REPORTS OF MEETINGS
221
War Department in 1861 and in 1925 the latter became the Regimental
Chapel of the Essex Regiment, which regiment is still the only one to
possess its own chapel.
The building is beautified by stained-glass window's given by the
Regular, Territorial and Home Guard battalions of the Regiment and by
townships of the County. The pew-ends are embellished by carved and
painted memorials to individuals who have served in the Regiment.
Many other interesting memorials are to be seen, and along the chancel
and nave hang colours, including those of the 44th Foot carried at Waterloo,
here deposited for safe keeping. The famous Eagle captured at Salamanca
in 1812 and which is represented in the regimental crest, now stands by
the chancel arch. After Major Andrew's talk was concluded the members
spent some time in inspecting this most interesting chapel and then, having
thanked him for his kindness, passed into the open air to continue the walk
towards Little Warley Common.
The very pleasant wooded country provided much of botanical and
entomological interest, and, ere the Common was reached, the following
moths had been recorded. Cream Wave (Scopula flos lactata), Clouded
Silver (Bapta temerata), Speckled Yellow (Pseudopanthera macularia).
Young larvae of the Brimstone butterfly (Gonopteryx rhamni) were also
observed on Rhamnus frangula. On reaching Little Warley Common, a
halt was made for lunch in the vicinity of the Greyhound Inn, and after-
wards the party walked along the road to Warley Gap, where cocoons of
the Five-spot Burnet moth (Zygaena trifolii) were found, and thence by
footpath to the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Great Warley. This beautiful
church is very nearly unique in this country in that it is one of the very
few churches built (in 1904) during the reign of Edward VII. Over the
altar is a very fine figure in silver of Our Lord. Much of the interior is
lined with aluminium—at that time a laboratory curiosity. The acoustics
are particularly good. Many of the stained-glass windows were destroyed
during the war, but are now partly replaced.
The members then continued their walk through the beautiful gardens
of Goldings (by kind permission of Mr. Denys de Rougemont, J.P., C.C).
Tea was taken at the Thatchers Inn, after which the party walked to
Warley Lea. Here the usual meeting was held, under the chairmanship of
Mr. Bernard T. Ward. The names of three candidates for membership were
read. After the meeting, the members explored the garden, under the
guidance of their host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Williams, until
the time came to return to Brentwood Station. The weather throughout
the day was warm and sunny, and 31 members attended.
Visit to Kirby-le-Soken and Walton-on-the-Naze (962nd Meeting)
SATURDAY, 4 JULY, 1953
A coach left Wanstead at 9.30 a.m., calling en route at Thorpe-le-Soken
Station to pick up other members, and then continuing to the vicinity of
White House. Here the party left the coach to follow the sea-wall round
towards Skipper's Island. Traces of the February floods were everywhere
visible. It was obvious that land submerged only for a few hours was
little affected, but when the floods had been held up for a few days, then
virtually no vegetation survived.
Lunch was taken on the sea-wall opposite Skipper's Island, after which
members walked up the green lane to the road and rejoined the coach, which
took them further east towards Horsey Island. Some time was spent on
the sea-wall, where further traces of the floods were seen. The wall was
here being extensively repaired and raised. A Redshank chick was observed
in the long grass. It was interesting to see how the bird endeavoured
to escape notice by "freezing".