July 1944
(Britain)
Canvey Island Councillor Ray Howard MBE was only a 2 year old child when a V-1 Flying bomb destroyed his home. As reprisals for the Allied invasion of Normandy, German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler ordered the launching of V-1 Flying Bombs on the primary target, London. Over 9,500 V-1’s were launched from sites in France beginning on the 13th July 1944 until October 1944. The V-1 Flying bomb had a sheet steel fuselage with plywood wings and a simple Pulse-Jet engine mounted on the top. Inside the fuselage was a gyroscope guidance system, fuel for the engine and explosive impact fuses which were activated when landing. On the 22nd July 1944 anti-aircraft guns, mounted along the river, aimed and hit one V-1 during its flight over the Thames estuary. The shell hit the V-1 on one side causing it to deviate from its course. Once the Pulse-Jet engine cut-out it crash landed and exploded in Deepwater Road, Canvey Island. The V-1 actually fell on Ped Scott’s property and he must have died instantly as he was home at the time. The Howard family lived next door and the blast destroyed their home. Two Howard children died, Eric aged 7 and Peter aged 5. Betty Brace, who was a cousin of the Howard children, was another victim of the blast. Betty was a young girl delivering newspapers. Ray Howard, 2 years old, was trapped in the rubble alongside his sister Doris and their mother. The three were rescued by Nurse Andrews when she pulled Ray, Doris and their mother from the wreckage. Mother, son and daughter survived, but Ray’s injuries were so bad he spent over six months in hospital. Upon leaving hospital, on a weekly basis up to the age of nine, Ray had to have pieces of glass removed surgically. Many buildings including the “Red Cow” public house were either damaged or destroyed. Ray survived the war and went on to become a passionate councillor for Canvey Island. On the 23rd November 2017 Ray was awarded the MBE in recognition of his long service for the welfare of Canvey Island and district.
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The Bay Museum & Research Facility 