The history of the Essex Yeomanry dates back to 1796 when parliament authorised the establishment of yeomanry cavalry and units were formed at Epping and Chelmsford. There followed several reorganisations although the Essex Yeomanry as we know it was formed as a Territorial Unit in 1901 in order to take its mobile ability to South Africa to help with the pursuit of the recalcitrant Boers. Initially it was called the Essex Imperial Yeomanry but in 1908 it simply became the Essex Yeomanry. It fought in WW1 but in 1921 the role of cavalry was greatly diminished and the Essex Yeomanry became part of the Royal Horse Artillery instead.
Sadly Charles is not in the picture above taken just before the unit departed to South Africa but John Patterson is there and most of the other people pictured are officers that Charles would have known and worked with whilst in South Africa.
Derek Wright has managed to do additional research on the career of W.A. Wills in the picture on the back row second from right. You can read it here
Charles Orr's Memoirs Volume 3
