Author Archives: The Bay Museum

Air Raid Damage Reports Brentwood Division Essex Fire Service May 1943.

Date                Time   Location         Damage

03/05/1943    07.10  Bowers           A German Aircraft (believed Junkers 88) crashed

Gifford            in a field adjoining Sadlers Farm 3 of the crew were killed and found in wreckage 2 bailed out and were captured.

10/05/1943    Found  Little              A deflated Barrage Balloon grounded in Johnson’s

                                      Wakering     Field, Little Wakering.  No damage or casualties.

14/05/1943    02.00  Ashingdon    2 – UX.A.A. Shells found on 16.5.43 on Ashingdon

Farm (1) 200 yards South of Ashingdon Church (2) 200 yards East of Main Road Ashingdon.  (Disposed of BDS 23.6.43).

14/05/1943    02.35  Fambridge     1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell 700 yards N.E. of Fambridge

Hall and 1 – A.A. Shell exploded 500 yards N.E. of Fambridge Hall  (Disposed of BDS 24.6.43).

16/05/1943                Hullbridge     An A.A. Shell exploded in cornfield at junction of

Hullbridge Road and Lower Road Hullbridge.  No casualties or damage.

16/05/1943                Brentwood     1 – A.A. Shell exploded in churchyard 5 yards

South of St Thomas’ Church.  No casualties or damage.

17/05/1943    00.35  Langdon        1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in Milton Avenue.  No

Hills                casualties or damage.  Milton Avenue (unmade & unclassified) closed to traffic.

17/05/1943    01.00  Ingrave           1 – H.E. exploded in a field at rear of Willow Farm. 

                                                            No casualties or damage.

18/05/1943    02.30  Rayleigh        An Auxiliary Petrol tank containing a small amount

of petrol fell from an enemy aircraft and was found in the undergrowth at junction of Louise and Helena Road.

19/05/1943    08.15  Brentwood     1 – H.E. exploded in a meadow on Calcotts Farm,

20 yards from Sandpit Lane.  No casualties or damage.

20/05/1943    02.10  South             1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in garden of “Nomville”

Benfleet         Thundersley Park Road.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 3.6.43).

30/05/1943    Found  South            1 – Ux.H.E. which is believed to have fallen

Benfleet       sometime during 1940 was found in the garden of at rear of “Robert Malcolm Road South Benfleet.  (Disposed of BDS 8.6.43).

OPERATION CHASTISE – “THE DAMBUSTERS RAIDS”

617 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, carried out an attack on several German dams on the night of 16th /17th May 1943. The attack on the Ruhr valley dams was called Operation Chastise but was commonly known as “The Dambusters Raids” andwas carried out by using special “bouncing bombs”. Barnes Wallace was an English scientist, engineer and inventor, who designed and developed the bombs whilst being employed by Vickers-Armstrong Aircraft Co. RAF Bomber Command thought large bombs would be effective but a weapon suitable for this task was not available nor the necessary degree of accuracy to achieve this. The concept of bouncing an object over the surface of water was a well-known phenomenon and this theory was taken up as the project. Wallis’ experiments proved that a smaller spinning barrel shaped bomb would suffice providing it exploded against the dam wall below the water line. Originally the preferred aircraft was to be the Vickers Wellington bomber, but was changed when the first modified Avro Lancaster bombers became available. Testing the bomb at Chesil Beach in Dorset often proved to be unsuccessful, but after many modifications a decision was reached as regards to the releasing of the bomb from the aircraft. With Air Ministry approval, thirty Lancaster bombers were allocated for the mission. A new squadron was formed and led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a veteran of over 170 bombing and night fighter raids. Twenty one bomber crews were selected and they were stationed at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. The crews practised low-level flying in the dark whilst the bombers were being modified to allow the mission to proceed in May 1943. The water levels at the dams were at their highest allowing any breach of the dam to cause the most damage. The targets selected were the Möhne and Sorpe Dams with the Eder Dam as a secondary target. The attack comprised three separate formations departing Scampton on the night of the 16th/17th May 1943 following two separate routes. Both routes were timed to allow the formations to cross the enemy coast at the same time. Formation No 1 comprised of nine aircraft, led by Gibson, taking off in groups of three for the attack on the shorter route for the raid on the Möhne Dam. Any aircraft with bombs remaining would continue on to attack the Eder Dam. Formation No 2 was to fly the longer route to the Sorpe Dam and consisted of five aircraft. Formation No 3 was a five aircraft mobile reserve leaving Scampton at midnight on the 16th/17th May 1943. Of the twenty one aircrew of 617 Squadron two were unable to fly the mission owing to illness.    

When Formation No 2 reached the enemy coastline they suffered the first casualties of the raids. Flt. Lt. Les Munro (RNZAF) lost his radio to flak and turned back to base. Whilst flying at low altitude of 100 ft. (30 m) to avoid radar detection, P/O Geoff Rice (RCAF) flew too low and struck the sea. He recovered but lost his bomb to the water. He also returned to base. P/O Vernon Byers (RCAF) was shot down by flak and Flt. Lt. Norman Barlow (RAAF) hit an electricity pylon and crashed. The bomb was thrown clear of the crash and eventually examined by the Germans. The only aircraft of Formation No 2 to reach its target was piloted by American Flt. Lt. Joe McCarthy (serving with the RCAF). He had been delayed when his bomber developed a coolant problem and he finally took off in a reserve aircraft 34 minutes late. The only other bomber which did not reach its target was piloted by Flt. Lt. Bill Astell (RAAF) from Formation No 1. His Lancaster hit high voltage electrical cables in the dark and crashed in a field.

Upon arrival at the Möhne Dam, Gibson, leader of Formation No 1 made the first attack. His bomb exploded short of the dam, but he went around again to draw anti-aircraft fire away from the second bomber to attack. The second bomber was piloted by Flt. Lt. John Hopgood (RAF) who released his bomb which bounced over the dam wall. Whilst attacking the bomber was shot down by flak and only two crew members survived. Australian Flt. Lt. “Micky” Martin (serving with the RAF) piloted the third Lancaster and Gibson flew alongside to draw the flak away from Martin’s bomber. Martin’s bomb successfully exploded against the dam wall, but did not breach it. The next bomber, piloted by Sqd. Ldr. “Dinghy” Young (RAF) made a successful attack, followed by Flt. Lt. David Maltby (RAAF) whose bomb breached the dam.

Gibson, accompanied by Young, led the remaining bombers on to the Eder Dam. The dam was not defended by anti-aircraft guns as the surrounding hills were thought to make an attack impossible. The attack was hindered by heavy mist, but the first to attack was Flt. Lt. Dave Shannon (RAAF) who made six attempts before taking a break. An attack by Sqd. Ldr, Henry Maudsley (RAF) resulting in the bomb hitting the top of the dam, the blast of which damaged the Lancaster. On the return to England, Maudsley’s aircraft was shot down. Shannon resumed his attack and successfully hit the dam wall, but failed to breach it. The dam wall was breached following a successful attack by the last bomber piloted by P/O Les Knight (RAAF). Of the nine crews who attacked the Möhne and Eder Dams only five returned to England.

The Sorpe Dam was the least likely dam to be breached. Rather than the concrete and steel gravity dams of the Möhne and Eder Dams, the Sorpe was a large earthen dam. Of No 2 Formation, for various reasons, McCarthy piloted the only Lancaster to attack the dam. The other four aircraft of the formation either had to return to base or crashed on the outward journey. Aircraft of No 3 Formation were diverted to the Sorpe Dam of which only three of the five arrived near the target owing to misty conditions. One Lancaster piloted by Flt.Sgt. Anderson (RAF) couldn’t find the target and returned to Scampton and landed with the armed bomb on board.  The other two were shot down on the outward journey. The only other Lancaster to actually attack the Sorpe Dam was piloted by Flt. Sgt. Ken Brown (RCAF) from No 3 Formation. Coming from different directions, both he and McCarthy attacked separately. They both realised the approach was more difficult than anticipated due to the topography of the land. As expected the approach for the attack was along the length of the reservoir. The flight path led over a church steeple located on a hillside overlooking the dam. They then had to drop to bombing height, release the bomb and rapidly climb to avoid hitting the hillside at the other end of the dam. For the attack on the Sorpe Dam the bomb was not required to spin, as it was intended to hit the wall and explode. It took McCarthy nine attempted runs until finally the bomb was successfully dropped on the tenth run. The bomb exploded causing some damage but the wall remained intact. Later, on the eighth attempt Brown’s bomb exploded on the dam wall but failed to breach the dam wall.

The last Lancaster of No 3 Formation, piloted by Flt.Sgt. Townsend (RAF) flew on to attack the Ennepe Dam and hit the target but to no apparent effect.

On the return journey, still flying at low level, two more Lancaster bombers were lost. After attacking the Möhne Dam and hitting the target and causing a small breach, Sqd. Ldr. H.M,Young’s aircraft was shot down over the Dutch coast,

Eleven aircraft began to land back at Scampton, about 3.00am with the final one arriving at 6.15am. The reason being they had to close down one engine whilst over the Dutch coast. Sir Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command was among the dignitaries to greet the last crew to land, Harris originally opposed the allocation of the Lancaster’s but was over-ruled by Air Chief Marshall Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff.

The breaching of the Möhne and Eder Dams caused catastrophic damage to the Rhone Valley. Two hydroelectric power stations were destroyed and a further two were damaged. Mines and factories were either destroyed or damaged. German production did not resume until Sept 1943 despite rapid repairs. The flooding killed an estimated 1,600 civilians, 600 of whom were Germans and the remaining 1,000 were mainly Soviet forced labourers. The RAF lost 53 aircrew killed and two captured and eight Lancaster’s destroyed.

Of the survivors, 34 were decorated at Buckingham Palace on the 22nd June 1943. Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). In addition there were five Distinguished Service Orders (DSO), ten Distinguished Flying Crosses (DFC) and four bars, two Conspicuous Gallantry Medals (CGM) and one Distinguished Flying Medals (DFM) and one bar.

Apart from the morale the Raids gave to the British civilians, they forced the Germans to divert their construction efforts back into Germany. They had to forfeit the continuation of the civil engineering projects in the land war in both the Eastern and Western Fronts.

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FOOT NOTE!!

All 617 Squadron aircrews were part of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and consisted of:-

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

The ranks of the pilots were:-

Squadron Leader (Sqd. Ldr.)

Flight Lieutenant (Flt. Lt.)

Flight Sergeant (Flt. Sgt.)

Pilot Officer (P/O)

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  SECOND WORLD WAR May 1943

(Britain)

Nineteen Lancaster bombers from the newly formed 617 Squadron took off from their base at RAF Scampton on the night of 16th/17th May 1943. Originally the plan was for twenty-one bombers to fly but two were withdrawn owing to illness amongst their crews. The mission was to attack the industrial area of the Ruhr valley in Germany. Officially known as Operation Chastise or more commonly referred to as “The Dambusters Raid”, their aim was to breach the Möhne and Sorpe Dams. Any aircraft with bombs remaining would continue on to attack the Eder Dam. Two separate formations were required, one consisting of nine bombers led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, was to attack the Möhne Dam. The second formation, consisting of five bombers, was to attack the Sorpe Dam. American Flt. Lt. Joe McCarthy (serving with the RCAF) was the only member of the second formation to actually attack the Sorpe Dam, three of the reserve formation also attacked the Sorpe Dam. McCarthy, of the second formation, was late taking off owing to an engine cooling problem. He switched to a reserve aircraft and took off 34 minutes late for his attack on the Sorpe Dam. The four remaining bombers of the second formation either had to return to base or were shot down on the outward journey. Five additional Lancaster bombers flew as a reserve formation in readiness to assist where needed.

The “Dambusters Raid” concept was to use a special bouncing bomb designed by Barnes Wallace, an English scientist and engineer. The raids were different to most bombing raids, in as much that the planes would be flying below 100 ft. (30 m) over water and in the darkness of night.

Only eight of Gibson’s nine Lancaster bombers designated to attack the Möhne Dam, reached the target, one having been shot down on the outward journey. Five of the eight aircraft attacked the dam before it was finally breached. Gibson and the following two crews failed to hit the target. The forth hit the structure and the fifth finally breached the dam. The three bombers which had released their bombs returned to England but two failed to arrive.

