Date                Time   Location         Damage

03/06/1943    03.15  Thundersley 2 – H.Es exploded in field South side Arterial Road,

Daws Heath.  No casualties.  Damage to overhead electric and telephone cables.

05/06/1943    04.00  Bowers           1 – A.A. Shell exploded on Bowers Gifford Marshes

Gifford            300 ft N.W. of Staines Farm.  No damage or casualties.

05/06/1943    04.00  Bowers           A camouflet, which was caused by a bomb which

Gifford            fell on Bowers Gifford Marshes, 100 yards N.W. of Smokey Farm.  (Discredited by BDS 21.6.43).

05/06/1943    04.00  Bowers           1 – Ux. A.A. Shell found on Bowers Gifford Golf

Gifford            Course 400 yards West of Gt Muscles Farm.  (Disposed of BDS 26.7.43).

05/06/1943    04.30  Canvey          1 – H.E. exploded on edge of lake in Thisselt Road. 

Island             No casualties or damage other than two windows of greenhouse broken.

05/06/1943    14.00  South Weald 3 boys aged 13, 11 and 9 1/2 were seriously

injured as the result of playing with a believed No. 68 grenade fired from a North over Projector which was found by them in a field at South Weald.  2 of the boys died from their injuries.  The grenade with 2 others had been left in the bombing pit at the Home Guard Camp South Weald and it is believed they were picked up by the boys whilst the firing parties had gone to dinner.

12/06/1943    Found  Rochford      1 – exploded A.A. Shell in field 100 yards West of

Creeks End Road and 700 yards  North of Ballards Gore Corner.  Time and date of falling not known.

12/06/1943    Found  Rochford      1 – Ux. A.A. shell in field 250 yards North of

Ballards Gore Corner and 150 yards West of Creeksey Road.  Time and date of falling unknown.  (Disposed of BDS 7.7.43).

13/06/1943    02.50  Nevendon     1 – A.A. Shell exploded in front of Summer Hill

                                                            Garage Arterial Road.  No damage or casualties.

14/06/1943                Hockley          1 – A.A. Shell exploded near footpath at SW end of

Blount’s Wood, 6 yards from LNE Railway.  No casualties or damage.

15/06/1943    03.25  Little                1 – A.A. Shell exploded in field 500 yards North of

                                    Burstead        Hatojes Farm.  No casualties or damage.

15/06/1943    03.25  Thundersley 1 – Ux. A.A. Shell 200 yards rear of Wonder View

Burches Road.  No casualties or damage.  Disposed of BDS 8.7.43).

15/06/1943    07.45  Laindon         A partly deflated Barrage Balloon fell on a

bungalow in Elizabeth Drive, 60 yards East of Green Lane.  No casualties or damage.

15/06/1943    Found  Ashingdon   2 – U.X.A.A. Shells were found in fields at

Ashingdon, one in a field 300 yards South of Ashingdon Church and 250 yards East of Main Road and one in field 450 yards S.E. of Ashingdon Church and 400 yards East of Main Road.  Time and date of falling unknown.  (Disposed of 1.7.43).

23/06/1943    20.45  Mountnessing          An APB which fell on 3.3.43 exploded in a

field on Thoby Poultry Farm, whilst the grass was being cut by a cutter drawn by two horses one of which was killed and the other injured.  The horseman escaped injury.

24/06/1943    Found  Wickford       An Ux A.A. Shell was found in a ditch 100 yards

North of Dines Farmhouse, Does Hill.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 21.7.43).

26/06/1943    Found  Wickford       1 – Ux. A.A. shell 250 yards S.E. of Bromford

Farmhouse Nevendon Road.  Time and date of falling unknown.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 24.7.43).

In the small Lancashire village of Bamber Bridge, less than four miles from Preston, a fatal fight occurred on the 23^rd June 1943.

During the war Bamber Bridge hosted Afro/American servicemen with predominately white officers, from the 1511^th Quartermaster Truck Regiment, a branch of the Eighth Air Force. The 1511^th was a logistics unit and their function was to deliver material to other 8^th Air Force units in the county. Also stationed outside the village were the all-white American Military Police (MP). A sign was displayed saying “Negros Only” in all three pubs in the village after the U.S. commanders demanded a colour bar be imposed. The villagers objected as they were not subjected to similar racial tensions the Americans were used to back home. The 1511^th troops were amazed they were welcomed in the pubs whereby they could mix with the locals. In return, they were extremely polite because they were treated kindly. The American MPs, on the other hand, were described as rude and ignorant. The “Ye Olde Hob Inn” was the location for the Battle of Bamber Bridge as the locals eventually called the incident. On the evening of the 23^rd June 1943, some 1511^th troops were drinking with the locals at the inn.

