Essex Regiment Question

[Hawthorn]

Forum Members,

I have recently found a Regimental Cane or Swagger Stick which appears to relate to The Essex Regiment with the 'Pompadours' nickname as part of the badge design. Having looked at Essex Regiment canes on line the badge appears to differ from the norm with the Sphinx missing from the design.
Would I be right in thinking that this cane has a 56th (West Essex) Regiment (2nd Battalion Essex Regiment) connection or is it just a variation of design for the Essex Regiment. Any ideas on dates of use would be appreciated too.

Many thanks and best regards

Simon.

Hi Simon,
Lovely thing indeed, not sure if i can add much to your assumptions.
The sphinx has been used on the cap badge for a long time (1881?) not present on this. Victorian type crown (Pre 1902?) Pompadours (used from the beginning).
Regards Mark

[Fatherofthree]

Greetings Simon.

I believe you have a very nice item to The 56th, West Essex.

The Sphinx became part of The Essex regiment insignia when the 44th and 56th amalgamated to become The Essex Regiment, (1st and 2nd Battalions respectively).

Regards

Brian
P.S. I forgot to add pre 1881, when the amalgamayion took place.

[Hawthorn]

Mark and Brian,

Thank you very much for that. The lack of the Sphinx was what initially made me wonder regarding identification.

Best regards Simon.

[jf42]

The key point being that the 44th were entitled to the Sphinx badge 'superscribed 'Egypt' for their participation on Abercromby's Egypt campaign in 1801, whereas the 56th were not.

However, as one of the four original regiments defending Gibraltar during the Great Siege of 1779-83 the 56th were entitled to the distinction 'Gibraltar' together with the Castle and Key badge and the motto Montis Insignia Calpe visible on the swagger stick badge here ).

Authorised in 1784, this was the earliest official campaign honour awarded in the British army, predating the Sphinx (granted to some 40 regiments and corps) by some eighteen odd years. That may explain why from 1881 the Castle and Key was more prominent on the Essex Regiment badge than the Sphinx.

[Hawthorn]

jf42,

Many thanks for the additional information.

Regards Simon.