6th Battalion, Essex Regiment
| 6th Battalion, Essex Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 30 January 1860 – 1 May 1961 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 Territorial Army
|
| Role |
Infantry Air Defence |
| Part of | Essex Brigade |
| Garrison/HQ | West Ham |
| Engagements |
WWI: Battle of Britain Blitz |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Charles Capper |
WWI:
Gallipoli
Senussi Campaign
Palestine
The 6th Battalion, Essex Regiment was a volunteer unit of Britain's Territorial Army. First formed in the docks of East London in 1860, it served as infantry at Gallipoli and in Palestine during World War I. It later formed searchlight units of the Royal Artillery (RA), serving during the Blitz.
An invasion scare in 1859 led to the creation of the Volunteer Force and huge enthusiasm for joining local Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs). The 5th (Plaistow and Victoria Docks) Essex Rifle Volunteer Corps was one such unit, formed on 30 January 1860 at Plaistow, mainly from employees of the Victoria Dock (later Royal Victoria Dock), which had opened in 1855 on Plaistow Marshes. The first commanding officer was the dock manager Charles Capper.
The four-company unit was included with the nearby 9th (Silvertown) Essex RVC in the 2nd Administrative Battalion of Essex RVCs (under Capper's command) until 1866 when two two units were large enough to become independent. The 5th was renumbered as the 3rd Essex RVC in 1880, and designated the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Essex Regiment in 1883 following the Childers Reforms. The Battalion headquarters moved to West Ham in 1885. By 1900, the battalion had increased to a strength of 13 companies, with a cadet corps affiliated from 1907. The uniform was Rifle green with facings of the same colour, changing to the scarlet with white facings of the Essex Regiment in 1895.
...
Wikipedia