1st Essex Volunteer Engineers - Brief History
They were formed in 1861 by Edward
Hammond Bentall who operated an engineering firm at Heybridge.
Mr Bentall became Captain with support
from 2nd Lieutenant F Parker, Hon Asst-Surgeon Edwin Parker
Gutteridge and Quartermaster Sgt Wells.
In 1863 Captain Ball was added as
adjutant and a band was formed led by Bandmaster Mr W Hardy.
Initially all of the 80 members were
employees of Mr Bentall.
A new drill hall, paid for by Mr Bentall,
was erected at Heybridge.
The full uniform was a red tunic with
bearskin cap and white feather.
On 10 June 1871 the London Gazette
carried the notice that the 1st Essex Volunteer Engineers had
been struck off the records of the War Office and will
henceforth cease to hold any number of designation in the
Volunteer Force in the County of Essex.
Captain Bentall
was opposed to the proposed changes to the Volunteers which may
have been a contributory feature to the closure.