Gibson and Sqd, Ldr, “Dinghy” Young, who had also attacked the Möhne Dam, led the remaining three Lancaster bombers on to the Eder Dam. The hills surrounding the Eder Dam were thought, by the Germans, to make an attack impossible and therefore was undefended. After numerous attempts in the misty conditions the dam was successfully breached. One of the aircraft was shot down on the return journey. Of the nine crews who attacked the Möhne and Eder Dams only five returned to England. One was lost on the outward journey, one whilst attacking the dam and two on the homeward journey.

The Sorpe Dam had a different construction, Instead of a concrete and steel dam wall it had an earthen retaining wall. The five reserve bombers of the third formation were diverted to the Sorpe Dam. Two of the five were shot down on the outward journey, and one couldn’t find the target because of mist and flew back to Scampton and landed with the bomb still on board. Of the two remaining bombers, one attacked the Sorpe Dam piloted by Flt. Sgt. Ken Brown (RCAF), who attacked the dam at a separate time from McCarthy. Upon reaching the Sorpe Dam both the two attackers found the approach attack more difficult than was expected. McCarthy released his bomb on his tenth approach, like-wise Young on his eighth approach against the undefended dam. The last Lancaster piloted by Flt. Sgt. Townsend (RAF) flew on to Ennepe Dam and hit the target but failed to breach the dam.

On the return journey two more Lancaster bombers were lost despite flying at low level. The first of the surviving eleven aircraft landed at Scampton at approximately 3.00 am and the final one landing at 6.15 am with engine problems. Of the eleven who returned safely, three had not attacked any targets.

Eight RAF Lancaster bombers were destroyed, 53 airmen killed and two captured. The breaching of the two dams caused catastrophic damage which disrupted German production until September 1943. Approximately 1,600 civilians were killed, 600 German and 1,000 mainly Soviet slave labourers.

Fifty three decorations were awarded to the survivors of whom Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross.

For further information see the separate article “The Dambusters Raid – Operation Chastise”.  

—

As part of the Ruhr Valley bomber offensive by RAF Bomber Command, the night time attack on the city of Wuppertal on the 29th May 1943 was particularly heavy. 719 British bombers, guided by their Pathfinder markers located the Barmen half of Wuppertal. They dropped 1,500 tons of bombs on the chemical works which rapidly turned into a firestorm. Being a Saturday night only emergency fire officials were in attendance, and they were totally unprepared and ill equipped for the developing fires in the narrow streets. 90% of the town was destroyed and approximately 2,500 people, mostly civilians, died in the firestorms.

(Atlantic)

On the 24th May1943 Karl Dönitz ordered the U-boats operating in the mid-Atlantic to withdraw from the area. When Dönitz replaced Erich Raeder as Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy and Grand Admiral of the Naval High Command in January 1943 the U-boats enjoyed success in attacking Allied convoys. However, by March 1943 the Allies employed new techniques, tactics and technology, which began to stem the tide. By May 1943 three separate convoys were attacked and the battles reached a climax. Long range Liberator bombers and radar assisted aircraft carrier escorts began to decimate the U-boat fleet. With the suppression of the U-boat operation it brought an end to the period known as Black May. Dönitz did continue to use U-boats in the Atlantic but in far smaller numbers. The Allies still needed to combat the smaller U-boat threat. This denied the Allies the opportunity for their escort aircraft to attack Germany direct  

 (North Africa 

The Axis Army had withdrawn to Tunisia after the Battle of El Agheila ended in December 1942. What remained of the Axis Army following the “Palm Sunday Massacre” and Operation Flax in April 1943 halted and held the high peaks known as “Longstop Hill”. The Allies were in pursuit and engaged in conflict at “Longstop Hill” where they attacked and counter-attacked. By the end of April/early May Allied Churchill tanks had negotiated the slopes of “Longstop Hill” and secured the barrier blocking the advance to Tunis. British armour captured Tunis on the 7th May 1943 taking the Axis forces by surprise. On the same day the Americans advanced and took Bizerte, located to the east of Tunis. By the 15th May 1943, with all their forces cut off, the Axis army surrendered. 250,000 Axis troops were taken prisoner and Nazi leaders admitted the defeat was on the same scale as the disaster of the Battle of Stalingrad.

(Eastern Front)   

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising officially ended on the 16th May 1943 when the Jews housed within the ghetto were finally suppressed. In 1939 when Germany invaded and occupied Poland they began to concentrate over three million Jews into crowded ghettos in large Polish cities. Warsaw was the largest with approximately 300,000-400,000 Jews packed into an area of 3.3 km2 in the city centre. By the time the uprising began on the 19th April 1943 approximately 254,000-300,000 residents had either died of disease and starvation or mass deportations to the Treblinka extermination camp. The Germans began another round of deportations of the Jews on the 18th January 1943 which led to a revolt being planned by the remaining Jews. Two resistance groups had joined together to support the remaining Jewish population, knowing they couldn’t win against the Germans but were determined to fight. The left-wing Jewish Combat Organisation and the right-wing Jewish Military Union engaged the Germans in direct clashes. They suffered heavy losses and inflicted casualties on the Germans which resulted in the halting of Jewish deportations. The main Jewish Uprising began on the 19th April 1943, on the eve of Passover. German police and S.S. auxiliary forces entered the ghetto and were confronted by the Jewish resistance. The uprising finally ended on the 16th May 1943 when SS-Brigadeführer Jürgen Stroop personally pushed the button to demolish the Great Synagogue of Warsaw. During the uprising, 13,000 Jews were killed, of whom 6,000 died from smoke inhalation or were burnt alive. Almost all of the remaining 56,000 residents were captured and deported to Treblinka. During the uprising the Germans suffered losses of 17 killed and 93 wounded.

Josef Mengele was a German Schutzstaffel (S.S.) officer and physician who was known as the “Angel of Death”. On the 24th May 1943 he was appointed as Chief Medical Officer in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Prior to the war, Mengele had qualified as a doctor specialising in Hereditary Biology and Racial Hygiene. In 1937 he joined the Nazi Party. In 1942 having been posted to the Ukraine, he joined the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking as battalion medical officer. He was seriously wounded, and upon recovery, was deemed unfit for active service and eventually transferred to Auschwitz. As chief medical officer he was responsible for overseeing who were to be workers for the regime, with the remaining Jews sent to the gas chambers. He was also responsible for horrific experiments on Jews who were operated on without the aid of anaesthetics. At the end of the war he managed to leave Auschwitz ahead of the Soviet Army. By various means he was able to relocate in Argentina but died in Brazil in 1979.

(Pacific)

As part of the Aleutian Island Campaign, the Island of Attu off the west coast of the Territory of Alaska, was one of the strategic links between the North American and European Continents. The Territory of Alaska was purchased from the Russians by the Americans in October 1867. The island is located in the North Pacific Ocean and south of the Berring Sea. The Battle of Attu was fought from the 11th to 30th May 1943 between American and Canadian invaders and Japanese defenders. Six months after America entered the war the Japanese National Army landed unopposed on Attu in June 1942. The U.S. military were aware whomever controlled the Aleutian Islands had access to America’s west coast for air attacks. By the 11th May 1943, 2,900 Japanese Imperial Army troops were entrenched in defensive positions when the 7th U.S. Infantry Divisions made their amphibious attack on the island. Canadian reconnaissance and fighter-bomber support assisted the U.S. Army. The Japanese were subjected to heavy naval bombardments but despite this they remained entrenched. When the 15,000 U.S. troops landed, Arctic weather conditions hindered their progress. However, after two weeks of fighting the Americans had pushed the Japanese defenders back to a small area around Chichagof Harbour. On the 30th May 1943 the Japanese army, led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki, made a surprise banzai charge where they broke through the American front line positions. Rear line U.S. troops were fighting hand-to-hand combat with Japanese forces as a consequence. The battle for the island ended with the death of most of the Japanese soldiers including Yamasaki. In the meantime, the Japanese navy had assembled a fleet in Tokyo Bay to recapture Attu. Before they were ready to depart, the Americans had secured the island. The Americans lost 549 troops killed and more than 1,200 injured. The Japanese lost 2,872 men killed and 28 were taken prisoner. The loss of the Aleutian Islands combined with the death if Admiral Isoroko Yamamoto in April 1943, had a demoralising effect on the Japanese High Command. However, Japanese propaganda attempted to present Aleutian Island campaign as an inspirational epic to compensate for the loss of Yamamoto.

(Other Theatres)

The Trident Conference began in Washington D.C. on the 12th May 1943 and lasted until the 25th May 1943. The conference was a strategic meeting between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also at the meeting were the heads of government of the United Kingdom and the United States.

 The two leaders met every other day at the White House but the British and American military leaders met daily. On the 17th May 1943 Churchill addressed the U.S. Congress and the subject of the discussions were:-

(A) The Italian Campaign

He persuaded the American leaders to endorse the Allied invasion of Sicily which would force the Germans to release troops from the eastern front. By fighting in and removing Italy from the war would reduce the Allies debt to the Soviet Union.

(B) Extent of military force

Both Britain and America agreed maximum military force should be used against Germany ending in their defeat at the end of 1944. They would then concentrate on defeating Japan in 1945.

(C) The Normandy Landings

To enable the Allies to successfully invade Europe they would need to build up troop strength and produce more equipment. For this reason the Normandy Landings were to be postponed until May 1944.

(D) Aid to China

The only practical way to assist China would be to relieve Burma. Air attacks rather than ground attacks were considered to be best option owing to the problems of jungle warfare.

The outcome of the conference was that America would become the world’s leader. Previously Britain had been the world leader.

—

In May 1943 the French people in Vichy-France formed a resistance movement. During January 1943 two major resistance groups were persuaded to unite to form the United Resistance Movement. It took time for the Marquis and the Milice groups to integrate. The Marquis were from the island Corsica, off the south coast of France, and renowned for their isolation. The Milice wereFrench gendarmes who were enemies of the Marquis, who desperately wanted to eliminate them. Following the defeat at Stalingrad, many gendarmes began to doubt an Axis victory and were unwilling to hunt down the Marquis. When the National Council of the Resistance was formed on the 26th May 1943 resistance activities began to become more co-ordinated.

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Air Raid Damage Reports Brentwood Division Essex Fire Service April 1943.

Date                Time   Location         Damage

04/04/1943    07.00  Ashingdon    A drifting Barrage Balloon became entangled with

overhead electric cables in Lincoln Road and was later removed by the RAF.

06/04/1943    Found  Langdon      1 – unexploded A.A. Shell 30 yards South of

Hills              “Roselle” Lee Chapel Lane.  (Disposed of BDS 13.4.43).

15/04/1943    00.25  Laindon         1 – A.A. Shell on Arterial Road 400 yards West of

Fortune of War crossroads.  No casualties.  Slight damage to road traffic not affected.

15/04/1943    00.30  Mountnessing          3 – A.A. Shells exploded in fields, 1 at

Woodlands Farm.  No damage or casualties, 1 at Copeman’s Poultry Farm, no casualties slight damage to property, 1 at Jordan’s Farm.  No casualties or damage.

15/04/1943    00.35  Rayleigh        5 – P.H.I.Bs exploded in High Road, No casualties.

                                                            2 houses badly damaged.

15/04/1943    00.35  Thundersley 1 – unexploded A.A. Shell fell in ploughed field 100

yards North of junction of Manor Road and Woodmans Avenue.

15/04/1943    00.40  Rayleigh        2 – P.H.I.Bs exploded in back garden of “High

Gables” Rayleigh Downs Road.  No casualties or damage.

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        5 – P.H.I.Bs exploded in fields at Lynwood

Nurseries 200 yards North of the junction of Daws Heath Road and Arterial Road  No casualties or damage.

15/04/1943    00.45  Billericay        1 – A.A. Shell exploded in the grounds of the

                                                            Isolation Hospital.  No casualties or damage.

15/04/1943    00.45  Canewdon    1 – H.E. exploded near Canewdon Hall 3/4 mile

                                                            North of Canewdon Church.

15/04/1943    00.45  Wickford        1 – unexploded P.H.I.B. fell in Thorn’s Market

Castle Yard.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 23.4.43).

