The Essex Regiment was one of very few to have their own Regimental Chapel.  The Essex Regiment Chapel was part of the Warley Barracks and was dedicated on 1^st March 1925.  Now officially known as ‘The Regimental Chapel Warley’ it is home to a number of Regimental Standards pre-dating the chapel and some beautiful memorials, including this one dedicated to the two Regular Battalions of the Essex Regiment in the Great War.  Each Battalion that served in the Great War also has a Roll of Honour.

Each month a relatively modest congregation holds a service and in 2025 each month is remembering/commemorating an action from the history of the Regiment and its’ predecessors.  On 4^th May the service commemorated the Gallipoli Landings of 25^th April 1915 and the participation in the Gallipoli Campaign of six Battalions of the Essex Regiment, namely 1^st Battalion at W Beach on 25^th April, the four first line Territorial Battalions, 4^th , 5^th , 6^th and 7^th at Suvla in August and also the 1^st Garrison Battalion.

The Exhortation was delivered, followed by the Last Post. Two minutes silence was observed and The Rouse sounded, followed by The Kohima Epitaph.

The service was conducted by Rev Antony Wilson, Chaplain to 3^rd Bn The Royal Anglian Regiment and followed the pattern of the monthly services with the addition of a short address by Paul Weaver. Paul has been a member of the Essex Branch WFA for more than 30 years and is a leading figure in the 10^th Essex Living History Group. Paul’s Great-Uncle, James Cox landed at Suvla, serving as a Private, 6^th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.  Paul’s talk included details of the numbers from each nation who served during the Campaign and extracts from a first-hand account of the landing.

Paul shared his memories of locating the trench at Lala Baba in 2019 during the Essex Branch, Western Front Association Tour, in the company of his brother, where their uncle trod the same ground over one hundred years before.  James survived Gallipoli only to die of his wounds on 24^th August 1916 serving in 7^th Bn Yorkshire Regiment on the Western Front.  This account helped to bring home that each man who served had a family anxious for their safety, hoping for word from them that they were safe.  All too often the news was that dreaded, that their loved one would not return.

The Order of Service contained a number of additional pages with details of the actions in which each of the Essex Battalions had taken part, a photo of W Beach on 25^th April 1915, a map and closed with the familiar words of reconciliation of Mustafa Kemal, Ataturk, from 1934.

After the service a cross was left in memory of the Essex men at the memorial to the two Regular Battalions as above. 

A display was prepared by our Chairman, Jim Kevany, also a member of the Gallipoli Association, for the congregation to see over coffee after the service.  Photos of Gallipoli, maps and a War Diary precis helped bring to life the Campaign to those not fortunate enough to have visited the beautiful Gallipoli peninsula.

A number of photos were taken by the dedication stone outside of the Chapel. 

Left: The Lord Petre KCVO DL, former Lord Lieutenant of Essex and Patron of The Essex Branch of The Western Front Association, standing to the left of the dedication stone.  Right of the stone Col (retd) Charles A F Thomas TD DL, Chairman of the Royal Anglian Regiment and Essex Regiment Chapel Committee and Committee member of the Essex Branch WFA and on the right Jim Kevany, Branch Chairman Essex Branch WFA.

Right: Major (retd) Peter Williamson MBE, past Chair of the Trustees of the Essex Regiment Museum, members of the 10^th Essex Living History Group and Essex Branch members.

All photos Karen Dennis

Essex Regiment Gallipoli Casualties

1^st Battalion

Total all ranks                                        713      commemorated at Gallipoli

6^th August 1915 worst casualties          241

Month of August worst casualties        438

1^st/4^th Battalion total all ranks              46

1^st/5^th Battalion total all ranks                 8

1^st/6^th Battalion total all ranks              30

1^st / 7^th Battalion total all ranks            28

Essex Regiment casualties died Malta  20

Essex Regiment casualties died Egypt   44

Essex Regiment total casualties            1,014 *

*This excludes any casualties buried in the UK and the above figures, based on CWGC commemorations, needs more research. This work is ongoing.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Karen J Dennis