Air Raid Damage Reports Brentwood Division Essex Fire Service November 1941.

Date                Time   Location         Damage

03/11/1941    12.00  Dunton          A British Tiger Moth Training ‘plane number

N.6848, piloted by Sergt. Charles Alexander McMillan, of No.1 E.F.T.F. RAF stationed at Hatfield Herts, landed at Park Farm having lost his bearings.  No damage or casualties, took off under his own power.

06/11/1941    19.45  Wallasey        2 – Para mines exploded at Lower Barn Farm. 

Island             Damage to farm buildings.  No casualties.  One tailcap found 1/2 mile from River Crouch.  Stencilled letters and numbers scratched out.  2nd, found 800 yards from River Crouch.  Stencil scratched out.  Letters H.q.f.M. 1834.

08/11/1941    09.55  Landwick       On the 7.11.41 on instructions, Sergt. William

Wood Dow Petrie.  Regt No. 1880533 of the 205th Field Company, R.Es stationed at Battlesbridge and a party of men were going to make a roadway across a minefield situated near the Sewage Farm, Landwick.  Before starting on the road way several mines had to be exploded and this was done 7th inst.  At 09-55 hrs the 8th inst. Sergt Petrie and five men went to the minefield to carry out their job of putting a fence on either side of the supposed roadway, but before commencing work the Sergeant went into the supposed roadway to make certain that all the mines had been exploded and he there found a recovery wire leading to a mine.  He told his men to stand back, which they did.  He then got hold of the wire with his hand and walked towards the mine.  Sergt Petrie had almost reached the mine when it exploded and blew him to pieces.  The remains of Petrie’s body was conveyed to Billericay Mortuary.  No other person was hurt.

08/11/1941    13.20  Bowers           A British Spitfire made a forced landing at Smokey

Gifford            Farm, due to shortage of petrol.  Air-screw and under-carriage damaged.  The Pilot, Flight Sergt. Sanderson from 616 Squadron, West Malling, Kent escaped injury.

08/11/1941    19.45  Great              2 – Para mines.  One exploded 100 yards North of

Wakering       Old Halfway House Farm.  Telephone wires down.  No casualties.  One unexploded with parachute attached on Saltings at Fleet Head Creek.  30 yards from sea wall at Wick Farm.  1st Para tailcap found 100 yards North of Old Halfway House Farm.  1 1/2 miles from River Roach.  Letters embossed thereon OOS.M. 2018.  2nd Para tailcap found 100 yards North East of Old Halfway House Farm 1 1/2 miles from River Roach.  North wind.  (Unexploded mine removed by Admiralty 15.11.41).

11/11/1941                Ingrave           1 – Unexploded A.A. Shell found in a clover field,

100 yards South East of Hatch Farm, Thorndon Park.  No damage or casualties.  Date and time of falling not known.  (Disposed of BDS 20.12.41).

14/11/1941                Great              1 – Unexploded H.E. found in marshland on the

Wakering       West side of Brickfields.   No damage or casualties.  Date and time of falling not known.  (discredited by BDS 28.11.41).

15/11/1941    19.15  Foulness       1 – Para mine exploded on Shalford Farm.  No

damage or casualties.  Tailcap with 1057 punched in metal found the 18.11.41, 650 yards East of Foulness Road and 500 yards North of sea wall at Shalford Creek.

21/11/1941    09.15  Rochford       A deflated Barrage Balloon grounded in a field 200

yards East of Sutton Road.  Number 21217.  (Removed by Naval Authorities 22.11.41).

21/11/1941    09.15  Stambridge    A deflated Barrage Balloon grounded in a field 1/2

mile East of Stambridge Church.  No markings.  (Removed 22.11.41).

21/11/1941    10.25  Nevendon     A deflated Naval Kite Balloon grounded 150 yards

North of the Cricketers P.H. Arterial Road.  Inscribed K.B/MARY V.I.A. 8432.  (Removed by Naval Authorities 22.11.41).

23/11/1941    16.20  East                A Tiger Training ‘plane No. T.6706 bearing RAF

Horndon        markings and piloted by Sergt. Pilots Maguire & Penson of a Cambridge Aerodrome made a forced landing in a field 300 yards North of LMS Railway.  They were trying to locate another aircraft believed to have made a forced landing in the area and declined further ( Rest of entry missing on original).

24/11/1941    19.30  Rochford        Slight damage was caused to windows and

and Great      ceilings of property by blast from a mine exploding

Wakering       in the Southend Boro.  No casualties.

25/11/1941    Found  Hockley        1 – H.E unexploded in a greenhouse at McGee’s

Nurseries.  No casualties.  Believed to have fallen March 1941.  (Disposed of by BDS 26.11.41).

27/11/1941    19.15  Foulness       1 – H.E exploded in open ground 1/2 mile East of

                                                            The Rectory.  No damage or casualties.