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

Date Time Location Damage

01/11/1940 05.30 Foulness The body of a German Airman found on the

Island foreshore at Asplins Head. Not in water for more than 12 hours. Bullet wound in face. Unter Offizier. Identity Disc 53624/22. Papers on body cannot be read. Removed to Southend Municipal Hospital Rochford.

01/11/1940 09.00 Great The door of an aeroplane found in a field at Wick

Wakering Farm 250 yards South East of farm. Number 0880299 in white paint inside frame. Colour Grey-Green paint with 3 mica panels one is reinforced with sheet metal.

01/11/1940 19.00 South 4 – H.Es exploded 300 yards to rear of St. Vincents

Weald Hamlet on McTurks land. No damage or casualties.

01/11/1940 19.00 Rayleigh 3 – H.Es, 1 H.E. exploded and 1 Oil I.B. burnt out

in a field 400 yards North of Charlie’s Café and 300 yards South of Railway lines and 2 H.Es exploded in a field 300 yards South East of Wheatleys Farm. No damage or casualties.

01/11/1940 South 1 – I.B. burnt out in a field between Vicarage Lane

Weald and Weald Road. No damage or casualties.

01/11/1940 Hutton 1 – H.E. unexploded at Stud Farm 200 yards North

of Rayleigh Road, opposite the Maltings. No damage or casualties. B.D.S. 17.5.41

01/11/1940 21.45 Billericay 4 – H.Es exploded, 2 near Cottages Ramsden

Heath Road, 50 yards East of junction of Outwood Common Road and 2 H.Es exploded and 2 Oil I.Bs burnt out in fields off Ramsden Heath Road. No damage or casualties.

01/11/1940 23.45 Ramsden 1 – H.E. exploded in a field 300 yards North West

Heath of Searchlight Station. No damage or casualties.

01/11/1940 23.50 Mountnessing 1 – Oil I.B. burnt out in a field 30 yards to

rear of “Woodview” Old Church Lane. No damage or casualties.

01/11/1940 North 2 – H.Es exploded, 1 in middle of A.127 500 yards

Benfleet East of Bonvilles Farm and 1 in field 300 yards East of Bonvilles Farm. Down track of A.127 blocked. No casualties.

02/11/1940 19.45 Vange I.Bs (about 100) on Marshes 1/4 mile South West

of Goldings Farm. No damage, 1 regular Fireman seriously injured.

02/11/1940 20.00 Mountnessing 2 – H.E exploded, 1 is 100 yards West of

Lawness Farm opposite Shoulder Hall and 1 is 100 yards North on side of road to Buttsbury Road. Road blocked. Gas main damaged. No casualties.

02/11/1940 20.05 Billericay I.Bs (a number) in fields in the Vicinity of Little

Blunts Farm and Queens Park Estate. No damage or casualties.

02/11/1940 20.30 South 2 – H.Es, 1 exploded and 1 unexploded in the back

Benfleet garden of 253 Philmead Road (unexploded 15 yards from house). No damage or casualties.

02/11/1940 20.30 East 1 – H.E. exploded in Ingrave Meadow at South

Horndon West corner of Moor Lane crossroads. Overhead electric cables down near pole 142. Damage to property. No casualties.

02/11/1940 20.30 Canvey 4 – H.Es exploded in fields at Pantiles Farm

Island between Northwick and Benfleet Creek, 3 sheep killed.

02/11/1940 20.55 Bowers 8 – H.Es exploded in fields between Bowers Hall

Gifford Farm and Little Kelvedon Hall and 1 in Kelly Road, 10 houses damaged. Telephone wires down, no casualties.

02/11/1940 21.30 Hutton 18 – H.Es, 1 is unexploded. All between Cresseys

Farm and Hanging Hill Lane junction with Ridgeway. The unexploded is 1/4 mile from Cresseys Farm near a pond. No damage or casualties.

02/11/1940 22.20 Foulness 8 – H.Es exploded in fields, 6 at Creist Wood Farm

Island and 2 at Rushwood Farm. No damage or casualties.

