Soldiers during the First World War. Some of the Royal Army Medical Corps, band and bugle band, recently arrived in Witham after the departure of the 1st/7th (information from Ian Hook, Essex Regiment Museum). Marching down Collingwood Road and into Newland Street. Some civilians.

Buildings include, on left, left to right, 38 Newland Street (with ‘AA’ sign), 1 Collingwood Road, 3 Collingwood Road, 5 Collingwood Road, 7 Collingwood Road, 9 Collingwood Road (7 and 9 being Lockram Villas).

On the right, 36 Newland Street (the George). Probably the same occasion as photo M453. Another copy of M453 (photo M813), had written on the back, ‘Witham Essex, April 11th 1915. Church parade of 1st. South Mid. Field Ambulance (2nd line) R.A.M.C. (F) Capt. Kimpton [or Kempton] & Staff Sgt. Hill, followed by C Section’.

I didn’t find a newspaper report about the parade, but see the Essex County Chronicle, 2 April 1915, re. the visit of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to RAMC Midland Division in Witham, where his son was a lieutenant.

Ref	M457
Photographer	W E Bull, photographer, Witham and Braintree (info from M1895).
Date taken	11 April 1915
Source	Braintree and Witham Times