15/04/1943    00.45  Paglesham    1 – A.A. Shell exploded 100 yards S.E. of Punch

Bowl P.H.  No casualties. Damage to electric light standard.

15/04/1943    00.45  Great              1 – Unexploded A.A. Shell fell at Mills Head

                                    Wakering       Brickfields  No damage or casualties.

15/04/1943    00.45  Wickford        2 – PH.I.Bs fell in the roadway, 1 in roadway and 1

in Market Road.  A.29 was closed.  BDS removed bombs and the road was opened.

15/04/1943    00.45  Great              1 – A.A. Shell exploded in a field 200 yards S.E. of

Burstead        Great Burstead Junior Schools.  No casualties or damage.

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        1 – Paramine exploded 100 yards N.E. of Gooses

Cottages, Raweth 2 serious casualties and 18 houses damaged.  Telephone wires down and 1 paramine exploded in field 500 yards E. of Companion Garage Raweth, 600 yards from 1st mine.  No casualties or damage.

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        1 – H.E. exploded in a field 160 yards from Shot

Corner, Rayleigh.  No casualties slight damage to property.

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        1 – H.E. exploded in a field S W of Chichester Hall

Farm Rayleigh.  No casualties, slight damage to property.

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        1 – H.E. exploded at rear of house 70 yards East of

Eastwood Road.  No casualties.  1 house seriously damaged.

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        1 – PH.I.B. exploded on footpath between Bowles

Nursery Eastwood Road and Lynwood Nursery, Arterial Road.  No casualties or damage.

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        5 – Unexploded H.E. fell in field 225 yards North of

junction of London Road and Victoria Avenue.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 10.5.43).

15/04/1943    00.45  Rayleigh        1 – Paramine exploded in Alpha Nurseries at

junction of Helena and Louie Road.  3 casualties of whom 1 was fatal.  Extensive damage to approximately 60 houses.

15/04/1943    01.00  Wickford        6 – H.Es exploded forming camouflets, 1

unexploded H.E. and 1 Spregbrand fell in garden of a house in Wick Lane.  No casualties or damage (Disposed of BDS 4.7.43).

15/04/1943    01.15  Thundersley 1 – Unexploded A.A. Shell fell at Common

Approach.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 8.5.43).

15/04/1943    01.15  Wickford        1 – H.E. exploded 200 yards N of Shot Farmhouse

                                                            1 serious casualty.  Slight damage to property.

15/04/1943    01.37  Hutton            1 – A.A. Shell exploded in garden of house in

                                                            Roundwood Avenue.  No damage or casualties.

15/04/1943    01.45  Wickford        1 – PH.I.B. unexploded in Market Avenue.  No

                                                            casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 24.4.43).

15/04/1943    01.45  Wickford        1 – H.E exploded in a field 500 yards East of Shot

Farm.  No casualties.  Damage to overhear electric cables.

15/04/1943    01.45  Wickford        1 – PH.I.B. unexploded fell on Thorn’s Market

Castle Yard.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 23.4.43).

15/04/1943    01.45  Wickford        8 – UX.H.E fell in a field on N side of Wickford

Senior School.  No casualties or damage, school closed, re-opened 30.4.43.  (Disposed of BDS 23.4.43).

15/04/1943    01.45  Wickford        1 – UX. PH.I.B fell in Harvey’s Market off High

Street Wickford.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 23.4.43).

15/04/1943    01.45  Wickford        2 – Unexploded PH.I.Bs fell and buried themselves

in shelters at the Senior School, Wickford.  No casualties.

16/04/1943    13.15  Hutton             An unexploded 1000 kg H.E. was being burned by

BDA in the Bomb Cemetery, Hanging Hill Lane, when it exploded causing damage to roofs and windows of approximately 42 houses but no casualties.

17/04/1943    00.20  Crays Hill       1 – H.E. exploded in a field 500 yards North of

Gurnard’s Farm.  No casualties or damage.  Damages to property slight.

17/04/1943    00.40  Dunton          1 – H.E. exploded in a field 100 yards North of

                                                            Salvation Army Colony.  No casualties or damage.

17/04/1943    18.27  Doddinghurst            A Barrage Balloon grounded at Red House

Poultry Farm.  No casualties or damage, RAF informed.

17/04/1943    Found  Basildon      A German Auxiliary Petrol tank in a meadow 150

yards South of the junction of Honeypot Lane and Rectory Road.

17/04/1943    Unknown  Basildon An Auxiliary petrol tank, bearing the markings “C-

R.E.C.H.T.S. 2717″ 6 feet long and 21 inches in diameter fell from an enemy plane and was found in Church Road, 100 yards South of the junction of Church Road and Rectory Road and taken to Pitsea Police Station.

17/04/1943    Found  Basildon      A German Auxiliary Petrol tank in a meadow 150

yards South of the junction of Honeypot Lane and Rectory Road.

26/04/1943    12.00  Nevendon     A Meteorological instrument, No. “C.2033” with

parachute attached, was found in a field 200 yards East of Tye Corner, Cranfield Park Road.

27/04/1943    Found  Vange          An Ux. H.E. 30 yards South of Clay Hill opposite

Middlehall Road.  Believed to have fallen 17.9.40  (Disposed of BDS 20.5.43).

29/04/1943    01.30  Downham     2 – UX.H.E fell in a meadow 1/2 mile N.E. of

Fremnell Farm.  No casualties or damage.  No alert in operation (Disposed of BDS.  1 disposed of 22.5.43).

Notebook of Peter Carr Benham April 1943

Thursday 1st April

After B’fast stroll on deck sea getting’ a bit rough – read, wrote and Xword ‘til lunch time – Finished ‘The 1000th Chase’ by G Delmot – now on ‘The Knight on Wheels’ Ian Hay again.  Slept and read after lunch.  Bath and Chess with Bill Dugdale before dinner – after dinner races – Our horse won.  Bill and I also had 3 winners – shared the tote ticket – Won £1 net – walk on deck at 10 pm shades of return from Zoute without the essential thing – bed at 10.30.                     

Friday 2nd April

After b’fast finished a Knight on Wheels and took out ‘Queen Anne Boleyn’ – good.  Played patience most of the morning.  After lunch read and slept ‘til 4.45 – bath – round guns and stroll round deck before dinner.  After dinner 2 games of chess, 2 of draughts and 1 backgammon – bed at 10.30 and after reading got off to sleep about midnight.     

Saturday 3 April

Walk on deck after b’fast and then played patience until 11 am when I was asked to play 21 – started with 5/5 and when the lunch time bugle was sounded at 1 ocl had 36/9 – won 31/4d – v lucky numerous 5 and unders, 21s etc.  After lunch a little deck curling with Bill, Tony Martin and Shuerham.  Sleep from 3 – 4.30 and then a good hot bath – before dinner chess and draughts with Bill.   After dinner had long chat with Curtis who commanded a Coy at Tilbury (?) in the Essex (HD) Bn – nice chap.

Sunday 4 April

Up in the lounge from 12 – 4 this am – Clocks put on an hour at 12 ocl.  Up at 8 am and had to shave after b’fast as I missed the water.  Played patience most of morning and made a few notes etc.  After lunch chat with Sgts re the various tips they had written out.  Sleep from 3 – 4.30 – hot bath – packed and had dinner at 7.  After dinner walk on deck and then looked in at the concert – another walk – bed at 12 ocl – Saw the, or rather a N of Ireland lighthouse at about 9.30 pm.

Remainder of Diary written from memory 1993!

Monday 5 April (1943)

Docked Gourock during night up early and left Nea Hellas on pinnace – towering Queen Mary painted grey at anchor – someone on pinnace called out that Customs had not cleared us – nearly lynched!  I had several 1000 State Express 3 5s in suitcase – phoned Colchester 2116 from station – Mother could not believe it was me – told me he was in North Africa!  Asked to speak to Eileen – said not here haven’t you heard in WRAF for a month at Gloucester!  Caught train about 5 pm from Liverpool St – dining car met Uncle Ernest in carriage asked about John a POW – tears m’ eyes told me they had heard he was put on submarine (?) which our ships sank and had been drowned – met by Father at North Station collected crate each oranges and lemons and boxes of dates – back 5 Oxford Road about 6.30 pm and v happy telephone conversation with Eileen who could not believe it – moving to Stradishall near Long Melford tomorrow – arranged to meet soonest possible.

End of diary.

SECOND WORLD WAR April 1943

(Britain)

On the 15th April 1943 the Royal Air Force (RAF) conducted a heavy bombing raid against Stuttgart. This raid was the 9th out of a total of 53 during the course of the war. It was also the 5th out of 18 joint heavy bombing raids by the RAF and American 8th Air Force. Stuttgart as a city had significant industrial capacity which included the Daimler and Porsche factories, a rail transport system and several military bases.Stuttgart is spread out in a series of deep valleys which confused and frustrated the Pathfinders of the RAF. On the 15th April 1943, a total of 462 aircraft attacked the city, consisting of 146 Wellington, 135 Halifax, 98 Lancaster and 83 Stirling bombers. Stuttgart suffered 619 killed, 705 injured and 400 prisoners of war killed. We have not located details of any RAF losses.

In order to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily Operation Mincemeat was a successful deception operation. The deception was to convince the Germans that the Allies intended to attack Greece and Sardinia and Sicily was a decoy. With the approval of British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and military commander of the Mediterranean, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Operation Mincemeat was launched. Two members of British Military Intelligence (MI5) created the character of Captain (Acting Major) William Martin. The body of a tramp who had died after eating rat poison was obtained and dressed up as an officer of the Royal Marines. Placed on the body were his fictional personal details of Martin and in a briefcase was correspondence from two British generals suggesting the decoy. The generals’ correspondence was unofficial, the type which would not be sent by diplomatic courier or encoded signal. It was to be assumed, as a major, Martin would be carrying this correspondence when his aircraft was shot down over water. On the 30th April 1943 a submarine released the body close to Huelva on the southern coast of Spain. A Spanish fisherman found the body the following morning after it had been washed ashore. The neutral Spanish government took possession of the body and informed the British Admiralty, via the vice-consul of Huelva, that the body had been found. Knowing the Germans had broken the code, pre-scripted messages from the vice-consul and the Admiralty stated it was imperative the vice-consul retrieved the briefcase. On the 1st May 1943 the vice-consul attended Martin’s post mortem and persuaded the Spanish doctors to bring a verdict of “Drowning at sea” owing to the heat of the day and the smell of the corpse. A death certificate was signed and Major Martin’s body was released and on the 2nd May 1943 was buried at Huelva Cemetery with full military honours. However, the Spanish navy retained the briefcase. Agents of the German military-intelligence service (Abwehr) were unsuccessful in persuading the Spanish to hand over the briefcase or its contents. The briefcase was forwarded to the Spanish naval headquarters in San Fernando where German sympathisers photographed the contents including the unopened letters. Spanish Naval HQ’s passed the briefcase to Madrid who were persuaded to hand the briefcase over to a senior Abwehr agent. The letters were secretly opened and the contents photographed then re-instated to their envelopes. The most senior Abwehr agent took the copies to Germany. From Madrid, on the 11th May 1943, the briefcase and contents were returned to Huelva’s vice-consul by the Spanish authorities. The briefcase was forwarded to London in a diplomatic bag. Upon receipt forensic evidence proved the letters had been opened and read, and the vice-consul was duly informed. Another communication was sent to the vice-consul saying the letters had not been opened and this information was leaked to the Spaniards known to be sympathetic to the Germans. The outcome being that German reinforcements were not sent to Sicily but reinforcements were sent to Greece and Salonika.