04/11/1940 11.00 Great 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a field 500 yards

Wakering South of Little Wakering Hall, on surface. No damage or casualties.

04/11/1940 19.45 Ramsden 2 – H.Es exploded in fields off Mill Lane. No

Heath damage or casualties.

04/11/1940 20.15 Vange 9 – H.Es exploded in fields between Kingswood

Hall Farm and an orchard Bell Hill. No damage or casualties.

04/11/1940 20.24 Vange 1 – H.E. exploded in a field 300 yards from front of

Clay Hill Garage. No damage or casualties.

04/11/1940 20.40 North 13 – H.Es exploded, 1 at Rose Cottage, Hovefields

Benfleet Avenue. The remainder East part of junction Goodwins Lane and Basildon Road. Damage to property, no casualties.

04/11/1940 20.45 Great 5 – H.Es exploded in fields and gardens of houses

Burstead in Kennel Lane. Damage to property. No casualties.

04/11/1940 21.25 Ingrave 12 – H.Es exploded on Thorndon Park Golf

Course. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 03.15 Langdon 4 – H.Es exploded, 1 in High Road opposite Park

Hills Avenue, 1 at junction of Park Avenue and Nightingale Avenue, 1 in the garden of “Amy” Park Avenue, 1 in the garden of “Homestead” Butles Green. Water and gas mains damaged. 8 houses slightly and 5 seriously damaged. S.L.T. on High Road, B.1007. No casualties.

05/11/1940 04.55 Pilgrims 8 – H.Es, 7 exploded and 1 unexploded in fields

Hatch 800 yards North of Orchard Farm and 800 yards East of Ashwells Farm. The unexploded is on Kings strip of land. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 05.08 Potton 2 – H.Es exploded in fields 1 mile North East

Island of Potton Farm, 30 yards apart. No damage or

casualties.

05/11/1940 05.20 Laindon 5 – H.Es exploded and 1 Oil I.B. burnt out, 4 H.Es

in Wash Lane, 1 H.E. and 1 Oil I.B. near Pipps Hill, 200 yards North of Lee Chapel Lane on footpath. Telephone cables down, water and gas mains damaged. Sewer damaged. Road closed, no casualties.

05/11/1940 05.20 Basildon 1 – H.E. unexploded and 1 Oil I.B. burnt out. The

unexploded is on the West side of Pipps Hill 200 yards South of A.127. The Oil I.B. is opposite. Road blocked from A.127 to Basildon. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 05.30 Basildon 3 – H.Es exploded in fields West of “Endersley”

Church Road. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 South 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell 100 yards South of Drive

Weald and 100 yards from entrance of Weald Hall. No

damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 15.00 Pitsea 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in garden of “Warden”

Lillie Avenue. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 15.00 Laindon 2 – H.Es exploded, 1 at Ronald Avenue (direct hit

on Anderson shelter) and 1 in a field off Markham Chase. Considerable damage to property. No casualties.

05/11/1940 15.15 Laindon German Messerschmitt 109 crashed and blew up

in a field 400 yards South of Fortune of War crossroads, at rear of Essex Tool Factory. Machine totally wrecked. Pilot Officer Joham Illner bailed out, but injured. Rank Feldwebel. Identity Number B.65176. Born 21.2.11 at Ndufladt Wier. Conveyed to Billericay Hospital with dislocated knee.

05/11/1940 16.59 Laindon 14 – H.Es exploded in vicinity of Dunton Wayletts,

7 North of A.127 West of Dunton Crossing, 4 in field North of A.127, 2 South of Dunton Road, 1 on cycle track South of A.127. Road A.127 blocked, 6 slight casualties. Gas main fired, overhead electric cables down, 2 bungalows demolished, 4 houses and a Cafe slightly damaged (Road open 7/11/40).

