Air Raid Damage Reports Brentwood Division Essex Fire Service December 1940.

Date                Time   Location         Damage

01/12/1940    23.15  Pilgrims          1 – H.E exploded in a field at junction Coxtie Green

Hatch             Road and Wheelers Lane.  Considerable damage to property.  Poultry killed.  Water main damaged.  Overhead Telephone wires down.  Road blocked (open 2nd).

02/12/1940    20.15  Doddinghurst            2 – H.Es, 1 exploded on edge of wood near

Rilston Lodge Church Lane.  Damage to property, 14 persons rendered homeless, 1 unexploded in a drained pond between Solid Lane and Cottages, near Wacketts Farm.  No casualties.

04/12/1940    21.00  Billericay        Damage to lamp standard on Southend Road and

buildings at Southend Farm by drifting Barrage Balloon.

04/12/1940    21.20  Rochford       2 – H.Es unexploded, 1 on Golf Course and 1 200

yards North West of Westborrow Hall (exploded 9.12.40)  No damage or casualties.

04/12/1940    21.30  Hullbridge     10 – H.Es exploded at Poolehurst Farm, Cracknells

Farm and Kingsland Farm.  Slight damage to property.  No casualties.

04/12/1940    21.55  Coxtie Green 2 – H.Es, 1 exploded and 1 unexploded at back of

Coxtie Green House.  White Horse Road.  Road closed (open after 96 hours).  Damage to property.  Telephone wires down.  No casualties.  D.B.S. 7.2.41.

04/12/1940    22.30  Rayleigh        Drifting Barrage Balloon fouled the Overhead

electric cables at Little Wakering drifting in a South Easterly direction and caught on a pylon at Wheatleys Farm and burnt.  Wires and ropes and gear salvaged.

04/12/1940    22.55  Ingrave           3 – H.Es unexploded, 1 in field opposite Womens

Institute Dunnings Lane, 2 in Thorndon Park between 10th fairway and Lake, (1 exploded in a plantation the 5th).  No damage or casualties.

05/12/1940    15.00  Billericay        1 – H.E. unexploded in a field 200 yards East of

Cox Farm Road.  Green Lane.  (exploded 31.12.40 by B.D.S.)  No damage or casualties.

05/12/1940    21.30  Hockley          8 – I.Bs on Marshes 350 yards North of Beckney

                                                            Farm.  No damage or casualties.

08/12/1940    18.55  Rayleigh        10 – I.Bs fell on open ground and burnt out at St

Walter Rayleigh Drive, Victoria Road, Station Crescent, Lancaster Road, Highfield Crescent and Barranting Square.  No damage or casualties.

08/12/1940    21.25  East                1 – H.E exploded in a field at rear of Meadow

Horndon        House 200 yards South of A.127.  No damage or casualties.

08/12/1940    21.30  Herongate     30 – I.Bs on The Elms, Elm Cottage, Herongate

House and The Poplars and about 26 on op ground.  Damage to property.  No casualties.

08/12/1940    22.35  Canvey          I.Bs (a number) fell in the vicinity Long Road. 

Island             Damage at  Green Stores and June Villa, Long Road.  Damage to property.  No casualties.

09/12/1940    00.05  Childerditch  1 – H.E exploded in Brickfields Road 30 yards

                                                            North of Arterial Road.  No damage or casualties.

09/12/1940    00.15  Langdon        2 – H.Es, 1 exploded and 1 unexploded near West

Hills                Ham Sanatorium Dry Street.  Unexploded in Orchard 200 yards East of buildings.  No damage or casualties.  B.D.S. 22.3.41.

09/12/1940    01.00  Foulness       2 – H.Es exploded in narrow gut creek, Rushley

Island             Island 3/4 mile East of The Island Farm House.  No damage or casualties.

09/12/1940    01.10  Doddinghurst            I.Bs (a number) fell in the vicinity of

Woodlands Blackmore near Hendersons Garage.  No damage or casualties.

09/12/1940    01.35  Hadleigh        1 – H.E exploded in centre of Park Chase London

Road, 6 slight casualties.  Extensive damage to property.  Gas main damaged (S.L.T. 21.12.40)

09/12/1940    01.35  Crays Hill       I.Bs (a number) approx. 100 fell on open ground at

                                                            Crays Hill Farm.  No damage or casualties.

09/12/1940    01.45  Doddinghurst            2 – H.Es exploded, 1 in field near Wantz

Cottages and 1 H.E. and 1 Oil I.B. in vicinity of “Red House” Poultry Farm, slight damage to 2 Poultry houses.  No casualties.