(Atlantic)

The Battle of the Atlantic was longest running military campaign of the Second World War beginning in 1939 and ending with the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. The winter weather of January 1943 provided a brief respite from German U-boats in the North Atlantic. By March 1943 there were so many U-boats on patrol in the Atlantic it was difficult to avoid detection. A total of 476,000 tons of aid carried by 82 merchant ships were sunk in March 1943 while the Germans lost 12 U-boats. With supplies running low, especially fuel, there was talk that Britain would not be able to continue the war and contemplated abandoning the convoys completely. Before that point was reached the next few months saw a complete reversal of fortunes. Prior to March 1943 the mid-Atlantic was unreachable by aircraft. British RAF Coastal Command were operating Consolidated B24 Liberator bombers on anti-U-boat patrols during the Battle of the Atlantic. Due to their long range capacity they were the ideal aircraft to undertake surprise attacks on surfaced U-boats in the previously unreachable mid-Atlantic. Towards the end of April 1943, B24 Liberator bombers began operating from both sides of Atlantic. Subsequently the U-boat losses increased and the sinking of Allied merchant ships decreased significantly. During April 1943, 15 U-boats were destroyed for the loss of 39 merchant ships carrying 230,000 tons of aid for Britain.

(Germany)

Radio Berlin was ordered by the Nazi German government, on the 13th April 1943, to announce the discovery of mass graves in the Katyn Forest of Poland. The propaganda faction of the Nazis did not wish to be held responsible for the graves. Prior to Germany invading Poland in September 1939 they had entered into a pact with the Soviet Union. Once the invasion began the Soviet Union advanced from the east whilst the Germans advanced from the west. In April/May 1940 the Soviet Union carried out the mass execution of 22,000 Polish military officers and civilians in what was known to be the Katyn Massacre. The German/Soviet Union pact ended when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. Following the radio announcement Soviet Union dictator Joseph Stalin claimed the Nazis had massacred the Polish officers.

(Eastern Front)

After the invasion and occupation of Poland in 1939 German authorities began to concentrate the three million Jewish population into large Polish cities. The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest and 300.000-400,000 Jews were densely packed into the central area of Warsaw. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began on the 19th April 1943. The sequence of events until the final defeat in May 1943 can be seen by referring to the Eastern Front section of January 1943.

On the 19th April 1943, three members of the Belgian Resistance attacked the twentieth train convoy transporting Jews to Auschwitz. Following the invasion and occupation of Belgium in May 1940 all Jews were forced to register with the police.

The Belgian Mechelen (Malines) transit camp was chosen for the implementation of the “Final Solution” because it was the hub of the National Railway system. From the 22nd July 1942, the first convoy train was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Once at Auschwitz the majority of the Jews were transferred to the gas chambers for immediate extermination. The deportations were temporarily halted in October 1942, by which time seventeen convoy trains had deported 16,600 people including Belgian citizens. The deportations resumed in January 1943. The convoy train, Transport No 20, was the only time the Belgian resistance halted a train during the course of the war. Transport No 20 left Mechelen transit camp on the 19th April 1943 carrying 1,631 Jewish men, women and children. For the first time freight wagons with barbed wire covering the small windows replaced the previously used third class carriages. A special wagon, the Sonderwagen, was added to the convoy train with 19 Jews (18 men and one woman) who were listed on a Nazi “special list” These consisted of resistance members and ‘jumpers’ from previous transportations. A red cross on the backs of their clothes indicated to the guards they were to be immediately executed upon arrival at Auschwitz. Armed only with one pistol, three members of the Belgian resistance were able to stop the convoy train by using a lantern covered with red paper which acted as a danger signal. Despite being guarded by 16 German soldiers one of the resistance members were able to open a wagon and liberate 17 people. Of the prisoners on the ‘special list’ 3 prisoners escaped from the wagon and a forth was shot. The train driver assisted by maintaining the slowest possible pace allowing 233 people to escape the slow moving convoy train. Of these 89 were recaptured and put on later convoy. Only 118 of the original 233 escapees survived.  Of the remaining 1,395 Jews being transported to Auschwitz, 26 were killed either by being shot or from the fall from the train. Upon arrival at Auschwitz on the 22nd April 1943, 521 people (276 men and 245 women) were assigned slave labourers of whom only 150 survived the war. The Jews who arrived at Auschwitz were immediately murdered in the gas chambers. One member of the Belgian resistance who undertook the attack. Youra Linchitz, was caught and executed. The second, Jean Franlemon, was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment following a German court-martial. The third, Robert Mastriau, fled to the Ardennes forest and eventually survived the war.

(North Africa)

By the 1st April 1943, the British and U.S. Allies continued to squeeze the retreating Germans into the corner of Tunisia. On the 3rd March 1943 the U.S. forces had beaten the experienced German tank units at the Battle of El Quettar. In the meantime the British Eighth Army, commanded by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and nicknamed “Monty”, was approaching the Mareth Line from the east. The Italian defenders of the Mareth Line began their retreat on the 21st March 1943 in order to escape Monty’s outflanking movement. On the 7th April 1943, Allied armies linked up near Gafsa in Tunisia, the British from the east and the Americans from the west. In the meantime Monty led his Eighth Army into the coastal port of Sfax on the 10th April 1943. With Allied air cover Monty entered Sfax to be greeted by the local people and secured the area when the defending Germans surrendered. In the meantime the Axis Powers were facing the threat of being trapped and destroyed by the Allies. In response reinforcements for the German Afrika Korps and Italian army were despatched by sea and air from Sicily. An immediate defeat in Tunisia was avoided by these reinforcements and logistical problems experienced by Allies helped the Axis to prolong their defence. In spite of the reinforcements in manpower and supplies the Axis were still being squeezed into the northern tip of Tunisia. Although the Allies had air superiority large numbers of the Axis forces were being evacuated by the Luftwaffe with impunity during darkness. Operation Flax had been ordered by the Allies to stop these evacuations which began on the 5th April 1943. Allied air forces, consisting of the RAF and the United States American Air Force (USAAF) were to attack Axis aircraft by day and night. The Axis air force put up considerable resistance but the Allies succeeded in destroying the aerial link between Axis held Sicily and Italy. The tide had turned, the Axis were on the back foot.  During the encounter on the 18th April 1943, German Junkers Ju52 transport fleets suffered heavy losses in what is known as the “The Palm Sunday Massacre”. The Ju52 transport planes were evacuating German forces from Tunisia. Operation Flax ended on the 27th April 1943 and for the Axis their losses were 432 aircraft in total. During the same period the Allies lost 35 aircraft in combat. The German transport fleet was unable to recover especially as they had also suffered many losses in the attempted airlift during the Battle of Stalingrad.

(Pacific) 

The only Large scale escape of Allied prisoners-of-war from the Japanese in the Pacific occurred on the 4th April 1943. Ten American POWs and two Filipino convicts broke out of the Davao Penal Colony on island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. The penal colony was surrounded by crocodile infested swamps and inescapable. The Japanese were arrogant enough to believe the security of the colony especially with indigenous head hunters and cannibals also in the region. As well as American POWs in the penal colony there were also Filipino hardened criminals and murderers, who hated the Japanese. All inmates of the penal colony were expected and forced to work. The ten Americans and two Filipino convicts came up with a plan to escape. The Americans offered the excuse they were going to build a storm shelter in the coffee field and the Japanese agreed knowing escape was impossible. Once out of the penal centre the ten Americans met up with the two Filipino convicts who would act as their guides through the swamps. After about a week the group were escorted by Filipino guerrillas from the Davao area into the safety of a nearby village. The escaped POWs were the first to break the news of the infamous Bataan Death March and other atrocities conducted by the Japanese to the world. The Bataan Death March news was suppressed by the U.S. government for fear of Japanese retaliation against the remaining POWs. They were also fearful that the enraged Japanese would cancel Red Cross supplies to American POWs.

During Operation Vengeance, on the 18th April 1943, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy was killed. This incident took place during the Solomon Islands Campaign. Yamamoto was scheduled to inspect the Japanese units. American Intelligence had previously broken the Japanese naval codes and had intercepted messages giving details of Yamamoto’s itinerary. Once the message had been decoded it gave details of time, location and numbers/types of Japanese aircraft accompanying him. Of the Japanese aircraft, two were Mitsubishi G4M1 bombers and six were Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighters. Mystery surrounds whether U.S. President Roosevelt authorised the attack mainly because the Americans blamed Yamamoto for the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. Eighteen P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft took off at 07.25 from Kukum Field on Guadalcanal equipped with long range drop tanks for the 1,000 miles return trip. Four P-38’s arrived at the intercept point at 09.34 and attacked the Japanese bombers, one of which was transporting Yamamoto. Being attacked from the rear one of the bombers crashed into the jungle. east of Bougainville Island and the second crashed into the sea. The remaining fourteen P-38’s briefly engaged the Zero fighters without making any kills before having to return to base before their fuel ran out. Evidence indicates American P-38 pilot Rex T. Barber shot down the bomber carrying Yamamoto. However, Captain Thomas Lanphier claimed he had shot down the bomber, but subsequently Barber was given the credit. Such was the controversy of Yamamoto’s death that another rumour emerged, a pilot fired a series of bullets to warm his guns prior to battle. Yamamoto’s bomber inadvertently flew into the path of the stray bullets No confirmed evidence has been found to prove or disprove this theory. The Americans suffered the loss of one P-38 fighter with one pilot being killed, whilst the Japanese suffered the loss of the two bombers and one of the Zero’s being damaged. The Japanese also had twenty men killed including Admiral Yamamoto. The morale of the Japanese was perceived to be damaged by the death of Yamamoto. It raised the morale of the Allied Forces in the Pacific theatre.

(Other Theatres)

The Allied Services Club was a social centre in New Zealand and open to all military personnel. The club was located in Manners Street, Te Aro in the capital city of Wellington. American servicemen had been stationed in New Zealand since 1942. The Battle of Manners Street flared up on 3rd April 1943 when some U.S. Marines objected to native Māori soldiers entering the club. Racial tensions began when some marines started to stop Māori soldiers from entering. Both white and Māori New Zealand soldiers combined in opposition which created a stand-off between the two sides. The stand-off escalated into fights when the marines began attacking those who wanted to let the Māori’s in. A major brawl developed about 6 pm and lasted approximately 2 hours. Also at 6 pm the local hotel bars closed and as patrons were leaving they became involved in the disturbance and many joined in the brawl. At one stage more than one thousand servicemen were involved with several hundred civilians joining in. By about 8 pm the participants began to disperse as civil and military police took control. Both sides suffered dozens of injuries and only one New Zealand serviceman was arrested. Because news of the riot was censored at the time, unconfirmed reports that two American marines had been killed could not be verified. The Americans had problems with white and non-white population in the U.S. and didn’t appreciate the culture of New Zealand’s mixed race acceptance. In New Zealand during the course of the war a couple more riots were to occur mainly due to the different cultures of the two countries even though they were both fighting the same enemy of Japan.

At a meeting in Salzburg, Austria on the 7th April 1943 the two fascist leaders of the Axis Power met to discuss future policies. This meeting was the first time Nazi German’s Adolf Hitler and Italy’s Benito Mussolini had met since the collapse of Axis defence of Stalingrad in January 1943. Hitler and Mussolini were both dictators of their individual countries. Mussolini had accepted the loss of his Libyan colony in North Africa but feared an Allied invasion of Sicily. He requested reinforcements to create a second front. They only received moral support as it suited Hitler to have the Allies slowed down on the Italian front. Hitler, on the other hand, was convinced the war would be won or lost in Russia.

The South American country of Bolivia officially joined the Allies on the 7th April 1943. They declared war on the Axis nations of Germany, Japan and Italy. Their involvement in the war was that their minerals were supplying much needed tin to the Allies. However, their involvement did not include providing troops or warplanes to be sent overseas. These would be needed at home even though Bolivia remained confident their geographic isolation would protect them from the war.

At Hamilton City in Bermuda an international conference was held from the 19thto 30th April 1943. The conference consisted of a delegation from the United Kingdom led by Richard Law, a junior minister at the Foreign Office and the United States led by Dr. Harold W. Dodds. The topic of discussion at the Bermuda Conference was the question of Jewish refugees. Many Jews had been liberated by Allied forces in Europe, while many still remained in Nazi occupied territory. Before any Jewish immigration policies could be discussed the only conclusive agreement was that the war against Germany had to be won first.

—————————————————————-

Tudor Memo Book P.C. Benham Capt R.A

OP Log

2nd March 43

0700               Occupied OP – Lines tested OK.

0702               Vis Report to CP – vis good.

0715               Nil Sit rep to CP

0745               Shot at N.Ps C****

0845               Nothing to report to CP

1000               Nil Sit Rep.

1030               Machine gun fire heard below rags position on Bgn 152o.

1255               Nil Rep sent to CP.

1515               Nothing to report.

1320               Recce alternative OP.

2 pm – escort 3 men to new OP

Tools – 2 picks, 1 shovel, 1 mattock.