05/11/1940 18.15 Ingrave 1 – H.E. exploded in a field at Salmons Farm, 600

yards to rear of School Lane Cottages. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 18.50 Ingrave 4 – H.Es exploded, 2 on footpath of allotments

opposite Ingrave Post Office, 1 about 60 yards to rear of row of Red Brick Cottages and 1 in field by Clemoes Farm, Thorndon Park. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 19.15 Raweth 5 – H.Es exploded on Marshes 1/2 mile North West

of Highlands Farm. No damage or casualties.

05/11/1940 20.00 Childerditch 1 – H.E. exploded on Childerditch Common near

the forked roads. No damage or casualties.

06/11/1940 11.34 Langdon “Alexander Lodge” Victoria Avenue, “Ivanhoe”

Hills “Ivydene” “The Poplars” and “Summerside” Albert Road. Roofs damaged by shrapnel. No casualties.

06/11/1940 17.00 Little Warley 4 – H.Es exploded in a field at rear of Brickworks.

No damage or casualties.

06/11/1940 22.45 Laindon 12 – I.Bs burnt out in gardens of houses of High

Bank Estate. No damage or casualties.

07/11/1940 01.00 East 2 – H.Es exploded and 50 I.Bs burnt out in fields on

Horndon South side of Arterial Road and 1/4 mile East of Little Warley crossroads. Considerable damage to property. No casualties.

07/11/1940 01.05 Laindon 6 – I.Bs burnt out in fields at Dunton Hall Farm. No

damage or casualties.

07/11/1940 19.15 Ingrave 1 – H.E. unexploded in a field at rear of Lapwater

Hall. No damage or casualties. (disposed of B.D.S. 5.12.40).

07/11/1940 19.30 Thundersley 1 – H.E. exploded 150 yards South of “Ellesmere”

June Road. No damage or casualties.

07/11/1940 19.40 Wickford 17 – H.Es unexploded in fields and gardens in the

vicinity of Waterworks Road. Road damaged and losed. 1 60 yards North West and 1 500 yards West of Pumping Station. No casualties. (Disposed of 2.1.41).

07/11/1940 19.45 South 7 – H.Es, 6 exploded at Boyce Hill Golf Club,

Benfleet Vicarage Hill Cottage, St Marys Drive “Cleveland” Essex Way “Waincourt” St Marys Drive and 1 unexploded “Hillside View” St Marys Drive. Essex Way and St Marys Drive closed. Damage to property. No casualties. (Unexploded disposed of roads open 29.11.40).

07/11/1940 19.55 Canvey 9 – H.Es exploded, 1 at 5 Waterside Cottages and

Island 8 in Dyke West of Waterside Farm. Damage to property. No casualties.

07/11/1940 20.10 South Weald 10 – H.Es exploded between Grove Farm Brook

Street and Sewerage Works Nags Head Lane. Grove Farm partly demolished, 4 slight casualties.

07/11/1940 20.10 South Weald 1 – H.E. exploded in Scroggles field 3/4 mile North

East of Grove Farm. No damage or casualties.

08/11/1940 06.45 Foulness 10 – H.Es exploded 200 yards South East of

Island Church End. No damage or casualties.

08/11/1940 15.50 Thundersley British Spitfire caught fire in the air crashed and

burnt out at Oakleigh Poultry Farm Thundersley Common. Sergt. Pilot of Hornchurch safe. Machine Number Z.D.H.N. 3164 from 222 Squadron R.A.F. Hornchurch (not due to enemy action).

09/11/1940 04.00 Billericay 4 – H.Es exploded 2 in fields and 1 near

outbuildings of Stocklands Farm and 1 near moving Nathams bungalow of foundations. Chimney stack in dangerous position. Extensive damage to property. No casualties.

09/11/1940 04.00 Mountnessing 7 – H.Es, 6 exploded and 1 unexploded in

fields 150 yards to rear of Mountnessing Hall Farm. Slight damage. No casualties.

09/11/1940 19.00 Billericay 19 – H.Es, 1 is unexploded in fields behind

bungalows North of Potash Lane, from Stock to Ramsden Roads. The unexploded one is 300 yards North East of Thornhill and 75 yards behind Potash Lane. (Disposed of B.D.S. 21.12.40) No damage or casualties.