By not being in the correct uniform, being away from camp without a pass or disorderly conduct was sufficient justification for the MPs to make an arrest. Responding to a report of trouble at a local pub, two MPs entered the inn to find the bar was peaceful.

Reports of the incident vary but the most probable was that when a barmaid called time at 10.00 pm, both the locals and the 1511^th troops were saying, it was too early. Although this gesture was good-naturedly meant for a laugh, the MPs thought differently. They decided to arrest Private Eugene Nunn for being improperly dressed. He was wearing a field jacket rather than the regulated “Class A” uniform. The locals objected strongly on Nunn’s behalf. The MPs left to obtain reinforcements but on their return, some 1511^th troops were walking along the street followed by Auxiliary Territorial Service girls (ATS). The MPs were unhappy to see this and immediately began attacking the unarmed men. One of the men being attacked tried to grab a pistol from one of the MP’s holster. Shots were fired and Private Adams was shot in the neck. By now the MPs left, for a second time, to fetch further reinforcements while some of the 1511^th troops returned to base and raided the armoury.  Tempers cooled down after the MPs departed.

An alternative report of the incident was that entering the pub the MPs ordered Private Nunn to step outside. British servicewomen of the ATS and local people challenged the MPs asking for what reason were they wanting to arrest Nunn. However, the 1511^th Staff Sergeant William Byrd defused the situation and the MPs were preparing to leave when a beer was thrown over their departing jeep. The MPs retired to collect reinforcement MPs and were told by their captain to arrest the 1511^th troops.

The fight that broke out was started when the four MPs returned and began shooting at the 1511^th troops killing Private William Crossland in the process, with no injuries to any MP.

 When the injured 1511^th troops returned to base rumour spread that the MPs were ready to kill the 1511^th troops.

At around midnight several jeeps carrying MPs arrived, which prompted the 1511^th troops to arm themselves. They raided the armoury and proceeded to pursue the MPs. When the reinforcements arrived with searchlights and a machine gun, they set up a road block and ambushed the pursuing 1511^th troops.

Troops of the 1511^th warned local people to stay indoors as a gun battle was about to ensue, which resulted in several injuries.

The fighting ended around 4.00 am the following morning, the outcome being that one officer and three troops of the 1511^th had been shot and wounded. Two MPs were also shot and wounded with another two badly beaten.

A house to house search was carried out by the MPs the following day looking for stray bullets. This was interpreted by the locals as an attempt to remove any evidence that the MPs were involved in the battle.

The outcome was that thirty two 1511^th troops were court-martialled and convicted of starting a mutiny against the MPs. However, the locals did not regard it as mutiny and knew who were responsible for the incident. Their interpretation was the “Battle of Bamber Bridge” had occurred rather than munity. By then they realised the incident was brought about because of the inborn racism within the U.S. army. The court-martial was carried out under U.S. regulations and all thirty two 1511^th troops were given prison sentences ranging from 3 months to 15 years. Twelve months later the 1511^th troops who received up to 15 years jail sentence were released in order to fight the Nazis in Europe. Any corporals and sergeants were stripped of their stripes and were reduced to becoming privates.

Following the court-martial a commander of the U.S. Eighth Air Force laid most of the blame on the white officers and MPs for the violence. Poor leadership and encouraged racial insults were the main cause. No charges were brought against the MPs.

In 1942 the Visiting Forces Act was hastily agreed which allowed the American military personnel to operate their own laws whilst on British soil.

The American army took full advantage of British censorship laws and the only newspaper account of the incident was that violence had occurred in North West England.

 It is ironic that the U.S. forces were in Europe to oppose fascism and at the same time operating racial oppression within their own forces.

