Essex VB Camp Life
Part of the conditions of belonging to the Essex VB was that men reported for training at their local Drill Hall weekly and that they attended weekend camps during the summer.
One such camp at Danbury starting on 16 May 1918 tells of the routine at Camps.
Volunteers came from Colchester, Walton, Frinton, Harwich, Brightlingsea, Chelmsford, Braintree, Halstead, Witham, Southend, Dunmow, Saffron Walden and other parts of Essex.
Members of the Essex Motor Volunteers also attended.
Reveille sounded at 5.30am , followed by a parade and then breakfast.
Three more parades took place in the morning before dinner.
Training in the afternoon was Platoon Drill, Musketry, work with the Hotchkiss and the 15 pounder gun, wiring, signaling, ambulance work and sanitation.
Instructors came from the School of musketry at Hythe and the Eastern Command School of Instruction.
On Saturday evening a sports day was held. Click here for the names of those taking part.
On Sunday afternoon there was an inspection by General Snow.
The troops marched past in fours and assembled on parade grounds for each battalion where they were inspected before being dismissed and returning home to resume their normal work.