09/11/1940 19.45 East 25 – H.Es, 24 exploded in fields in line between

Horndon 300 yards South of B’cay-B’wood Road Herongate, from rear of Old Dog P.H. to rear of Boars Head P.H. 1 is unexploded 250 yards South East of Col. Laurie’s house near the hunting gate. No damage or casualties.

10/11/1940 19.15 South Weald 1 – H.E. exploded by side of Weald Road between

Spital Lane and Tower Arms. Road dangerous. No casualties.

10/11/1940 20.55 South Weald 10 – H.Es exploded in fields at Weald Park and

Frieze Hall Farm. Damage to property and water main. No casualties.

10/11/1940 21.20 Little Warley 3 – H.Es exploded between Little Warley Hall and

Railway in fields off Hall Lane 1/4 mile South of Arterial Road. Hall Lane partly blocked. Slight damage to property by blast. No casualties.

11/11/1940 Great Warley 1 – H.E. unexploded in South West corner of

Holden Wood 600 yards West of The Rustlings. No damage or casualties.

11/11/1940 18.52 Canvey I.Bs (a number) in fields between Scars Elbow

Island and Kynoch Hotel. No damage or casualties.

11/11/1940 23.00 Billericay 2 – H.Es exploded, 1 near Gatwick House and 1 in

Mill Fields at entrance of Watts Farm. No damage or casualties.

12/11/1940 08.35 Foulness Barrage Balloon grounded and secured at Asplins

Island Head. RAF Rochford in charge.

12/11/1940 18.45 Doddinghurst 2 – H.Es exploded 1 in field of Metsons Farm,

Crow Green Lane and 1 in a field of Dagwood Farm Dagwood Lane. No damage or casualties.

12/11/1940 20.40 Sutton 8 – H.Es, 4 exploded, 2 in field at Butlers Farm and

2 200 yards East of Fleet Hall. 4 are unexploded on Creek side of sea wall. Damage to property at Fleet Hall and Butlers Farm. No casualties. (unexploded dealt with by B.D.S. 6.12.40).

12/11/1940 20.50 South Weald 2 – H.Es exploded on Botany Field McTurks land at

back of Maylands Golf Course opposite 13th hole. No damage or casualties.

13/11/1940 06.00 Little 2 – H.Es, 1 unexploded at Hope House. No

Burstead damage or casualties. (Unexploded reported as exploded B.D.S. 3.12.40).

13/11/1940 07.00 Pitsea 8 – H.Es exploded and 1 Oil I.B. burnt out at

Smoky Farm, 1 mile North East of Land Reclamation Works Limited. Damage to property. No casualties.

13/11/1940 21.15 Bowers 5 – H.Es exploded in line from 200 yards East of

Gifford Pound Lane and 6 yards North from London Road to 100 yards East of Church Road. Damage to property at Bowers Gifford cottages. No casualties.

13/11/1940 21.15 Bowers 4 – H.Es exploded and 1 Oil I.B. burnt out on

Gifford Marshes. No damage or casualties.

13/11/1940 Brentwood 1 – A.A unexploded Shell on path of 12 Elm Way

Westwood Park Estate. No damage or casualties.

14/11/1940 12.45 Brentwood 1 – A.A unexploded Shell in garden of 24

Kavanagh Road. No damage or casualties.

14/11/1940 South 1 – H.E. unexploded in the garden of “Thorndene”

Benfleet Benfleet Road. Road B.1014 closed from Water Tower to Shipwrights Drive. No damage or casualties. (considered safe by B.D.S. 15.11.40 road open).

14/11/1940 20.40 Little 5 – H.Es exploded in fields of Bulless Farm. Slight

Burstead damage to property. No casualties.

14/11/1940 20.40 Crays Hill 3 – H.Es exploded in fields 100 yards North of Vine

Cottages Borwick Land. No damage or casualties.

14/11/1940 20.50 Herongate 11 – H.Es exploded 100 yards Billericay side of

Dunton Corner Dunton Road, 2 East side of road, 1 North of road, 1 on road, 5 in field opposite Dunton Lodge, 1 in Orchard of Broad View and 1 at rear of Swallows. Billericay Road blocked S.L.T. 16th inst. Slight damage to property. No casualties.

