Cpt George Rochester Mansfield

George was originally from Sawbridgeworth and was a career soldier - he had joined the army on September 18th 1885 aged 18, which is when he first came to Brentwood and to Warley Barracks. He was a sergeant in the Essex Regiment during the Boer War and was awarded several medals including the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and was mentioned several times in dispatches. He fought at the Relief of Kimberley and the Battle of Paardeberg in 1899, and the Battle of Driefontein and the Battle of Diamond Hill in 1900.

After South Africa, he was in Bangalore for a few years and moved to Brentwood in about 1905, where he became a Warrant Officer at the Barracks in Warley and was able to settle down with his wife and daughter. He retired after 25 years service in 1910.

In 1914 he rejoined the army and became a Captain in the 4th Battalion Essex Regiment. The records of his first world war service are unfortunately lost, but when he died in 1929 he was described having 'served continuously until the disbandment of the old 4th Battalion in 1919'. He was buried at St Thomas' church with full military honours.