Air Raid Damage Reports Brentwood Division Essex Fire Service January 1941.
Date Time Location Damage
04/01/1941 Great Warley 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in garden of 22 Mount
Crescent. No damage or casualties. B.D.S 6.2.41.
04/01/1941 02.05 Great Warley 5 – H.Es exploded at Warley Barracks 20 yards
from swimming pool. 1 located remainder of wood. Slight damage to property. No casualties.
05/01/1941 15.30 Great 10 – H.Es exploded in fields in line from 500 yards
Burstead West of St Marys, Crays Hill to Bridge Farm. No damage or casualties.
05/01/1941 20.45 Great Warley I.Bs (a number) on open ground near The
Thatcher’s Arms P.H. No damage or casualties.
05/01/1941 20.55 Herongate I.Bs (a number) fell in Thorndon Park and 10 or 12
near The Boars Head. Slight damage to property. No casualties.
05/01/1941 22.00 Doddinghurst 1 – H.E. exploded at Howells Farm,
Doddinghurst Road. No damage or casualties.
06/01/1941 09.00 Great 1 – H.E. unexploded in a field 1/4 mile East of
Wakering Wakering Common Road. No damage or casualties. (Dealt with by B.D.S. 11.1.41).
06/01/1941 10.05 Brentwood 16 – H.Es exploded in the Gas Company’s Sports
Ground, 5 exploded in Brickfields (slight damage to property) 5 exploded and 1 unexploded in vicinity of Railway Station, 1 fatal, 7 serious and 13 slight casualties. Considerable damage to property. (unexploded removed right away by B.D.S. from Railway).
06/01/1941 14.25 Pitsea 1 – H.E. exploded on footpath outside “Cartref” St
Michaels. No damage or casualties.
07/01/1941 14.40 Little Warley 7 – H.Es exploded, 2 in fields of Brickfields, 3 in
field at rear of Waterworks, 1 in field at “The Goldings” and 1 in hedge of a lane between Thatcher’s Arms and Hall Farm, Great Warley. Slight damage to property. No casualties.
07/01/1941 16.10 Rochford 7 – H.E. exploded on or near Rochford Aerodrome.
No damage or casualties.
08/01/1941 N/K Hutton 1 – H.E. unexploded on Martins Farm 400 yards
North of Rayleigh Road. No damage or casualties.
09/01/1941 N/K Great Warley 1 – H.E. unexploded 100 yards from Lodge at
entrance to Boyles Court. No damage or casualties. BDS 29.11.41.
10/01/1941 N/K Canewdon 1 – H.E. exploded 200 yards West of Loftmans
Farm. No damage or casualties.
11/01/1941 19.40 South I.Bs (a number) over a wide area. No casualties, 1
Benfleet bungalow completely gutted, 1 extensively damaged and 11 slightly damaged. Gas main damaged. “Westbury” I.B. through roof slight damage.
11/01/1941 19.55 Pitsea I.Bs (a number) fell on Pitsea Estate. 2 houses
badly damaged. A Chapel and 10 houses slightly damaged, 1 serious, 1 slight casualty.
11/01/1941 19.55 Basildon I.Bs (a number) over a wide area. A bungalow, a
farmhouse and a school slightly damaged. No casualties.
11/01/1941 19.56 Thundersley I.Bs (a number) fell on Bread & Cheese Hill, 1
slight casualty. A garage used as a Furniture Depository and 2 bungalows damaged.
11/01/1941 Brentwood 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell at Brickhouse Farm,
Doddinghurst Road. No damage or casualties. (Removed B.D.S. 25.2.41).
11/01/1941 20.15 Pilgrims 1 U.X.B.A. bomb board, wire and parachute and
Hatch circular board found near PC Dayer’s house. No damage or casualties. (disposed of by B.D.S 13th).
11/01/1941 21.15 Mountnessing 1 U.X.B.A. bomb board, wire and parachute
and circular board found at Swallows Cross. Bomb in hedge at Bullmans Farm. (Disposed of by B.D.S 13th).
11/01/1941 22.30 Doddinghurst 2 – Parachutes and a large quantity of wire.
A heavy explosion was heard when this material grounded.