15/11/1940 03.15 Mountnessing 19 – H.Es exploded in the vicinity of

Lawness Farm, in line South West from point 300 yards North East of junction of Mountnessing Road with Buckwins Lane to Little Cowbridge Grange Farm at junction with road to Chelmsford S.L.T. on Mountnessing Road. No casualties. Road open 15.30 hrs the 15th inst.

15/11/1940 14.10 Laindon German bailed out and landed at Laindon.

The plane a ME109 crashed at Horndon-on-the-Hill Grays Division. Name Feldwell Otto Yaros 29 years. Taken to Billericay Station.

15/11/1940 18.50 Rochford British Bolton and Paul Defiant two seater fighter

crashed on the Golf Course 500 yards South of Rochford Church when attempting to land. Machine completely burnt out. Pilot safe. Gunner received slight burns.

15/11/1940 19.53 North 2 – Parachute mines. 1 exploded 200 yards from

Benfleet junction A.127 and East end of Old Harrows Road and 1 unexploded in a field 150 yards South of Twiggs Garage 400 yards East of Harrows P.H. on South side of A.127. Road closed between Rayleigh Wier and Nevendon Cricketers P.H. 12 houses, a school and garage damaged. No casualties (Unexploded destroyed by Admiralty by burning) Pound Lane open 10.12.40.

15/11/1940 20.15 Billericay 12 – H.Es 11 exploded in fields in line 250 yards

West of New Lodge Tye Common Road North West to London Road A.129. 5 houses a garage in London Road. Outbuildings at Blunts Wall Farm damaged. 7 cows killed and 3 injured. Telephone wires down, 1 unexploded in a field at Gt Cowbridge Grange North of London Road and 200 yards West of track to the Grange.

15/11/1940 20.55 South Weald 6 – H.Es exploded in a field opposite the 12th hole.

Maylands Golf Course at side of Oak Wood. No damage or casualties.

15/11/1940 South Weald 1 – H.E. unexploded in the Ride between Oak and

Fir Woods 1 1/2 miles South of Keepers Lodge at rear of Vicarage. No damage or casualties. B.D.S. 23.5.41.

15/11/1940 21.55 South Weald I.Bs (a number) near Oak Wood Vicarage Lane.

No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 02.54 Shenfield 5 – H.Es exploded in fields opposite Alwyn Avenue

North of A.12. No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 17.30 Foulness The body of a German Airman found on the

Island foreshore of Haven Gore. Name Gefr. Tonny Boschen, born 10.9.19 at Braman. Body not in water for more than 48 hours. Neck broken, bullet hole in elbow of right arm. (During the morning of 15th a German bomber dived into the Thames and the body is believed to be one of the crew). Moved to Southend Municipal Hospital Rochford. RAF Rochford took possession of property.

16/11/1940 18.30 Ramsden 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell 1/4 mile West of junction

Heath Mill Lane and Heath Road. No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 19.30 Shenfield 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell on the cricket ground 30

yards from nearest house. No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 19.50 Hawkwell 1 – I.B. burnt out in a field 200 yards East of

Nursery Corner. No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 19.50 Hutton 5 – H.Es, 2 exploded in Cooks Nurseries, Rayleigh

Road, 1 unexploded in Flints field and 2 unexploded behind the Infirmary, Hutton Residential Schools. Slight damage to property. No casualties.

16/11/1940 19.55 Rayleigh 2 – I.Bs burnt out in a field 100 yards West of

Beckworth Farm Nelson Road. No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 19.55 North 1 – I.B. burnt out near Fantons Hall. No damage or

Benfleet casualties.

16/11/1940 20.05 Great Tarpots 3 – H.Es exploded in fields at side of

Romsey Road. No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 20.08 Hawkwell 1 – I.B. burnt out in a field near Hawkwell Farm.

