Group taken at Seaford, Sussex on the occasion of the visit of Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Weston Howard C.B., C.M.G. who has been Colonel of the Essex Regiment since 1935 and had the 5th Division from 1934 to 1937. Back row - 2nd Lt. J.A. Welpy, 2nd Lt. D.S. Farr, Lt. T.L.W.Lewsey, 2nd Lt. G. L. Dickinson, 2nd Lt. P. Halfhide, Lt. G.A. Eden Middle row - Lt. J.F.B. Fadden, 2nd Lt. P.L.G. Williams, 2nd Lt. V.G. Houchin, 2nd Lt. G.E.Smith, 2nd Lt.I.D.J.Stevenson-Hamilton, Capt. H.E. Heard, Lt. D.J.M. Smith, 2nd Lt.A.G. Fowler, 2nd Lt. W.A. Chappell, Cpt. (Q.M.) L. Hardy Seated - Cpt. E.J. Sheldrake, Lt. Col. A.J. Gibson R.A.M.C., Major Lord Edward Hey, Lt. Gen. G.W. Howard (Colonel of the Essex Regiment) Lt. Col. G.M. Gibson (Commanding), Cpt. H.J. Laverty (Adjutant), Major R.M. Doyle, Cpt. A.C. Newman (later Lt. Col. V.C. C.O. No.2 Commando), Cpt. A. Noble
33927 Lt. Col. Augustus Charles NEWMAN V.C. The Essex Regiment attached No.2 Commando (Salford, Bucks) Awarded for bravery during Operation Chariot, Raid on St. Nazaire 27/28th March 1942
Very interesting. It might be interesting to note how many of these officers were still with the battalion at the outbreak of war (and throughout the war in a few cases):