3 pm – Return – contact Leg**** and give him a shoot.

530 pm – Remainder of party leave.

635 Evacuate OP myself.

OP Log – 3rd March 1943.

Rags at 668947 DPTFBL.

0645               Occupied OP – all lines tested OK – W/T closed down.

0650               Vis fair nothing to report sent to CP

0900               Shot at WPs – nil sit rep to CP – M 40

0910               Re-***ted P 106.

1200               Sit Rep to CP nil.

1400               Sunray reported going to 567.

1440 – 1446 Enemy shell farm 652891 4 or 5 single rounds Brg sound 140o.

1455               Patrol from 2 Paras in front of their zone.

1505 – 1535 Enemy shelled farm 645914 approx 12 rounds Bg sound 140o.

1550               Report sent to CP

4 March 43

0700               Occupied OP

0712               Nil Sit Rep – Vis fair – to CP.

0845               Shot at Witness point.

0930               Re-rended P 126 & WP Charlie.

Here apart from unintelligible jottings ends.

Bng and Brg mean Bearing.

Notebook of Peter Carr Benham March 1943.

Monday 1 March

Lay in a bit this morning had a super b’fast – Fried Bread – egg – and spam – bread and jam – very tasty – During am wrote long letter to MP & E and started one to A but felt so depressed at **** all the little ‘cadeau’ – little only in size – that I gave up writing as a bad job.  After lunch visited troop – tea – drink with Gerald and Sandy – dinner – command post to collect ‘griff’ for tomorrow and so to bed.               

Tuesday 2 March

Up at 5.30 am and at OP having taken over, at 7 am.  Cold this morning but very warm at lunch time – Ian came up in morning.  Nothing to see all day and everything very quiet.  Party returned to Woggery at 5.30 and I stayed up here until 6.30 when I walked back – did me good.  Had dinner avec les officiers francais and long talk on post war world with them afterwards.  Dinner v good.  Omelette, mutton chop – rice – biscuits and jam – wine and coffee.  Bad at 10.30.  Bit cold in night and had to relieve m’self at 3 am otherwise everything OK.               

Wednesday 3 March

Up at OP at 0630 hours – b’fast and shave.  Another lovely day.  Ian came up at 10.30 and we recced an alternative position for an OP.  Got back at 11.45 and had lunch.  After lunch took Lock and Roome up to alternative posn and started them off in alternative posn.  Came back to OP which I left at 6.15 and returned to the Woggery – dinner with French – after dinner wrote a couple of pages to Eileen – God how I wish I could have written and write more but the atmosphere was far from right.  Blast this flaming war – I want so much to write but the proper chance never seems to come my way.  Told I am to remain at OP for another day.  Another day when I shall only be able to write a page or two.            

Thursday 4 March

Up at 7 am – B’fast of some tasty American bacon (fried).  Ian came up and flaunted the fact that he was going riding this afternoon – les Rynears travialant les dome-commune Hier!  Walked to alternative ‘Rags’ – and back for good lunch – C.S. and k. pudding and whole spuds – c’est bon.  After lunch practiced Le Captaine Legouve with a little ‘rinuglatiun du line’ – tea – and then back to Woggery at 6.45.  Dinner avec les francais and bed at 10 ocl.                       

Friday 5 March

Invasion day by the Yanks.  Crocker – Capane Crocker – American Staff who had been doing all the work in the rear came up and shot his Btn (12 guns) into a base point!  Incredible chap – amazing Yanks.  I asked what their guns were like – answer – Boy, there wicked they shoot right down to a gnats eyebrow!  Also a good ‘un was a Yankee corporal who on looking at a dis W/T set.  Gee I guess dey must have missed out sometin!  Great day – dinner again in evening with French HQ – Extraordinary French indigene soldier who came and sat by me at 6 pm – cadging cigarettes etc – had no idea that Russians, Its and Japs were even in this war!

Saturday 6 March

Relieved at 0930 by Peter Royle.  Had b’fast at OP.  Arrived back here at 10 ocl and had super wash, very much needed.  Also put on new battledress which  Charles had got for me plus brown shoes.  Spent whole pm writing to A.  Essex C.S.s of 16 & 23 March arrived during pm – no letters.  Visited Troop at 6 pm and had very pleasant ¾ hour with Sandy from 6.45.  7.30 had excellent dinner in Mess.  Trevine and Pavant were there and also Major Hyde – U.S.A. and the Yanks liaison officer.  Long chat afterwards and bed at 1015 pm.                 

Sunday 7 March

Quiet day – b’fast at 8 and spent practically all am writing to A – G – Received her no 15 dated 26 Feb during am – it must have come by air – also sent off Nivea face cream.  At 1 ocl met Dick and Jack and we went over to El Aroussa to learn something about the Churchill tank – quite interesting.  Arrived back at 5 pm – After tea read for a bit and had drink with Sandy – Ian out with his French buddies.  Gerald came in to have an evening meal with us.  After Denman, Binley, Jim and Rollo came in for a chat.  Bed at 10.                  

Monday 8 March

Up at 7, left lines at 8.30 and took over from Peter Royle at 9 ocl, very uneventful day at OP.  Left at 6 pm and saw Peter Rawson and Cape Lagour before their big (?) patrol went out.  Hectic hour at Woggery with lines W/T etc – very fleaish night.          

Tuesday 9 March

Pancake day!  Another uneventful day – at 11.30 went over to see how diggers at alternative OP were getting on and then had lunch with Cape Legour.  After lunch had a few targets though nothing v exciting.  Left OP at 5.30 and came back to Battery with Ian were I had dinner with Padouche, and the others.  Returned to Waggery at 9.30 and spent night there.                      

Wednesday10 March

Up at OP at 6.45.  Rollo came up to relieve me at 9 ocl – Spent some time in Wog village trying to buy some chapattis from the Wogs – got back at 12 ocl and arrived with the Mail – 2 letters from A her nos 10 and 11 – great show – no ? to Maz – after lunch wrote long letter to A.  2 Frenchmen came to dinner as per usual but I left the party fairly early and had a very good nights sleep.  Had lunch with Sandy as everyone else was out.                 

Thursday 11 March

Completed my map this morning Gerald came round for a drink before lunch.  After lunch went up to see Troop and was also inoculated against typhus.  After tea wrote to Gerald – Dinner at 7 ocl at which time it started pouring with rain and after dinner had very good game of poker with Rollo, Charles, Peter Rawson and Sandy.  Won 5 fr on the Poker and 65 fr side bets off Peter Rawson.  Lent Sandy a 100 frs.  Went to bed at 10 and read quotations book – to take over Geoff’s OP tomorrow.                  

Friday 12 March

Not a very pleasant day – got everything laid on to take over Geoff’s OP tomorrow at 6 am – Ian got back at 4 pm in very black mood and changed complete detail with result that 6.15 saw me at Geoff’s OP – order then came through that take-over was to be delayed for a day so back I went to the Woggery to spend another flea ridden night there.

Saturday 13 March

Spent morning looking round our new OP with Ian and then came back here for lunch.  After lunch I squared out some drawing paper for a panorama and then wrote 3 quick letters to Eileen, M & P.  at 4.30 went back to Woggery where I picked up RA’s crew and sallied forth to take over from Geoff – Spent night at OP.                       

Sunday 14 March

Occupied OP at 6 am but visibility throughout day was practically nil and there was nothing to do bar sit in our hole and try and keep dry as it was pouring with rain most of the day – Ian phoned up at 4.30 suggesting we spent the night at the Woggery which we did having had a very sticky journey down to get there – chaps slept in a very clean dry place provided by local Arab schoolmaster.                      

Monday 15 March

Left woggery at 5.30 am but shed a track in the mud soon after starting out – Roome.  Adams and I walked to OP (1 ½ miles) + telephones & manned it by 7 ocl but vis again was practically nil til about 9 ocl when it cleared.  RA eventually arrived and the only thing of note til Peter Royle came up to relieve me was a French Colonel &Staff who came flocking into OP and asked me to shoot up a farm which I did!  Peter R came up at 6 ocl and we were back at the Woggery by 7 ocl.  While I was having dinner with the French Ian phoned to say I was going back to England – amazing show.  Baister got me back here by 10.30 where I found quite a crowd in the Mess to wish me good luck.  Colonel came over and he and I sat talking until about 1.30 am over a glass or two of whiskey.            

Tuesday 16 March

What a day!  Up bright and early and spent 1 hour with Colonel going through pts to teach the boys back home from the RHQ angle.  Sad goodbye to Troop and all here and after an early lunch went off in a 3-tonner with my 4 Sergts – Kerry (10), Arnold (RHQ), Chippen (13) and Tucker (26) – Mervyn came with us on his way to Constantine.  Arrived Adv HQ RA at 4.30 and went back from there to the Rest Camp to spend the night there prior to going off to Souk el Arta at 5 am tomorrow to catch the train at Algiers.  There were 3 other officers and 14 men besides ourselves.  Prior from 64 A/Tk.  Clough from 132 and X from 138.  Brigadier Weddenburn Maxwell – CRA – gave us a rousing address at 7 pm and we went to bed feeling very excited and talking of this and that at 10 ocl.  At 12 ocl the Camp Comdt brought us a message to say that our journey tomorrow was cancelled – no reason.  Imagine our thoughts – I lay awake and smoked 2 or 3 cigs before eventually getting to sleep!!                       

Wednesday 17 March

Up at 7.30, shave and b’fast – our truck didn’t arrive until 4 pm when back we came to this place.  From all senses the party is only postponed.  I wonder – a very lousy trick if it’s cancelled!                    

Thursday 18 March

Poured with rain whole bloody day – read letters received yesterday from Eileen (2), Maz (2), Gerald (1), Harvey (1), Aunt Dolly, Aunt Vi, Jack and Brian.  Wrote to Aunt Dolly, Aunt Vi, Jack, Harvey, Gerald, Eileen.  At 6 ocl went to RHQ for dinner and poker – won 200 fr.  Found my tent and blankets wet through so slept in front of  3 tonner – for one reason & another got practically no sleep.  In Aunt Vi’s letter heard that John is a prisoner – great shame.  Also received pipe and 200 cigs which have been only acknowledged – a super pipe from Eileen *** and 200 Craven A from Gerald & Lois                       

Friday 19 March

Pouring with rain all morning – went up to woggery area with Ian where I visited Troop.  Came back to lunch and found message for me saying that we are to be prepared to move tomorrow.  Played poker after lunch and finished letter off to the Mabird.  At 6 ocl, having lost 120 francs, message came through to say that I have to be at Sink el Cuba Station with my party by 8 am tomorrow.  Left after more farewells at 9 ocl and arrived Sink el Cuba at 2.30.  Wonder if it will be put off again.            

Saturday 20 March

What a night – slept in warehouse for very few hours – got v excited at thought of seeing A and mes chères parents encore une fois but am sad in a way that I haven’t seen the campaign out – one feels one has done ones bit in stopping and pushing back the Boche and Iti – but – 

B’fast cooked by Shippin at 8 am and left here for home at 11.30 in most uncomfortable carriage – more later when train stops rocking!  6 of us in this carriage plus all our equipment including valises etc – despite all and fact that seats are plain best wood we are a very happy party – 4 Gunners in here and 2 Infantry including Bryan Valentine – cricketer.  Very comic opera train it stops every now and again so that we can cook and spend our francs etc – Read, slept and ate all day – my Sergeants who are in a carriage labelled –         homes 45

Chevaux 8

bring me food when cooked – Bed Xways for 3 tonight – Prior laid his lilo between seats so spent a very comfortable night – a Mae West really makes quite a good pillow!  Stations passed today were OVED MOUGRAS – SIDI – SUIK AHRAS – LAVERDURE – DU VIVIER – CONSTANTINE.                 

