Reginald William Essex – 12th Rifle Brigade
Reginald was born on 19 December 1886 in Haworth, Yorkshire, to Edward and Ellen Essex (nee Ellam). Edward Essex was a school teacher and he and his large family moved from Haworth to Much Cowarne, Herefordshire, and then in 1899 on to Wildboarclough. By this time the Essexes had nine children of their own and had been joined by a nephew and niece after Edward’s brother George and wife had both died in India. The family lived next door to the school in the School House. Edward Essex became the second longest serving head of Wildboarclough School.
Reginald attended the school for a couple of years and by 1911 was working as a painter. He seems to have been a sporty type too; playing football for the local team and winning the first recorded Shuttlingsloe Fell Race for non-tenants/servants of Lord Derby, held as part of the local celebration of the coronation of King George V.
Reginald attended the school for a couple of years and by 1911 was working as a painter. He seems to have been a sporty type too; playing football for the local team and winning the first recorded Shuttlingsloe Fell Race for non-tenants/servants of Lord Derby, held as part of the local celebration of the coronation of King George V.
Reginald Essex is one of these men - Wildboarclough Football Team 1910 from Antony Borrow's book Valley of the Wild Stream
The family moved to Longdale Cottage Wincle in 1913 from where Reginald, who was by then working as a gardener, enlisted as Rifleman 13601 in the 12th Battalion Rifle Brigade (Prince Consorts Own) on 29 July 1915. He joined the regiment in Winchester two days later.
The 12th Rifles embarked for Belgium on 26 October 1915 and were sent immediately to the front near L’Epinette near Armentieres, in Northern France.
The battalion had several short spells in the trenches over the next few months, but most of the time – including Christmas Day - they were in billets just behind the lines. By the beginning of February 1916 Reginald was stationed with his battalion at Steenvoorde in some 18 miles north-west of L’Epinette.
On 5th February they marched to a camp 3 miles from Poperinge in Belgium in preparation for a return to the trenches. Six days later, on the 11th, they were sent to take over the line near the canal at Boesinghe, just north-west of Ypres. The trenches were in such a poor state of repair that they could only move in at night. The battalion came under fierce artillery bombardment and repeated infantry attack but managed to take up their positions by the end of the 12th, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Shelling continued on and off for a couple more days after which the battalion regrouped and re-equipped itself. In the afternoon of 22 Feb the British artillery fired on the German front line trenches; their response was very severe, preventing any movement along the trenches. During the bombardment four men were killed and 33 wounded – Reginald Essex was one of those who died. Two days later the battalion was relieved and returned to their camp outside Poperinge.
Reginald Essex is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres (Ieper) C.W.G.C Ref Panel 45-48 and 50. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Courier of 18th March 1916. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star posthumously as well as the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His father was sent £6 9s 3d; £3 as a war gratuity and the rest was back pay.
Edward Essex retired as school master in 1917 and moved to Rainow with his wife. Edward kept close ties with Wildboarclough and continued to play the organ at the local church, St Saviour’s.
The 12th Rifles embarked for Belgium on 26 October 1915 and were sent immediately to the front near L’Epinette near Armentieres, in Northern France.
The battalion had several short spells in the trenches over the next few months, but most of the time – including Christmas Day - they were in billets just behind the lines. By the beginning of February 1916 Reginald was stationed with his battalion at Steenvoorde in some 18 miles north-west of L’Epinette.
On 5th February they marched to a camp 3 miles from Poperinge in Belgium in preparation for a return to the trenches. Six days later, on the 11th, they were sent to take over the line near the canal at Boesinghe, just north-west of Ypres. The trenches were in such a poor state of repair that they could only move in at night. The battalion came under fierce artillery bombardment and repeated infantry attack but managed to take up their positions by the end of the 12th, suffering heavy casualties in the process. Shelling continued on and off for a couple more days after which the battalion regrouped and re-equipped itself. In the afternoon of 22 Feb the British artillery fired on the German front line trenches; their response was very severe, preventing any movement along the trenches. During the bombardment four men were killed and 33 wounded – Reginald Essex was one of those who died. Two days later the battalion was relieved and returned to their camp outside Poperinge.
Reginald Essex is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres (Ieper) C.W.G.C Ref Panel 45-48 and 50. His death was reported in the Macclesfield Courier of 18th March 1916. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star posthumously as well as the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His father was sent £6 9s 3d; £3 as a war gratuity and the rest was back pay.
Edward Essex retired as school master in 1917 and moved to Rainow with his wife. Edward kept close ties with Wildboarclough and continued to play the organ at the local church, St Saviour’s.
Extract about Reginald Essex’s death from Antony Borrow's book ‘Valley of the Wild Stream’.