09/12/1940    02.00  Ramsden       3 – H.Es unexploded, 1 at DeBeauvoir’s Farm

Bell House    (exploded at 08.00) 1 South of Railway lines (exploded  at 09.55) causing damage to Railway Embankment.  Up track closed.  And 1 at DeBeauvoir’s Farm 400 yards East of Farm.  Slight damage to property.  No casualties.  (Railway line open 10.12.40).

09/12/1940    02.00  Crays Hill       2 – H.Es, 1 exploded 250 yards West of St Marys

Church and unexploded 10 yards from crater (exploded 11.12.40)  Slight damage to property.  No casualties.

09/12/1940    04.10  Hadleigh        1 – H.E. exploded in road outside School House. 

The Avenue.  Damage to four houses, gas main damaged.  Telephone wires down.  The Avenue blocked (S.L.T. 21st).

09/12/1940    04.10  Crays Hill       1 – H.E exploded in a field 10 yards from A.129

and 300 yards Billericay side of Whiteridge.  No damage or casualties.

09/12/1940    04.30  Vange            2 – H.Es exploded in fields 40 yards South of High

Street and 100 yards West of Vange Church.  Extensive damage to property.  Telephone wires down.  No casualties.

09/12/1940    04.30  Little                1 – H.E. exploded in a field between Sudburys

                                    Burstead        Farm and Blind Lane.  No damage or casualties.

09/12/1940    06.30  Canvey          7 – H.Es, 4 unexploded in river in front of West

Island             Point, Thorney Bay (3 exploded at 16.50 hrs, 1 remaining) and 3 exploded near Southend Water Works emergency Pumping Station Haven Road.  Pumping Station badly damaged.  Water supply not affected.  No casualties.

09/12/1940    08.38  Foulness       3 – H.Es exploded and 15 I.Bs burnt out on Wick

                                    Island             Farm.  No damage or casualties.

11/12/1940    20.30  Mountnessing          1 – H.E unexploded in Lodge field, Thoby

                                                            Lane.  No damage or casualties.

11/12/1940    20.49  North              I.Bs (a number) burnt out in fields at North Benfleet

                                    Benfleet         Hall Farm.  No damage or casualties.

11/12/1940    21.00  Wickford        2 – H.Es exploded in a field North West of Wantz

Corner, Chelmsford Road.  Slight damage to property.  No casualties.

12/12/1940                Rayleigh        Parachute of a flare found in a field near Crow Hill. 

                                                            Now at Rayleigh Police Station.

12/12/1940    02.15  Paglesham    14 – H.Es exploded, 1 on East Hall Road.  Closed

(open 13.12.40) 2 beside East Hall Road, 5 on South Hall Farm.  4 at Church Hall Farm and  2 on East Hall Farm.  No damage or casualties.

12/12/1940    21.10  Mountnessing                      4 – H.Es, 2 exploded and 2

unexploded in Moat field off Church Lane.  No damage or casualties.

12/12/1940    22.27  Mountnessing          3 – H.Es, 2 exploded in a field on

McCheyne’s Farm and 1 unexploded in 2nd meadow North West of Great Cowbridge Grange Farm.  No damage or casualties.  Disposed of B.D.S. 17.12.40.

13/12/1940    02.52  Canvey          6 – H.Es exploded in the River Thames 100 yards

                                    Island             East of Oil Wharf Jetty.  No damage or casualties.

13/12/1940    19.50  Canvey          1 Parachute mine exploded in mid-air between

Island             Canvey and the Kent Coast.  No damage or casualties.

13/12/1940                Rayleigh        Parachute flare found in field near Crow Hill (taken

                                                            by R****

14/12/1940    01.55  Sutton             2 Parachute mines, 1 exploded 400 yards North

and 1exploded 500 yards West of Beauchamps Farm Shopland.  No casualties.  Considerable damage to property.  Parachute of 1 mine at Rochford Police Station.

14/12/1940    01.55  Paglesham    2 Parachute mines, 1 exploded on South Hall

Marshes and 1 unexploded on Hare Marshes.  Slight damage to property.  Unexploded removed to Portsmouth 16th by Military.

14/12/1940    09.40  Little Warley  1 – A.A. unexploded Shell found in a field 200

                                                            yards East of Hall Lane.  No damage or casualties.

14/12/1940    18.18  Canvey          10 – H.Es exploded, 1 on “Beachville” Clinton

Island             Road, HQ of 96th Light A.A. Battery R.A. extensive damage to property.  1 soldier fatal casualty.  Military hut fired.  Underground telephone cables and telegraph pole damaged and 9 exploded in fields North and South of Canvey Road in line from Cooks Farm to Clinton Road.  S.L.T. on Canvey Road B.1014.  (open 14.12.40).

15/12/1940    20.08  Foulness       7 – H.Es exploded North West of Church End on

                                    Island             Nazewick Farm.  No damage or casualties.