Sunday 21 March

Day spent reading, sleeping and eating – passed many interesting places and there were some wonderful views – terrific hills (Tel Atlas Mts) and valleys and some very well stocked airdromes – usual pantomime at about 7 when we put our beds down – Bryan V after his incident with the ‘Groom’ last night, slept with us – had very comfortable night’s sleep – were about 8 miles from Setif when we went to bed – places passed today included – SAINT DONAT – SAINT ARNAUD – CHASSELOUP LAUBAL.              

Monday 22 March

Woke at 7 up at 8.30 when I had b’fast (egg, sausage and biscuits) and shave in v muddy water – places passed so far today include – MANSOURA – PORTES de FER, BENI MANCOUR.  It’s now 3.50 pm very hot and I’m reading during periods of sleep ‘The Faithful Years’ an excellent book.  No more stations of importance passed – bedded down at 7.30 and got to sleep fairly quickly.                    

Tuesday 23 March

Arrived Hussein Dey (suburb of Algiers) at 3.15 am and marched to Transit Camp 1 – a large football stadium – told we are to embark tomorrow morning.  Shaved at station where I had returned to keep an eye on my kit and at 11.30 set off with Prior and Clough and hitch hiked into Algiers where we had a couple of Brekes each and then had a spot of lunch – soup, cold fish – ?? – and vin blanc.  After lunch walked back to stadium – v little in shops – turned in at 7 ocl and laid me doon to sleep in the 2/6 seats.                  

Wednesday24 March

Not a very good day – told we were to move off at 8.30 but that was cancelled – then told we might be ‘called for’ at any minute so were confined to stadium.  At 5.30 went down to the Orion and found my kit had been left there and was told that we were going on a different boat – a Greek one.  Got back to Stadium at 7 and went out to a local with a Hants survivor who I had met at Forfar and had a couple of quick vin rouges and then back – bed at 8.30 and slept quite well – very hot today.                       

Thursday 25 March

Up at 6 am – borrowed a truck and picked my kit up from the Orion – also bought some oranges and lemons to bring home – Got on the boat at 11 am and after changing my money had lunch at 1 pm – sharing cabin with Jack Saddleton.  After lunch lay on prom deck and went to sleep in v hot sun.  Excellent bath after tea – dinner at 6.30 then chat, drink (Soft as ship is dry) and so to bed in pyjamas, and sheets, super.  First time I’ve worn pyjamas for 3 months, also first proper bath for 3 months – Ship we are on is the Nea Helles – used to be the ‘Tuscania’ and a sister ship of the ‘Cameronia’!            

Friday 26 March

Up at 7.30 after good night’s sleep, b’fast at 8 and then visited Sergts.  Practice boat stations at 10 ocl read from 10.30 to lunch-time and after lunch had 40 much needed winks – left Algiers at 6 ocl.  Had bath before dinner and just as I was sipping some excellent coffee after dinner the alarm bells went and our AA opened up – didn’t last long and the reports say that a plane nipped overhead and that there was a real Brock’s display from Algiers.  Watch officer ‘til midnight so shall have to make up for lost sleep tomorrow – Food v good.  Bought 50 for 1/10 – 2 talcum – 2 choc – 10 Razor Blades.          

Saturday 27 March

Up at 7.30 am and went round AA guns to see that everything was OK.  After b’fast went up to reading room where I finished ‘Unnatural Death’ by Dorothy Sayers.  V Good.  Now reading ‘Little Ladyship’ by Ian Hay.  After lunch had excellent sleep ‘til 5.30 when I went up on deck and visited gun crews.  Cashed cheque for £4 this am.  Adjt tells me he knew Gerald v well in Essex R when G was 2 i/c.  finished ‘L.L’ and also Ian Hay’s.

After dinner a horse race meeting.  Paid 6/- for ticket in each race – Drew no 3 in race 3 but it never even started.  Won 2/9 for 6d in last race on ‘Constipation’.  Couldn’t get to sleep – read ‘til 1 am then sleep.               

Sunday 28 March

Good b’fast – corn flakes, kipper, bacon and egg – roll & marm, coffee.  Passed Gib at 4 this am – now got 2 Aircraft carriers and 2 or 3 other big ships with us – had my hair cut at 9.15.  Notes etc til 10.30 then PT at 11 followed by v pleasant bath – lunch at 1 ocl and after lunch snooze ‘til 4 ocl when I went up and took the evening (?) air and had a cup of char – after tea did a spot of boot polishing and note writing – Dinner at 7 – my watch from 12 til 4 tomorrow am – not so hot – read during this time.  Ship beginning to roll just a bit!  Good dinner – Fish – Duck and apple sauce – sweet – Gorgonzola and biscuits – fruit – coffee.                     

Monday 29 March

My watches today were from 12 – 4 am – 12 – 4 pm and 8 – 12 am pas bon.  Nothing of interest today – now going NW instead of W.  Started new book ‘The End of Andrew Harrison’ by Freeman Willis Crofts – not too bad – Crime Club book – wrote notes this morning.  Had a drop of whiskey at 10 pm to celebrate Bill Dugdale’s 21st birthday – bed at 12                

Tuesday 30 March

Up at 7.45 – after b’fast finished book and wrote up a few notes – played deck shove ha’penny with S from 11 – 11.30 then had bath and read before lunch – After lunch spent an hour in the sun on the prom deck – then retired to cabin for usual 40 winks and read – suddenly awakened at 3.45 by bells ringing and AA fire – 1 enemy plane flew over convoy – no bombs dropped, went back to bed again!  Up at 6 ocl – drink and more notes before dinner at 7.  News is good, well done the 8th Army – rumour has it that an enemy force of destroyers was sighted this pm.  Anyway we are now going SOUTH.  Bed at 9 pm.                   

Wednesday 31 March

Up at 4 am when I went round guns, slept in lounge ‘til 7.30 – B’fast, still going S – much speculation as to why – general opinion is that we are going back to Gib for a bit more escort – who knows?  Played deck shove ha’penny – lunch then slept again til 4.30 – went round guns – walk on deck at 6.15 – picked up more escort – now 10 destroyers and we are now going NW again back to good old England.  Should arrive Mon pm.  Shove ha’penny after dinner and finished another book ‘Quick Service’ by P.G. Wodehouse – quite amusing – Lights out at 9 ocl.             

Air Raid Damage Reports Brentwood Division Essex Fire Service March 1943.

Date                Time   Location         Damage

03/03/1943                Brentwood     1 – A.A. Shell exploded on the green verge

opposite the Council Yard, Hurstwood Estate Ongar Road.  No casualties or damage.

03/03/1943                Billericay        12 – H.Es exploded in meadows adjoining Little

Brock Farm South Green.  Slight damage to property.  No casualties.

03/03/1943                Rayleigh        4 – H.Es exploded and 5 unexploded 50 kg H.E.

fell in fields North of Arterial Road and 375 yards West of King’s Farm.  Water main damaged.  No casualties.  (Disposed of BDS 15.3.43).

03/03/1943                Ramsden       4 – A.A. Shells 1 exploded and 3 unexploded fell in

Heath             fields within 100 yards of Hunts Farm.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943                Brentwood     1 – A.A. Shell exploded in allotments between

Queens Road and Gresham Road.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943                Pitsea             1 – H.E. exploded forming a comouflet and 1 50 kg                               Firepot I.B. unexploded fell in a field 50 yards West

of Eversley Road.  No damage or casualties.  (Disposed of BDS 23.3.43).

03/03/1943                Pitsea             1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a field 25 yards to the

rear of “Chez nous” at South end of Hillrise Avenue.  No damage or casualties.  (Disposed of BDS 8.4.43).

03/03/1943                Pitsea             1 – H.E. unexploded 50 kg Firepot I.B. in a field

170 yards East of Crown Avenue.  No damage or casualties.  (Disposed of BDS 23.3.43).

03/03/1943                Pitsea             1 – H.E. 50 kg Firepot I.B. exploded in the garden

of “Ellrandrick”, Crown Avenue.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943                Mountnessing          2 – H.Es exploded one on the down track of

the LNE Railway Lines 250 yards London side of Wash Bridge.  Before these were located the 8.45 pm train from Liverpool Street ran into the crater causing derailment of the train which blocked both lines at about 21-50.  The driver and fireman were both killed, 5 persons slightly injured and 100 passengers escaped injury were conveyed to Chelmsford by Eastern National Bus Coy.  Line open 8.3.43.

03/03/1943                Rochford       1 – A.A. Shell exploded on Rochford Golf links, 100

yards South West of Hurst Farm.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943                Pitsea             1 – H.E. exploded forming a camouflet in back

garden of Rose Cottages Eversleigh Road.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943                Bowers           About 30 I.Bs fell near the School.  1 slight                                            Gifford            casualty Warden J. Crumpt.  Slight damage to

                                                            school, public house, haystack and 2 houses.

03/03/1943                Pitsea             2 – H.Es exploded in Rectory Road, nr junction of

Oakdene Road.  Gas main caught fire, damage to overhead electric cables

03/03/1943                Little                1 – A.A. Shell exploded Nr Minges Cottages.  No

                                    Burstead        damage or casualties.

03/03/1943    20.30  Brentwood     1 – A.A. unexploded Shell fell in playing field of

                                                            Ursulaine School.  No casualties or damage.

03/03/1943    20.35  Ramsden       A number of A.P.Bs fell in the vicinity of Oak Hall. 

                                    Heath             A number unexploded dealt with by BDS 20.3.43.

03/03/1943    20.40  Rayleigh        About 100 I.Bs fell near Junior School and Police

                                                            Station.  No casualties.  Slight damage to property.

03/03/1943    20.50  Great              1 – A.A. Shell exploded at the Bakery High Street. 

Wakering       Extensive damage to roof, slight damage to surrounding property.  No casualties.

03/03/1943    20.50  Nevendon     11 – H.Es (10 exploded and 1 unexploded) in fields

South of Burnt Mills Road.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943    21.00  Hockley          2 – A.A. Shells exploded in fields at rear of

Britannia Stores, Greensward Lane.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943    21.00  Great              1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in garden of House in

Wakering       High Street, opposite Twyford Avenue.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 21.3.43).

03/03/1943    21.00  Great              1 – H.E. exploded on marshes between Mill Head

Wakering       Brickfield and Potton Island Road.  No casualties or damage.

03/03/1943                Great Warley 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in cricket meadow 400

yards South of Hall Farm House.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943    21.05  Hutton            A number of I.Bs burnt out in the vicinity of the

Plough P.H. Rayleigh Road.  No damage or casualties.

03/03/1943    21.15  Great              2 – H.Es exploded in fields 150 yards North East of

                                    Stambridge    Finches Farm House.  No casualties or damage.

03/03/1943    21.15  Great              A number of S.A.P. bombs (butterfly type) 1

Stambridge    complete container in fields surrounding the Rectory.  No casualties or damage.  (Dealt with BDS 9.3.43).

03/03/1943    21.30  Mountnessing          209 S.A.P. bombs unexploded and a

number exploded Butterfly type fell in fields near St Anne Lane.  No casualties.  One unexploded found in unused bedroom at Melschet Place caused damage to the room when exploded by BDS Local Military Unit assisted in search.  (All unexploded dealt with by BDS 30.4.43).

03/03/1943     21.30  Laindon         1 – A.A. Shell exploded in garden of “Glebe”

                                                            Victoria Road.  No damage or casualties.

04/03/1943    04.30  North              2 – H.Es exploded in a field 250 yards South of

Benfleet         Harrows Farm.  No casualties.  Slight damage to property.

04/03/1943    04.00  Little                1 – H.E. 250 kg unexploded in field 1/4 mile East of

Wakering       Little Wakering Corner and 40 yards North of High Street.  No damage or casualties.  15 persons evacuated.  High Street B.1017 closed.  (Dealt with by BDS 12.3.43).  Road re-opened.

04/03/1943    04.35  Hadleigh        7 – H.Es exploded and 1 H.E. unexploded in fields

300 yards South of London Road on property of Salvation Army Colony.  One slight damage to property.  Telephone wires down.  (Ux disposed of BDS 13.3.43).

 04/03/1943   04.36  Pilgrims          1 – A.A. Shell exploded in field at rear Ashwell

Hatch             Farm, Crow Green Road.  No damage or casualties.

04/03/1943    04.40  Brentwood     1 – A.A. Shell exploded near the Medical

Superintendent’s House, Highwood Hospital.  Extensive damage to property.  No casualties.

