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).