15/12/1940    20.20  Canvey          2 – H.Es exploded and 1 Oil I.B. burnt out in the

Island             River Thames 500 yards off Scars Elbow Fort.  No damage or casualties.

17/12/1940                Paglesham    1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in orchard of East Hall. 

                                                            No damage or casualties.

17/12/1940                Dunton          1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in centre Verge opposite

telegraph pole 328, Arterial Road.  No casualties. (Disposed of by B.D.S. 30/12/40).

20/12/1940    21.10  Great Warley 1 – H.E exploded in field 80 yards West of District

Nurses house.  Slight damage to property.  No casualties.

20/12/1940    23.55  Basildon        2 – H.Es, 1 exploded and 1 unexploded on Honey

Pot Lane.  The unexploded H.E. exploded at 11.30 the 21st, causing two casualties (slight) both Wardens.  Extensive damage to property, water main and telephone wires (Wardens names Norman and Clements)  Road open 17.1.41.

21/12/1940    05.45  Creeksea       Segt Hazlegrove and Pte Haige of the Duke of

Wellington Regt.  Stationed at Hawkwell were taking part in manoeuvres at Creeksea when they walked across land mines buried in the ground on land which was fenced off running parallel with Creeksea Road, 1 mine exploded and they were both practically blown to pieces.

23/12/1940    19.45  Ingrave           7 – H.Es exploded and about 100 I.Bs burnt out in

Thorndon Park in vicinity of Hatch Farm, 1 in garden of Rushbottom Cottage Rectory Lane.  Damage to property, 2 Salmonds Farm (damage to property) 2 Willows Farm, 1 dairy Farm and 1 at Fouchers Farm.  No casualties.

23/12/1940                Brentwood     1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in garden of Curressys,

Ongar Road.  No damage or casualties.  (Disposed of by B.D.S. 24.1.41).

23/12/1940                Brentwood     1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in grounds of “Learigg”,

Cornslands.  No damage or casualties.  B.D.S. 26.2.41.

27/12/1940     20.18  Hockley          1 – H.E. exploded at junction of Greensword Lane

                                                            and Lower Road.  No damage or casualties.

27/12/1940    20.30  Little Warley  1 – H.E. exploded at entrance of Codham Hall

Lane.  The lane is partly blocked by debris.  No casualties.  (Lane open 29.12.40).

27/12/1940    20.40  South Weald Windows broken at The Chequers P.H. by mine

                                                            exploding at Navestock.

27/12/1940    20.40  Barling           2 – H.Es exploded, 1 at Shoulderstick Hall and 1 at

& Sutton        Beauchamps Farm house.  Damage to property.  Aeroplane trip wires down.  No casualties.

27/12/1940    21.00  Little Warley  I.Bs (about 100) burnt out at junction of Hall Lane

and Arterial Road.  Slight damage to property And about 1 ton of hay destroyed in a stack.  No casualties.

27/12/1940    21.00  Hockley          1 – I.B. burnt out in a ditch at Marylands Wood.

No damage or casualties.

27/12/1940    21.00  Great              9 – H.Es exploded in line 100 yards North West of

Burstead        Barleylands Sewerage Works.  No damage or casualties.

27/12/1940    21.01  Billericay        I.Bs (a number) burnt out in fields 400 yards West

                                                            of Barleylands House.  No damage or casualties.

27/12/1940    21.12  Buttsbury       1 Parachute mine exploded 200 yards South East

of Shoulder Hall.  Slight damage to Shoulder Hall.  No casualties.

27/12/1940    21.13  Billericay        1 Parachute mine exploded 50 yards North of

“Stricklands” Buckwyns Estate.  Damage to 8 houses.  No casualties.

27/12/1940    Night  South             1 – Parachute mine unexploded in garden of

Fambridge     “Greenways” Fambridge Road.  Tail cap found 1/2 mile from River.  Fambridge Road closed.  (Rendered safe by Admiralty 29.12.40)  Road open ( Rest of entry missing on original).

27/12/1940    21.40  Canewdon    1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a field 30 yards West

                                                            of Lion House.  No damage or casualties.

27/12/1940                Ashingdon    1 – Parachute mine unexploded on Marshes 400

yards South of Ashingdon School (Rendered harmless by Admiralty 29.12.40).

28/12/1940                Coxtie Green Harley Cottage in lane nr Eagle Inn.  Roof serious

and 12 panes of glass broken from blast and debris from H.E. exploded by B.D.S. during afternoon.

29/12/1940    18.30  Pitsea             2 – H.Es, 1 exploded in garden of “The Sheilings”

Rectory Road.  Slight damage to property and 1 unexploded in a field 40 yards from Rectory Road.  B.1011 closed (H.E. exploded 3.1.41 road open.  Damage to 12 houses and shops.)  No casualties.