04/03/1943    04.40  Canvey          1 – A.A. Shell exploded 500 yards East of Odell’s

Island             dump.  Westwick near the sea wall.  No damage or casualties.  Catchment Board informed.

04/03/1943    04.45  Pilgrims          A number of I.Bs burned out in fields on Orchard

Hatch             Farm, Crow Green Lane.  No damage or casualties.

04/03/1943    04.50  Doddinghurst            1 – A.A. Shell exploded in fields adjoining

                                                            Canterbury Tye Farm.  No casualties or damage.

04/03/1943    04.55  Great              2 – H.Es exploded (1. 500 kg and 1 250kg) in field

Wakering       350 yards North of Oldbury Farm and 150 yards South of Barrow Hall Road.  No Casualties or damage.

04/03/1943    05.00  Hutton            7 – H.Es exploded in a direct line between Hutton

National Schools and Hutton Nurseries.  No casualties.  Damage to property.  Water main and sewer.  Church Lane closed.  Road re-opened 11.3.43.

04/03/1943    05.00  South Weald 1 – A.A. Shell exploded in a field at Frieze Hall

killing 1 heifer and injuring another.  No other casualties or damage.

04/03/1943    05.00  Great              1 – H.E. 50 kg exploded in a field 500 yards of the

                                    Wakering       Church.  No damage or casualties.

04/03/1943    05.00  Hutton            2 – H.Es exploded in a field 200 yards South of

                                                            Hunters Chase.  No damage or casualties.

 04/03/1943   05.20  Laindon         1 – A.A. Shell exploded near St Mary’s Church.  No

                                                            damage or casualties.

04/03/1943    05.20  Bowers           2 – H.Es exploded near the East end of Clifton

                                    Gifford            Road.  No damage or casualties.

04/03/1943    05.25  Thundersley 4 – H.Es exploded (1 forming a Camouflet). Near

Waterworks field, Church Road.  3 slight casualties.  Damage to water main and property.  Church Road closed (open 6.3.43).

04/03/1943    05.30  Bowers           1 – H.E. exploded in marshes 500 yards North

                                    Gifford            West of Smoky Farm.  No casualties or damage.

04/03/1943    Found   Rayleigh      1 – H.E unexploded in the garden at rear of 176

                                                            Downham Road.  No casualties or damage.

05/03/1943    Found  Great            1 – S.A.P. unexploded in a glass house 1/4 mile

Wakering       East of Ro** Inn.  Slight damage to property.  No casualties.  (fell 3/4.3.43).

05/03/1943    Found  Thundersley            1 – S.A.P. bomb in cabbage field at rear of

Ivydene, Daws Heath Road.  No casualties or damage.  (believed fell night 3/4.3.43).

05/03/1943    Found  Rochford      1 – A.A. unexploded Shell 400 yards North of

Rectory Road Railway Bridge.  No damage or casualties.  (Believed fell night 3/4.3.43).

06/03/1943    Found  Sutton          1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a field halfway

between Temple Farm and St Mary’s Church.  No casualties or damage. (night 3/4.3.43).

06/03/1943    Found   Rochford     1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a field 200 yards

North East of Doggetts Farm.  No damage or casualties.  (Night 3/4.3.43).

06/03/1943    Found  Billericay      1 – H.E. unexploded at Lawness Farm.  No

                                                            damage or casualties.  (Night 3/4.3.43).

06/03/1943    Found  Childerditch 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell near Hatch Farm,

                                                            Thorndon Park.  No casualties or damage.

06/03/1943    Found  Romford       1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a meadow 125 yards

South the “Glebe”, Hall Road.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 31.3.43).

08/03/1943    Found Billericay       1 unexploded H.E. in a field 600 yards South of

Putwood Common Road.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 12.3.43).

11/03/1943    Found  Canewdon   2 unexploded A.A. Shells, 300 yards East of Lower

                                                            Ray Farm.  No casualties or damage.

12/03/1943    07.40  Herongate     Enemy aircraft machine gunned Council Houses in

Billericay Road.  No casualties but damage to windows of 2 houses.

12/03/1943    Found  Mountnessing         2 – unexploded A.P.Bs 1st at “High Field”,

                                                            2nd at Fritz Walters.  No casualties or damage.

15/03/1943    Found  Mountnessing         1 – exploded and 34 unexploded A.P.Bs one

of the unexploded found in an unused bedroom of Milschet Place which caused damage to the room when exploded by BDS but no casualties.  (Disposed of BDS 20.3.43).

17/03/1943    Found  Dunton         1 – unexploded A.A. Shell in a meadow 350 yards

                                                            West of Dunton Hall  (Disposed of BDS 4.4.43).

20/03/1943    Found  Mountnessing         1 – unexploded A.A. Shell in a field 500

yards South of Mountnessing Church.  No damage or casualties.  (Disposed of BDS 10.5.43).

21/03/1943    Found  Bowers         1 – unexploded H.E. on marshes 600 yards North

                                    Gifford            of South Staines Farm.  No casualties or damage.

22/03/1943    Found  Great            1 – unexploded S.A.P.B. in a field opposite

Wakering       “Broadlands” Barrow Hall Road.  No casualties or damage.

28/03/1943    Found  Rochford      1 – unexploded A.A. Shell 350 yards North East of

                                                            Doggetts Farm.  No casualties or damage.

31/03/1943    Found South             1 – unexploded A.A. Shell in marsh 400 yards East

Fambridge     of Fambridge Ferry and 100 yards South of South Fambridge sea wall.  No casualties or damage.  (Disposed of BDS 8.7.43).

SECOND WORLD WAR

March 1943

(Britain)                                                                                

RAF Bomber Command began the Battle of the Rhur on the5th /6th March 1943 and continued until the 31st July 1943. During this period the now famous “Dam Buster” raid was carried out in May 1943. Coke plants, steelworks, armament factories, and synthetic oil plants were the main German industries concentrated in the Rhur. Bomber Command had periodically attacked the Rhur from 1940 and the Germans had responded by installing anti-aircraft guns, searchlights and night fighters. Essen, where the Krupps armament factory was located, was attacked on the 5th/6th, 10th/11th and 12th /13th March 1943. Four other targets were attacked on the 10th/11th, 26th/27th and 29th/30th March 1943. Britain lost a total of 55 aircraft during March 1943 for the attacks on the Rhur. German records indicate 843 people were killed and a total of 3,537 buildings were destroyed. To prevent the Germans concentrating their defences in the Rhur region, other cities were attacked to act as diversionary raids. Nuremburg and Munich were the cities chosen to be attacked. The city of Nuremburg was chosen for its important contribution to the production of armaments, as a prime target for diversion. Old medieval Nuremburg consisted of an inner city of a high proportion of half-timbered buildings. The outer city was the industrial area building diesel engines for submarines and manufactured components for Panther tanks. The marshalling yards for the railway system was another target. On the night of the 8t /9th March1943 the RAF attacked with 335 bombers who dropped 358 tons of high explosive and 412 tons of incendiary bombs on the city. In the aftermath of the attack on Nuremburg, the RAF bombers inflicted 171 large fires, 1,748 small fires and 343 casualties to the population. Whether the RAF suffered any losses is unknown as no records appear to be available.

(Germany)

Following the surrender at Stalingrad, German dictator, Adolf Hitler, created the position of Inspector General of Armoured Troops. Hitler appointed General Heinz Guderian to the position on the 1st March 1943. His responsibilities were to oversee and restore the production of tanks and the training of Panzer forces. Tanks were the major part of the Panzer forces. The Russian campaign and the desert war in North Africa had decimated the German tank numbers. The priority was for the development and manufacture of armoured fighting vehicles.Guderian and Albert Speer, Minister of Armaments and War Production, established a collaborative relationship. Despite Speer’s co-operation Guderian was unable to restore armoured combat power to any significant degree, mainly owing to military failures during 1943. Guderian was appointed Inspector General because of his involvement, in the mid-1930s, in the development of the tanks and crews of the panzer division. He was also involved in the concept of blitzkrieg, the rapid advance of mechanised offensive warfare. His military exploits after the war began was to command the invasion of Poland. He also saw action with the invasion of France, the Low Countries’ and the Soviet Union.

(Eastern Front)

The first two Battles of Kharkov began in November 1941 and ended in May 1942. The German army had occupied the city creating mass destruction and starvation to the civilian population during the first Battle. The Soviet troops had attempted to relieve the city in May 1942 but were heavily defeated thus ending the Second Battle of Kharkov. In February 1943 a new Soviet attack was imminent. After sustaining heavy losses throughout the campaign, and despite Hitler‘s insistence the city be held, the Germans abandoned Kharkov. The Battle of Stalingrad ended on the 2nd February 1943 when the German 6th Army finally capitulated to the Soviet Union Army. To counter this defeat German Field Marshal Erich von Manstein launched a counter-strike against Kharkov, bringing in re-enforcements, on the 19th February 1943 which started the Third Battle of Kharkov. The victorious Soviet Army at Stalingrad was ordered to re-inforce the Soviet forces in their advance to relieve Kharkov. Manstein planned for a three stage offensive. The first stage was to be the destruction of the Soviet spearhead who had over-extended their supply lines and the manoeuvre was completed. The Germans advanced and counter-attacked whenever necessary to the Interior and around Kharkov from the 5th to 8th April 1943.  The second and third stage of Manstein’s plan would be when the Germans surrounded and entered Kharkov, and on the 15th March 1943 the Germans conquered Kharkov for the second time. The First Battle of Kharkov was the previous conquest.                                   

When the Nazis invaded and occupied Poland in September 1939 Krakow was an influential centre for Polish Jews. By April 1940 a Nazi request for the removal of the majority of the Jews was proposed. By December 1940 approximately two thirds of the Jewish population were removed, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to locations outside of the city. In March 1941 the Krakow Ghetto was set up in the Podgorze district of Krakow which originally had approximately 3,500 residents. The Krakow Ghetto was one of five Nazi ghettos in Poland. The 16,000 Jews still in the city were relocated to the ghetto and were only allowed to bring 25 kg of their possessions. The remainder of their possessions were confiscated by the Nazis along with the contents of the various synagogues in the city. In April 1941 the ghetto was enclosed by barbed wire and stone and was guarded by German police but inside the ghetto by Jewish police. From May 1942 the Nazis began systematic deportations (liquidations) to surrounding concentration camps. On the 13th March 1943 the final liquidation was carried out. 2,000 Jews deemed able to work were transported to labour camps. 2,000 unfit Jews were killed in the ghetto streets and the remaining 3,000 were sent to Auschwitz death camp.

(North Africa)

The Battle of Medenine was the last battle German General Erwin Rommel fought in the Desert War of the North African Campaign. Codenamed Operation Capri, itwas an Axis attack atMedenine in Tunisia on the 6th March 1943 intending to delay the British Eighth Army attack on the Mareth Line. The Mareth Line was a French protection system built in the late 1930s. The line was built to prevent an Italian invasion of Tunisia from their colony of Libya. Previously, the British had intercepted German wireless communications and were aware of Operation Capri. Consequently they rushed reinforcements up from Tripoli and Benghazi before the attack. When the Axis did attack the result was an absolute disaster and Rommel abandoned the attack at dusk that day. During the day the German Luftwaffe and Italian Regia Aeronautica had made a maximum effort against the British anti-aircraft guns and Desert Air Force but to little effect. He could not afford to lose the forces he required for the defence of the Mareth Line. On the 7th March 1943 Rommel’s forces began a withdrawal toward the Mareth Line. The British Eighth Army pursuit followed but they were slowed down by rain. The Battle of Medenine was over, and Rommel returned to Europe for good shortly afterwards.

Following the Battle of Kasserine Pass on the 19th February 1943 newly promoted American, Lieutenant-General George S. Patton, replaced Major-General Lloyd Fredendall as Commanding General of the II Corps. Kasserine Pass was an American victory of sorts, not by American tactics but because Rommel chose to withdraw from the offensive as he had out-run his supply lines. Patton was determined that the Germans would experience different results at the next assault. Major-General Omar Bradley had been assigned to his corps as his deputy commander with orders to ready for action in 10 days. Patton introduced changes by talking to his troops to gain their confidence, praising them as well as working them hard. He ordered them to wear complete, clean and pressed uniforms to instil some pride into the II Corps. Patton was successful in his training programme and changed his battered and demoralised formation into a force ready for action.

