Private Edward Bambridge was born in Lindsell on 22nd July 1893. In 1911 Edward is recorded as being a Stockman on a Farm in East Hanningfield. At the time of his enlistment his occupation is given as Labourer. His medical examination described him as being 5' 2" tall, weighing 100 lbs, Chest size 32", with brown eyes and brown hair. His religion was described as Wesleyan. He was attested on 30th August 1914 and posted for training on 5th September 1914. He enlisted as 3/2466 Private soldier with the 9th Battalion, the Essex Regiment on 7th November 1915. The service number indicates previous military service of some kind, possibly territorial) His service records indicates he was sent to France on 30th May 1916. He was invalided out of the army and sent home on 20th February 1918, and subsequently died on 5th April 1918, aged 24. His death certificate shows he died at an Isolation Hospital in Romford of Tuberculosis of Lungs, Cardiac Failure. His death was registered by his aunt W. Reely who lived at 30 Shrewsbury Road, Forest Gate. Edward was buried at the Congregational Church Cemetery, in Chelmsford Road, Felsted. Edward is remembered on the village memorial and also on the memorial at Felsted memorial but having been invalided out of the army he is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Details courtesy of Robert Stone

Private 19254, 95th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Killed in action 6th September 1916 in France & Flanders. Born and resident East Hanningfield, enlisted Chelsmford. Formerly 2785, Essex Regiment. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C.

Southend Standard, obituary, 16/11/1916

DOE, Frederick Thomas - Private, No 19254, Machine Gun Corps (Inf)

Private Doe lived at East Hanningfield and was employed by the Great Eastern Railway at Wickford. He was a member of the Salvation Army attached to the Rettendon Corps, in which he was a bandsman. He enlisted in the Essex Regiment (No 2785) at Chelmsford on the 3rd September 1914 and went abroad on the 30th May 1915, attached to a machine gun section. He was subsequently transferred to the Machine Gun Corp, and was killed in action in France on the 6th September 1916 aged 24. A memorial service was held for him by the Salvation Army at Rettendon.

Leading Seamn J/8090, H.M.S. Vanguard, Royal Navy. Died 9th July 1917. Aged 23. Son of Charles Haddon Linnett and Emma S. Linnett, of East Hanningfield. Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent. Panel 21. See Lyness HMS Vanguard War Memorial.

Note: HMS Vanguard exploded at Fleet Base of Scapa Flow around 11.30 pm on the 9th July 1917, with the total loss of 804 dead, leaving only 2 survivors. A 12 inch gun turret weighing many tons was hurled across the fleet at anchor, to land on Flotta, a mile away, and set fire to the moorland. The loss of the Vanguard is believed to have been caused by an explosion in one of the two munition magazines which served the amidships turrets. Although no formal cause for the cordite explosion was ever found by the Court of Inquiry which was convened into such a major disaster, the most likely explanation is that a fire in a coal bunker or other neighbouring area smouldered away undetected long enough to heat the cordite stored at an adjoining bulkhead to dangerous levels, eventually triggering an explosive reaction. Eyewitness accounts of the incident described seeing a bright flash or flame, followed by two heavy explosions and then a third, smaller one.