12/01/1941 18.25 Doddinghurst 1 U.X.B. with wire and parachute attached
at Stockfield. Also a parachute and wire only in a field near Shepherds Inn. (Disposed of by B.D.S. 13th).
12/01/1941 Pilgrims 1 U.X.B Small Yellow with parachute attached
Hatch near Ashwells (Disposed of by B.D.S. 13th). Also 1 parachute only at Ashwells.
12/01/1941 Doddinghurst 1 – U.X.B. Small Yellow with a parachute
and wire attached in Howgego’s field, Dagwood Lane. (Disposed of B.D.S. 15th)
12/01/1941 Doddinghurst 1- U.X.B. Small Yellow near “The Warren”
Blackmore Road. (Disposed of by B.D.S. 16th).
12/01/1941 18.30 Basildon 1 – H.E. unexploded in a field 300 yards South of
Burnt Mills and 600 yards East of Rectory Road. No damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 18.40 Pitsea 1 – H.E. exploded in a field between Rectory Road
and Pound Lane. No damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 18.45 Pilgrims 1 – H.E. exploded in garden of “Dorna” Hatch
Hatch Road, 4 houses slightly damaged. No casualties.
12/01/1941 18.50 Wickford 5 – H.E. exploded at Atherstone Gardens and a
number of I.Bs in open ground. Slight damage to property. No 1 Police Houses, telephone wires and electric cables down.
12/01/1941 18.50 Rayleigh 1 – H.E. exploded in upper Edwards Hall,
Eastwood Rise. No damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 19.00 Brentwood 1 – H.E. exploded in Crown Square, Crown Street,
8 slight casualties. 4 houses demolished, 14 houses and a school seriously damaged. 16 houses slightly damaged. Water and gas mains damaged. 2 unclassified roads closed.
12/01/1941 19.00 Pilgrims 1 – H.E. exploded 150 yards East of Ashwells
Hatch Farm, School Lane. No damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 19.05 Laindon 1 – H.E. exploded at Castle Lane, Primrose Hill.
Slight damage to property. No casualties.
12/01/1941 19.10 Barling 1 – I.B. burnt out at Clays Street Farm. No
damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 19.10 Sutton 2 – H.Es exploded Temlle Farm, 400 yards West of
Sutton Road. Slight damage to property. No casualties.
12/01/1941 19.19 Little Warley I.Bs (a number) burnt out in fields North of Arterial
Road, near Warley Street. No damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 20.15 Rochford 7 – H.Es exploded in fields at Blatches Farm.
Slight damage to property. No casualties.
12/01/1941 21.20 Little 7 – H.Es exploded in fields at Hatches Farm. No
Burstead damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 21.40 Canvey 4 – H.Es exploded near Scars Elbow Fort. 2 in
Island fields and 2 in River Thames. No damage or casualties. Also I.Bs (a number) on 70 ton Lighter named “WYE” near O’Dells Dump, Northwick Road. No casualties. Boat damaged and
12/01/1941 21.40 Dunton I.Bs (a number) burnt out in fields between Dunton
Colony and Dunton Hall Farm. No damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 21.50 Hadleigh 5 – H.Es, 4 exploded and 1 unexploded in and near
The Crescent, and a number of I.Bs near Burrows Recreation Ground. 1 H.E. exploded 70 yards North of Scrubbs Lane, 1 unexploded 100 yards West of Woodfield Road and 3 exploded on open ground behind Woodfield Road, 2 fatal casualties (females 14 months and 9 years) 4 serious and 5 slight casualties, 1 bungalow demolished, slight damage to other property. Water and gas mains damaged, sewer damaged and three unclassified roads closed.
12/01/1941 22.10 Dunton 7 – H.Es exploded in fields at rear of Dunton
Wayletts Farm. No damage or casualties.
12/01/1941 22.28 Shenfield 1 – A.A. Shell exploded in School Chase. No
damage or casualties.
13/01/1941 N/K Potton 1 – H.E. unexploded on saltings 1/2 mile North of
Island Farmhouse and 35 feet from sea wall and 50 yards West of Storehouse on North East side of sea wall. No damage or casualties.
16/01/1941 01.04 Brentwood A German Dornier 17 shot down by night fighter
crashed in flames in Hartswood 100 yards from junction of Woodman and Hartswood Roads. Machine completely burnt out. Remains of 3 bodies found in wreckage.