On the 17th March 1943 Patton ordered the U.S. 1st Infantry Division into the abandoned plains at Medenine. They captured the town of Gafsa and prepared it for a forward supply base for future operations. The following day the 1st Ranger Battalion, facing little opposition, occupied the oasis of El Quettar. The Italian defenders had retreated into the hills overlooking the town, thereby blocking the mountain pass of El Quettar. When Rommel departed for Europe the command was taken over by General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim, for the Italians the commander was General Giovanni Meese. The Axis commanders were aware of the U.S. movements and decided the German Panzer Division should stop them. 50 German tanks emerged from the pass into El Quettar in the early hours of the 23rd March 1943. Accompanying German half-tracks and motorcycle/sidecars broke away from the formation in an effort to disgorge troops to over-run the American artillery. German infantry soon over-ran the American front line troops and artillery but the Americans managed to hang on. The German tank attack ran into a minefield and lost momentum. Slowing to re-organise the tanks were bombarded by U.S. artillery and M10 tank destroyers. Within an hour 30 of the 50 tanks had been destroyed and by 09.00 the Germans had retreated from the valley. A second attempt by the Germans was attempted later in the day with a similar result. Realising that further attacks were hopeless the Germans retreated back to their headquarters. The Battle of El Quettar was the first battle whereby U.S. forces were able to beat experienced German tank units.

In the meantime the British Eighth Army, commanded by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and nicknamed “Monty”, was approaching the Mareth Line from the east. The Mareth Line was located from the Mediterranean Sea toward the Matmata Hills to the east. On the 20th March1943, under the codename Operation Pugilist, the 50th Northumbrian Infantry Division manged to penetrate the line held by Italians. However, rain and the hostile terrain prevented the deployment of Allied aircraft, tanks and anti-tank guns leaving the Infantry isolated. An Axis counter-attack, on the 22nd March 1943, recaptured much of the ground penetrated and by the 24th March 1943 the Allied attacking forces were recalled. Prior to the main Eighth Army being contained by the defenders of the Mareth Line, Monty ordered the 2nd New Zealand Division and the 4th Indian Infantry Division to form the left hook behind the Matmata Hills. They moved south from the Mareth Line, around the southern tip of the Matmata Hills, advancing north in a flanking attack from the 21st/24th March 1943. However, the attack was contained at the Tebaga Gap but with reinforcements from Operation Supercharge II the Allies broke through the gap on the 26th March 1943. Another frontal assault on the Mareth Line together with this success forced the Italian defenders to withdraw in order to escape complete encirclement.

(Pacific)

For the British, based in India, Operation Longcloth began in February 1943 and for the first time, 3,000 Chindits embarked on a four month excursion into Japanese occupied Burma. The idea for the guerrilla force of Chindits was conceived by Brigadier-General Orde Charles Wingate. He believed that victory in South-East Asia could only be achieved by an army prepared to fight in the jungle, and supplied by air. The highly trained Chindits attitude was “The impossible, we do in a day. Miracles take a bit longer”. By the 2nd March 1943 they had crossed the heavily defended River Chinwin, despite the all-conquering Japanese presence.  To achieve the crossing Wingate split his force into eight separate columns. He met with some initial fortune by putting one of Burma’s railways out of action. By mid-March 1943 the Japanese had three infantry divisions chasing them through the jungle and prevented the air supplies reaching the Chindits. The Japanese trapped them at the bend of one of the many rivers. As the conditions were not as the Chindits had expected and despite some successful guerrilla attacks, Wingate agreed to retrace his steps back to the River Chinwin. The Chindits split into small groups to avoid the Japanese. Running out of food, medical supplies and ammunition they eventually returned to India by various routes.  However, this first operation cost the Chimdit’s 700 casualties of an initial 3,000 who embarked on the raid. Although the cost was high, this raid did have some success as a demonstration to the Japanese that jungle warfare meant they could not expect the land war to go their way for ever. A further Chindits excursion took place in March 1944 after they had been reinforced, trained and ready to tackle the jungles of Burma.  

In the meantime the Americans were engaged in their own campaign against the Japanese in the Pacific theatre. The Japanese eviction and the ultimate U.S. occupation of Guadalcanal was completed by the 7th February 1943. The intention of the Allied counter-offensive was to capture the main Japanese base at Rabaul on the island of New Britain. The Japanese recognised this threat and proceeded to plan for the despatch of 6,900 troops, all carried by the ships, from Rabaul to Lae, New Guinea. On the 28th February 1943 the Japanese convoy left Rabaul. Although the journey was risky because of the threat of American aircraft attacks, the alternative of marching through the jungle on New Guinea was greater. Allied naval codebreakers in Melbourne detected the convoy journey and knew the final destination and date of arrival. A three day engagement took place in the South West Pacific Area known as the “Battle of the Bismarck Sea” between the 2nd /4th March 1943. The Japanese convoy consisted of eight destroyers, eight troop transport ships only and 100 land based aircraft. The Allied attacking aircraft over the three days consisted of 39 heavy bombers, 41 medium bombers, 34 light bombers, 54 fighters and 10 torpedo boats.  Aircraft of U.S. Fifth Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) attacked the Japanese convoy transporting much needed troops to Lae, The Air Forces located and bombed the convoy on the 2nd /3rd March 1943, and followed up with attacks by PT boats on the 4th March 1943. All eight transport ships and four escorting destroyers were sunk and twenty fighter aircraft destroyed. Of the 6,900 Japanese troops transported by the convoy, only about 1,200, who were on board the remaining destroyers, were landed at Lae. The remaining destroyers then retired to Rabaul and approximately 2,900 troops were rescued. Approximately 2,800 Japanese troops died in the sunken ships. The Allies had 13 servicemen killed and the loss of two bombers together with four fighter aircraft. Following the Battle of the Bismarck Sea the Japanese decided not to attempt any further landing of troops at Lae.

On the 10th March 1943 the USAAF 14th Air Force (14AF) was formed by the special order of American President Roosevelt. The 14AF replaced the American Volunteer Group (AVG known as the “Flying Tigers”). When America entered the war in December 1941 the AVG had been established to protect supplies reaching China from India after the Japanese invasion of Burma. Newly promoted Major General Claire Chennault, who had commanded the AVG, was appointed commander of the 14AF and adopted the “Flying Tigers” designation. By the end of the war the 14AF achieved air superiority in the China-Burma-India theatre. An estimated 4,000 Japanese aircraft were destroyed or damaged together with approximately 1,100,000 tons of Japanese shipping. Many bridges, Japanese locomotives and railway trucks were also destroyed. It has not been possible to confirm the American losses of the 14AF.

The Battle of the Komandorski Islands occurred in the North Pacific when American and the Imperial Japanese navies engaged on the 26th March 1943. The Soviet Komandorski Islands are located in the Bering Sea separating the continents of the American province of Alaska and the USSR. The Japanese had forces on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska as part of their attempt to take control of the Pacific They planned to send a supply convoy to the Aleutian Islands and American intelligence were aware of these plans. American intelligence also estimated the convoy would be escorted by one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser and four destroyers. However, the Japanese had increased the escort force by one heavy and one light cruiser. The U.S. Navy sent one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser and four destroyers to prevent the convoy reaching their destination. In the early hours of the 26th March 1943 the Americans located the Japanese convoy by radar approximately 100 miles south of the Komandorski Islands. This battle was one of the last pure gunnery duels between fleets of major surface combatants in naval history. Neither side had either air or submarine assistance. The engagement was technically inconclusive, even though the Japanese escort vessels out-gunned the American force. During the battle both sides suffered damage, and the Japanese Admiral Hosogaya, not realising how much damage had been done to the American fleet, retired from the engagement at 12.30 pm. Without pressing home his advantage and on the brink of victory, Hosogaya feared American bombers would appear. Had the Japanese not retired the Americans would have suffered far greater damage. As it is the American heavy cruiser was severely damaged and two destroyers slightly damaged. They also suffered the loss of seven sailors killed and a further 20 wounded. The Japanese had one heavy cruiser moderately damaged and the second slightly damaged. They lost 14 sailors killed and a further 26 wounded. The Japanese did not attempt to re-supply the Aleutian garrison by surface vessels, thereby the battle amounted to a strategic defeat for them. Future re-supplies were conducted by submarine. Admiral Hosogaya retired from active service and was reassigned to govern a group of South Pacific islands.

(Other Theatres)

The Portuguese colony of Goa was neutral territory during the Second World War. Goa is located on the east coast of the British Dominion of India. At the outbreak of war in 1939 three German freighters took refuge in the harbour of Goa. They were joined by an Italian freighter during 1940. The British were aware of these merchant ships but did not perceive them to be a threat. The Indian Mission of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) at Meerut in India intercepted German coded messages in 1942. These messages gave detailed information to German U-boats of Allied shipping leaving Bombay Harbour. A German spy Robert Koch and his wife Grete were living in Goa and SOE discovered them after 46 Allied merchant ships had been attacked. In November 1942 two SOE agents travelled to Goa and on the 19th December 1942 kidnapped Koch and his wife. SOE suspected German freighter Ehrenfels had a secret transmitter on board to guide German U-boats to their target, on instructions from the Kocks. Koch and wife were escorted back to India for questioning and their ultimate fate is unclear. What was clear was that by March 1943 German U-boats had sunk 12 Allied merchant ships, a total of approximately 80,000 tons. Because of Portugal’s neutrality Britain could not openly invade its territory. In order not to involve British armed forces, SOE opted to recruit members of the Calcutta Light Horse to perform a covert operation. SOE recruited 14 volunteers from the Light Horse and a further four from the Calcutta Scottish, who were military reservists, to carry out this mission. The SOE trained and armed the 18 man assault team, who were mainly middle-aged bankers, merchants and solicitors. The assault force were led by SOE agent Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Pugh. Some of the force sailed on the hopper barge Phoebe from Calcutta, on the east coast, around India to Goa. The remainder took a train from Calcutta to Cochin, on the west coast and joined the barge there. The town where Momugoa harbour is located was celebrating the final day of carnival on the 9th/10th March 1943. All the crews of the ships moored in the harbour were invited to a large party funded by the SOE. Ehrenfels was left with a small crew on board. Both the lighthouse and luminous buoy were “coincidently” not working that night allowing Phoebe to enter the harbour in darkness. Ehrenfels complete with transmitter was attacked and captured by the assault team, killing the captain and some of the crew. Ehrenfels sank after the remainder of the crew opened the sea cocks. Five members of Ehrenfels were reported dead and a further four reported missing, whilst the assault-team suffered no casualties. The remaining two German and single Italian freighters, watching Ehrenfels on fire and sinking, scuttled their ships in order not to be captured by the British. Following the scuttling of their ships the Axis crew members abandoned ships and were arrested by the Portuguese. The SOE assault force returned to Phoebe, with the transmitter but not the code books, and left Momugao Harbour and transmitted to SOE headquarters that all the Axis vessels were sunk. The SOE Calcutta Light Horse and Calcutta Scottish assault force returned to their civilian life. Following the attack only one merchant ship was sunk by 13 German U-boats operating in the area during the rest of March 1943. In April 1943 only three Allied ships were attacked. On the 31st 0ctober 1943 the Judicial Court of Momugao stated that there had not been an attack by a foreign ship. The crew members were convicted of scuttling their ships and imprisoned until the end of the war.

In America the US House of Representatives voted to extend Lease-Lend plan 10th March 1943. Before America entered the war Britain was fighting Germany alone after France had fallen to the Nazis in the summer of 1940. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill appealed to President Franklin D. Roosevelt for help. Roosevelt introduced a new policy initiative in mid-December 1940 that the U.S. would lend, not sell, military supplies to Britain whilst still maintaining her neutrality. In March 1941 Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act and Roosevelt signed it into law. By the end of 1941 China and the Soviet Union was include in the Lend-Lease policy. The Soviet Union was desperately fighting the Nazis and on the 16th March 1943 Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin demanded, for the ninth time, a “Second Front” to relieve the pressure on the Soviet Union.           

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