In 1741 the 44th Regiment of Foot also known as the East Essex Regiment was formed was formed. In 1881 it was amalgamated with the 56 the Regiment of Foot (aka the West Essex) to form the Essex Regiment. In 1954 the Essex Regiment became part of the new Royal Anglians. The 44th and then the Essex were involved in some of the best known battles including their pivotal role at Quatre Bass Waterloo. As part of my web site on Eastern Essex I have looked at 'the Essex' from a genealogical viewpoint and managed to produce 22 lists of officers and men at key points in their history including the highs and the low of Afghanistan when the entire Regiment with one exception was slaughtered outside 'Cabul'. The first list is of the initial staff of the 44th in 1741 and the final list are the men of Eastern Essex who made the final sacrifice in World War 1. Hopefully this will help genealogists trace some Essex men who just 'drop off the radar' as death and army seemed to go hand in hand at this time. For those of you who are not up with Army Regiments - Bernard Cornwell used the 44th as the model for his ficticious South Essex Regiment and the Adventures of Major Richard Sharpe who goes to all of the places that the 44th visited inclduding the real capture of the French Eagle by the 44th. I haven't found anything similar free of charge on the web so the e mail is to make you aware of it's existence if you need it in the future. http://www.essex-family-history.co.uk/localfamilyhistoryindex.htm Peter www.essex-family-history.co.uk www.essex-country-life.co.uk OPC for Burnham and the Dengie 100 Villages