29/12/1940    19.30  Brentwood     1 – A.A. Shell exploded on Ingrave Road opposite

“Rannock” 200 yards South of 3 Arch Bridge.  Slight damage to property and road.  No casualties.

SECOND WORLD WAR December 1940

(British)

Throughout the month beginning the 1^st December 1940 bombing raids were exchanged between Britain and Germany. First Germany bombed Britain then Britain retaliated by bombing Germany. These raids were a continuation of the raids on the Midlands and the North West of England during November 1940.

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On the night of the 4^th December 1940 around sixty German bombers attacked Birmingham in which the Wilton tram depot was damaged in the raid. On the night of the 11^th December 1940 the largest raid lasting thirteen hours was launched against the city involving 278 bombers. Apart from explosives, 2,500 incendiaries were dropped causing widespread fires in both the residential and industrial areas. Two hundred and sixty people were killed and another two hundred and forty three were seriously injured.

Simultaneously, the German city of Düsseldorf and the Italian city of Turin were bombed by the RAF on the 5^th December 1940.

On the 16^th December 1940 the first RAF night raid on Mannheim was launched in revenge for the German attack on Coventry. One hundred and eight tons of high explosives and over 13,000 incendiary bombs were dropped on the industrial centre of the city. Countless fires were started and were fairly widespread but casualties were low with only 34 people killed.

The heaviest raids on Manchester by the German Luftwaffe occurred on the 22^nd /23^rd and the 23rd /24^th December 1940 killing an estimated six hundred and eighty four people and injuring a further two thousand. On the 22^nd/23^rd December 1940 two hundred and seventy two tons of high explosives were dropped followed by two hundred and seventy two tons the following night. Manchester Cathedral, the Royal Exchange and the Free Trade Hall were among the large buildings damaged.

London sustained another large German air raid on the 29^th/30^th December1940 when the area around St. Paul’s Cathedral was attacked. Almost every building in the area had been burned down with the Cathedral surviving in a wasteland of destruction. To protect the Cathedral Prime Minister Winston Churchill had urged the special group of firemen to ensure its survival. Twenty nine incendiary bombs fell on and around the Cathedral. One burned through the lead dome but the bomb fell outward from the roof onto the stone gallery below and was quickly extinguished. The photograph, taken by the Daily Mail’s photographer Herbert Mason, and called “St. Paul’s Survives” shows the Cathedral surrounded by thick black smoke. This iconic photograph became the symbol of London’s stand against the enemy. The survival of St. Paul’s came at a cost when more than one hundred and sixty people died in that night’s raid including sixteen firemen with five hundred more being injured.

Operation Compass was the first large scale Allied military operation of the Western Desert Campaign and was fought between 6^th and 9^th December 1940. The Italian 10^th Army had advanced into Egypt in September 1940 and set up a defensive position at Sidi Barrani 95 km (59 miles) from the Egyptian/Libya border. The British Western Desert Force advanced from their defensive position in Mersa Matruh with approximately 36,000 men against 150,000 men stronghold of the Italian 10^th Army. The British swiftly defeated the Italians and pursued the remnants of the army to El Agheila. For the loss of 1,900 British men killed or wounded they took over 138,000 Italian prisoners, hundreds of tanks and more than 1000 guns and aircraft on the 12^th December 1940. By the 16th December 1940, the British were in command at Sollum and had taken Fort Capuzza in Libya.

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(Germany)

On the 18^th December 1940 German Dictator Adolf Hitler issued a directive to begin preparing for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Germany was already committed to the invasion and was ready for any re-action the Soviet Union may undertake. Hitler did not want the Soviet Union participating in the Tripartite Pact, although they had been invited to join on the 18^th November 1940, as Germany had their own plans for the division of Europe.

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(Italy)

Between the 1^st and 8^th December 1940, in the Greco-Italian War, the Greek Army continued to push the Italians further back into Albania. The Greeks captured the Albanian cities of Pogradoc, Sarande and Gjirokasser. The war continued to go badly for Italy and by the 28^th December 1940 the Greeks occupied roughly 25% of Albania. On the same day Italy requested military assistance from Germany against Greece.

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(Other Theatres)

On the 1^st December 1940 the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Joseph P. Kennedy, was asked by President Roosevelt to resign after he gave a newspaper interview expressing his view that “Democracy is finished in England”.

On the 8^th December 1940 following Hitler’s meeting with Spanish Dictator Francisco Franco, Spain ruled out the countries’ entry into the war. As a consequence Hitler was forced to cancel the proposed attack on Gibraltar. Franco had considered joining the war and invading Gibraltar but he knew his armed forces would not be able to defend Spanish Morocco and the Canary Islands from a British attack.

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