No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 20.10 Pitsea 3 – H.Es exploded 1, 50 yards West of junction

Pitsea and Station Road, 1 on Parkhurst Road, 15 yards from High Road and 1 in field at rear of Allens Fish shop. Damage to property. No casualties.

16/11/1940 20.10 Bowers 2 – H.Es exploded, 1 in field 60 yards South of

Gifford London Road and 75 yards East of Church Road and 1 in garden of Gifford House 50 yards South of London Road. No damage or casualties.

16/11/1940 20.45 Billericay 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a field near “Gatwick

House” near Bell Hill. No damage or casualties.

17/11/1940 19.15 Canvey 7 – H.Es exploded in the River Thames off Scars

Island Elbow Fort. No damage or casualties.

17/11/1940 South Weald 2 – Parachute mines unexploded at Rochetts,

Weald Road (Rendered harmless and burnt by Military 19th). No damage or casualties.

19/11/1940 20.00 Little Damage to roof of “Nulli Secundus” Barrows Hall

Wakering Road by shrapnel. No casualties.

19/11/1940 21.00 Dunton 18 – H.Es exploded in the vicinity of Dunton

Crossing, 1 at side and 1 in centre of grass track of A.127. Remainder in fields at Calvers Farm in radius of 1/4 mile. 9 houses damaged, 2 seriously. Aeroplane trip wire down. 8 stone pig killed at Pleasant View Road. A.127 closed.

19/11/1940 23.00 Dunton 2 – H.Es exploded in field at rear of Dunton School,

Lower Road. Slight damage to school. No casualties.

20/11/1940 04.30 Paglesham 3 – H.Es exploded South of School. No damage or

casualties.

20/11/1940 05.25 South Weald 1 – A.A. unexploded at rear of Gilstead Hall.

Damage to property. No casualties. B.D.S. 21.5.41.

20/11/1940 05.30 Mountnessing 17 – H.Es, 4 exploded at rear of Gt.

Cowbridge Grange, Church Road and 200 yards from London Road at rear of sewerage works, also 1 unexploded in same position, 11 exploded and 1 unexploded on McCheyne’s Farm. No damage or casualties.

20/11/1940 19.30 Rochford British Bolton Paul Defiant crashed and completely

wrecked 1/4 mile East of Blatches Farm. Pilot Officer Hackwood and Flying Officer S. Storrie of 264th Squadron Rochford killed. No of plane 1626.

23/11/1940 06.25 Wickford 9 – H.Es exploded in vicinity of Brocks Hill.

Junction of Lindin & Chelmsford Roads blocked (open 29.11.40), 1 exploding on road. Gas main fired and sewer damaged, 4 houses slight damage. No casualties. Also 20 I.Bs burnt out in fields 3 miles South of Downham Garage.

24/11/1940 19.05 Great 2 – H.Es, 1 exploded in a field at White House

Wakering Lodge. Slight damage to property and 1 unexploded in a field 400 yards East of White House Lodge (Discredited B.D.S. 1.12.40) No casualties.

24/11/1940 19.25 Hutton 8 – H.Es near Collins Farm, 2 unexploded in a field

North West of and 6 exploded South East of Farm. Slight damage to property. No casualties.

24/11/1940 19.45 Brentwood 5 – H.Es, 3 exploded in Cromwell and Milton

Roads and 1 at junction Warley Mount and Headley Chase. Considerable damage to property and several persons suffering from shock and 2 unexploded, 1 at Lavenders Builders Yard and 1 at 11 Great Eastern Street. All roads mentioned blocked. (Open 25.11.40) Water and gas mains damaged and sewer fractured.

24/11/1940 19.50 Thundersley 5 – H.Es exploded, 1 in Waterworks field,

Grandview Road, 1 in field 500 yards North of Hart Road, 1 on “Strathmore” Hart Road. (House demolished) 3 persons killed, 1 150 yards North of “Strathmore” and 1 at “Hillcrest” Grandview Road (Hillcrest wrecked) considerable damage to other property. Overhead electric cables down. Gas and water damaged , 3 serious casualties at Hillcrest.