16/01/1941 05.15 Canvey A German Heinkel 111 shot down by night fighter
Island crashed in flames in River Thames 100 yards South of Oil Wharf Jetty Hole Haven. Occupants 2 dead and 3 prisoners (1 at Oldchurch Hospital).
18/01/1941 15.35 Billericay 10 – H.Es 8 exploded and 2 unexploded in fields
East of Lawness Farm. No damage or casualties. (Dealt with by B.D.S. 9.4.41).
18/01/1941 16.45 Hockley Barrage Balloon grounded in a field near
Homefield Farm, Greensword Lane. Damage to electric cables.
19/01/1941 21.00 Nevendon 1 – H.E. exploded in a field 300 yards East of
Nevendon Hall Farm and 300 yards South of Arterial Road. No damage or casualties.
19/01/1941 21.05 Pitsea I.Bs (about 40) burnt out on Marsh land near the
Reclaimation Coy Limited works. No damage or casualties.
19/01/1941 22.00 Great Damage to ceilings and windows at “Corduville
Wakering Villa” High Street by nose cap of A.A. Shell. Also damage by shrapnel to roof of Methodist Chapel. No casualties.
20/01/1941 02.05 Hutton I.Bs (a number) burnt out on open ground in
vicinity of L.N.E.R. Brands Farm and Petrol storage dump, Wash Lane.
21/01/1941 10.45 South Weald 1 – A.A. exploded Shell at Coxtie Green Farm.
Slight damage to cowshed. No casualties.
21/01/1941 15.00 Pitsea An enemy plane flew low over the district and
machine gunned indiscriminately. No casualties. Damage to bungalow.
21/01/1941 15.55 Billericay 16 – H.Es 15 exploded and 1 unexploded and a
number of I.Bs in fields opposite Ardleighs Garage at Harts Corner. One heavy H.E. exploded near Cullis’ Sheet Metal Factory South Green. 1 soldier killed, 2 soldiers and 3 civilians injured. Extensive damage to factory and other property. Telephone and electric cables down. Water main damaged. (Unexploded removed by B.D.S).
22/01/1941 Hutton 1 – H.E. unexploded found behind military hut on
Brands Farm, Wash Lane. No damage or casualties (believed to have fallen 20.1.41).
22/01/1941 Laindon 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell on footpath 150 yards
East of Church Road. No damage or casualties. (disposed of B.D.S. 4.2.41).
24/01/1941 12.00 East Horndon A white balloon 8 feet diameter deflated
found in a wood 1/2 mile West of East Horndon roundabout.
29/01/1941 20.00 South Weald 1 – H.E exploded on grass verge opposite 38
Wealdside Cottage. Telephone wires and water main damaged. Slight damage to property. No casualties.
29/01/1941 20.30 Mountnessing 3 – H.Es exploded, 2 in fields called Thoby
Fields North East of Mountnessing Mill and 1 in field North Corner House Café, Burnthouse Lane. Slight damage to property. No casualties.
29/01/1941 20.50 Great Warley 2 – H.Es exploded in fields 1/4 mile North of
Stoney Hills Farm. Slight damage to 2 houses. No casualties.
29/01/1941 21.00 Downham 3 – H.Es exploded in fields 200 yards from De
Beauvoir’s Arms. No damage or casualties.
29/01/1941 21.30 Downham 2 – H.Es exploded in fields 600 yards East of White
Lillies Farm. No damage or casualties.
30/01/1941 13.30 Wickford 2 – H.Es exploded, 1 200 yards South of A.127 and
1 exploded 150 yards East of Pipps Hill. Slight damage to property. No casualties.
30/01/1941 13.45 Pitsea 1 – H.E. exploded and about 50 I.Bs burnt out 300
yards East of Sea Transport Depot and Sewerage Works. 1 ewe killed and overhead electric cables down.
30/01/1941 16.30 Laindon 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell fell in the garden of
“Rosena” Borthwick Drive. No damage or casualties. (dealt with by B.D.S. 6.2.41).
31/01/1941 11.15 Herongate 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in the garden of
“Woodlands” Blind Lane. No damage or casualties. (Dealt with by B.D.S. 24.2.41).