The cache is not at the posted co-ordinates.
Two hundred years ago a lieutenant of the East Essex Regiment captured a French eagle standard at the battle of Salamanca. The Eagle carried the same significance to French Imperial regiments as the colours did to British regiments and would be defended with as much ferocity. Losing an eagle brought shame to the regiment and incurred the wrath of the Emperor. It was not unknown for regiments to attempt to conceal the loss of an eagle, for instance, by claiming it had been destroyed by a cannonball.
The East Essex Regiment merged with its sister regiment, the West Essex, to form the Essex Regiment in 1881. The Eagle was carried on parade by the Essex Regiment, a tradition inherited by the 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment and now the 1st Battalion. The Eagle displayed in the Regimental Museum at Duxford is a replica. The original is in the Essex Regimental Museum in Chelmsford.
For the Sharpe fans out there, the capture of a French Imperial Eagle by the fictional "South Essex Regiment" in the Sharpe novels of Bernard Cornwell is based upon the East Essex’s battle honour. The South Essex is depicted as having yellow coat facings like the East Essex
To find this cache you will need to find the answers to some questions, all of which can be answered by a visit to the Essex Regiment Museum in Chelmsford. The Museum is situated on the first floor of the Chelmsford and Essex Museum. (Opening hours: 10-5 Mon-Thu, 10-5 Fri during school holidays, 10-5 Sat and 1-4 Sun. Closed on Fridays during term time).
At the Museum, look for the Eagle. The information you require is on various boards near the Eagle – particularly remember to look at the showcase to your left rear as that has some important information. Also the life size soldier on the landing may give you some clues.
If you can’t get to the Museum, you should be able to research the information on the internet. However, we would recommend you to visit the Museum to see the Eagle, if you can.
Questions to answer:
1. The battle of Salamanca was fought on AB/C/1812
2. The East Essex Regiment was numbered D4 on the establishment of foot regiments
3. The battalion which served at Salamanca and captured the Eagle was battalion number E
4. The Eagle was captured from the French Infantry Regiment number FG
5.The East Essex Regiment later merged with the West Essex Regiment to form the Essex Regiment and the Eagle was adopted as the symbol of the regiment. The regimental number of the West Essex Regiment was H6
The cache is at
N 51° (A+B)C.E(F-H)H' E 000° E(D+H).G(C-F)F
Congratulations to helennbrian for a very quick FTF 