to Lt in March 1900.

He was on continuous service and took part in perations around Colesberg, Dewetsdorp, Paardekraal, Komati Poort, Frederickstadt, Heidelberg and the capture of Carolina.

Captain Thomas Walter Milward , born April 1867 , died of pneumonia 10 May 1900 at Bloemfontein.

He entered the Essex Regiment from the Royal Military College in February 1888.

He was promoted to Lt in Aug 1890 and Captain February 1898. He held the post of Adjutant from 1892 to 1896.

He was wounded at the Battle of Paardenberg but in spite of the wound continued to keep with his Battalion throughout the march to Bloenfontein and was present at the Battle of Driefontein when the 1st Essex and 1st Welsh drove the enemy from the  entrenchments at the point of a bayonet.

Lt Francis Newton Parsons VC  - Click here to read biography

3rd Battalion

Captain Richard Arthur Starling Benson, born 1869,  died Wynberg Hospital on 19 February 1900 from dysentry contracted on the Modder River.

He joined 3rd Essex but transferred to 1st Battalion Coldtsream Guards in July 1890

Lt Mounteney Kortright , born June 1872, died 21 June 1900 at Johannesburg of wounds received in action on 30 May 1900 at Rietfontein.

He joined the 3rd Essex and then joined the 3rd Kings Own Hussars in January 1893 being promoted to Lt in February 1894.

4th Battalion

Lt Richard Edmund Shepherd , Born May 1875  killed in action 31 October 1901 at Brakenlaagte ( 20 miles nw of Bethel)

He obtained his first commision from 4th Battalion Essex in April 1894 and was promoted to Captain in May 1897.

He served with British South African Police from June 1898 and was commisioned as Second Lt in the Yorkshire Light Infantry on 30 August 1899 before being promoted to Lt in Aug 1900.

Lt Altham Browning Wilmer, born Aug 1876, ided 23 October 1901 of wounds recieved the day before at Kafirstad, ORC.

IHe was commisioned by the 4th Battalion Essex Regiment and in  December 1897 accpeted a commision in the Bedfordshire Regiment being promoted to Lt in January 1899

Battalion not named

Major Edward Walter Fletcher , b January 1865, was killed in action 3 March 1901 at Lichtenburg.

He joined the Essex Regiment in May 1885 on transfer from the 3 Battalion Royal Scots but left to join the Northumberland Fusisiers in July 1885 and served with the 1st and 2nd battalion on his way to promotion to Major.

Quartermaster and Hon Lt Thomas Piper , b June 1858, died 27 June 1902 from inflamation.

He joined Essex regiment and served in the ranks before being appointed as Quartermaster in October 1894. He exchanged to the 2nd Battalion Middlesex in Aug 1899.

He served throughout the war including operations on the Tugela, relief of Ladysmith, Spion Kop, Vaal Kranz, St Pieter's Hill, Natal and the advance into Transvaal.

Source - A Roll of all officers who gave their lives for their Queen, King and Country in the South African War 1899-1002 by Mildred G Dooner