South Essex Regiment
The South Essex Regiment is a fictional infantry regiment in the British Army that was created by Bernard Cornwell in the Sharpe series of books. It first appeared in Sharpe's Eagle, and was commanded by Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson. Sharpe was transferred to the South Essex when his own regiment, the 95th Rifles was withdrawn back to England, and made a captain. After Simmerson showed cowardice at the Battle of Talavera de la Reina (where Sharpe captured a French Imperial Eagle, which then went on to be displayed on the regiment's Colours), Colonel William Lawford, an old friend of Sharpe's took command. Lawford was wounded soon after and the South Essex went through a string of colonels. In Sharpe's Regiment, the South Essex is renamed The Prince of Wales's Own Volunteers when the regiment returns to Spain it is commanded by Colonel Bartholomew Girdwood, suffers a breakdown during an attack into French soil. Sharpe leaves the regiment soon after and Colonel Joseph Ford takes command. The regiment does not appear again until the Battle of Waterloo, where Sharpe and his sergeant Patrick Harper save the regiment from the advance of Napoleon's Old Guard at the end of the battle, where Sharpe is finally given command of the regiment by the Duke of Wellington.
- See Also