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(Britain)

The Battle of Bamber Bridge was a conflict between American troops on the 23^rd June 1943 basically over the racial disparity operating in the United States. The Afro/American troops, of the 1511^th Quartermasters Truck Regiment, were based in the small village of Bamber Bridge near Preston in Lancashire. Also present in the same locality were a group of American all white Military Police (MP). The British were not acquainted with the racial tensions which were common in the U.S. and the locals objected to and rejected the demands of the American commanders to operate a colour bar in the village. The three pubs in the village displayed signs saying “Negros Only”. Because of the kindness shown to them the 1511^th troops responded by being polite and enjoyed mixing freely with the locals. The locals preferred the 1511^th troops to the all-white MPs, who they described as being rude and ignorant. On the night of the 23^rd June 1943 two MPs entered the “Ye Olde Hob Inn” pub to arrest the 1511^th Private Eugene Nunn for being improperly dressed. On behalf of Nunn the locals objected strongly whereby the MPs withdrew in order to obtain reinforcements. After the pub had closed at 10.00 pm the 1511^th troops were returning to their base, followed by three laughing and giggling British Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) girls. The MPs returned with reinforcements and upon seeing the fraternisation, began to beat-up the unarmed 1511^th troops. Shots were fired and a Private Adams was wounded in the neck. The MPs retreated a second time to obtain reinforcements and some 1511^th troops raided their armoury. When the MPs returned a gun fight occurred resulting in the death of the 1511^th Private William Crossland. The outcome was that thirty two 1511^th troops were court-martialled and convicted of starting a mutiny against the MPs. The American army took full advantage of British censorship laws and the incident was not released to the public. It is ironic that the U.S. forces were in Europe to oppose fascism and at the same time operating racial oppression within their own forces. For further information see the separate article the “Battle of Bamber Bridge”. The outcome was that thirty two 1511^th troops were court-martialled and convicted of starting a mutiny against the MPs. The American army took full advantage of British censorship laws and the incident was only reported that violence had occurred in North West England. It is ironic that the U.S. forces were in Europe to oppose fascism and at the same time operating racial segregation within their own forces. For further information see the separate article the “Battle of Bamber Bridge”.

Following the firestorm raid on Wuppertal in May 1943 the RAF launched another large attack on the 24^th June 1943, as part of the Ruhr Valley offensive. The airstrikes were concentrated on central Elberfeld and south-eastern Ronsdorf. Incendiary bombs were mostly dropped during this bombing campaign. Once again the German fire brigades were ill-equipped to fight the fires resulting in 38% of the built-up urban areas being destroyed. Smaller Allied aircraft carried out numerous air raids on the city. Overall, more than 6,500 people lost their lives during the Second World War from such raids. Earlier, in February 1943, the RAF allegedly caused serious damage to the Goldsmitt adhesives manufacturer. They were manufacturing wood adhesive for wooden aircraft frames. This curtailed the development of new prototype aircraft as the alternative adhesives corroded the wooden air frames.

(Mediterranean)

Operation Corkscrew was the code name for the Allied invasion of the island of Pantellaria on the 11^th June 1943. The island is located between Tunisia and Sicily. Following the surrender of the German/Italian armies in North Africa, the Allies turned their attention to the invasion of Sicily. However, the radar installations on Pantellaria were regarded as a threat to the plans. The island was garrisoned with 12,000 Italians troops well entrenched in pill boxes and 21 gun batteries. Rather than risk an amphibious attack the Allied commanders decided to employ aerial and naval bombardment to try to force the defenders to surrender. Beginning in late May 1943 and continuing up to the 11^th June 1943 the island was bombed and shelled. Despite two offers to surrender, which went unanswered, the 14,000 strong British 1^st Division launched an amphibious attack. Fighting among the two sides was not necessary as the Italians had already surrendered prior to the attack. The Italians had 40 killed, 150 wounded and 11,000 of their troops taken prisoner whilst the Allies had 15 aircraft shot down. On the 12^th/13^th June 1943 the nearby Italian Islands of Lampedusa and Linosa surrendered to the Allies. This left the path open for the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) the following month.  

(Pacific)

Operation Cartwheel was the code name for the American attacks on New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. These attacks occurred during June 1943 and focused on neutralising the major Japanese base at Raubal. On the 21^st June 1943 the New Guinea Campaign began when U.S. troops landed at Segi Point on New Georgia. This was followed by a series of “Island Hopping” with U.S. troops landing on Trobriand Island, New Guinea on the 23^rd June 1943. The island of Rendova was garrisoned by up to 260 Japanese troops and was the next island to be attacked. On the 30^th June 1943 U.S. troops, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Naval forces conducted an amphibious assault supported by air cover. They quickly overwhelmed the Japanese defenders but were subjected to heavy attacks by Japanese aircraft from Raubal airfield. The five day battle and defeat of the Japanese enabled the Americans to secure staging areas and an airfield. Once the island had been secured, the air base development and road access became top priority. The losses for the Japanese were 65 killed and 106 aircraft lost. For the Americans over 60 was killed, 21 planes were destroyed, one transport boat sunk and one destroyer damaged.

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