24/11/1940 Doddinghurst 1 – H.E. exploded in a field at Shops Farm. No

damage or casualties.

26/11/1940 Brentwood Nose cap of a shell fell in the garden 13 Fairfield

Road. No damage or casualties

26/11/1940 20.00 Little Warley 15 – I.Bs burnt out in fields near Homefields

Garage. No damage or casualties.

27/11/1940 06.40 Coxtie Green 9 – H.Es 8 exploded in fields at “Ditchleys” and 1

suspected unexploded on Coxtie Green Road East of junction with New Road. Road closed between New Road and Wheelers Road. (open 28th) Water main burst. Telephone wires down. No casualties.

27/11/1940 07.00 Little 18 – H.Es exploded in fields between Stockwell

Burstead Hall and Thorndon Park, behind Heron Hall. 11 of these are on the Ingrave beat, Blind Lane is partly blocked. No damage or casualties.

27/11/1940 07.40 Canvey 7 – H.Es exploded in the River Thames between

Island Hole Haven and The Kent Coast. No damage or casualties.

27/11/1940 19.20 South Weald 1 – H.E. exploded near Sewerage Works Romford

Division. Road closed from A.12 Brentwood Division and slight damage to property Brentwood Division. No casualties. Nags Head Lane Road open 15.12.40.

27/11/1940 22.15 South 5 – H.Es exploded, 4 in fields on South side of

Benfleet Chapmans Lane and 1 in garden of 449a Perry Street, 449a partly demolished. 449 demolished. No casualties.

28/11/1940 Little 6 – I.Bs burnt out in fields at Bowers Hall Farm. No

Wakering damage or casualties.

28/11/1940 Rochford 14 – I.Bs burnt out on the Aerodrome and Ann

Boleyn Estate. Slight damage to 2 dwelling houses. No casualties.

28/11/1940 09.39 Shenfield 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in bank near Shenfield

Railway Station, 18 yards East of Railway Bridge. No damage or casualties.

28/11/1940 14.10 Ingrave 1 – H.E. unexploded in Orchard of Thorndon Park.

No damage or casualties.

28/11/1940 21.50 Hadleigh I.Bs (a number) on Marsh land South of London

Road. No damage or casualties.

28/11/1940 23.40 Bowers 3 – H.Es 1 exploded West of farm buildings and 2

Gifford unexploded North West of building at Little Chalvedon Hall. No damage or casualties.

28/11/1940 Rochford 1 – A.A. unexploded Shell in a field North of

Temple Farm. No damage or casualties.

29/11/1940 01.50 Basildon 2 – H.Es exploded on Moores Poultry Farm and

Basildon Cottage Poultry Farm, 1 poultry house and 40 chickens killed at Moores Poultry Farm.

29/11/1940 19.30 Brentwood 8 – H.Es exploded in a field at rear of “Merrymead”

Sawyers Hall Lane. No damage or casualties.

29/11/1940 19.30 Shenfield 6 – H.Es exploded, 1 at junction A.12 and

Middleton Road, 2 at junction of Park Way and Priests Lane, 1 near “Ashdown” Hallwood Crescent, 1 at “Glendale” and 1 in field at rear of Bloomfield. Slight damage to property. No casualties.

29/11/1940 19.35 South Weald I.Bs (a number) between Spital Lane and Vicarage

Lane. No damage or casualties.

29/11/1940 19.45 Coxtie Green I.Bs ( a number) in fields between Red Lion Farm

and Stokes Farm. No damage or casualties.

29/11/1940 19.50 Basildon 6 – H.Es exploded in line from Vexek Poultry Farm

to Devonshire House Poultry Farm. No damage or casualties.

29/11/1940 21.45 Ramsden 2 – H.Es exploded 3/4 mile North of Lodge Farm.

Heath Considerable damage to greenhouses. No casualties.

29/11/1940 22.00 Great Warley 10 – H.Es exploded in fields at “Beredens”

Billericay beat. No damage or casualties.

29/11/1940 22.20 Paglesham 2 – H.Es exploded in fields 600 yards East of

Paglesham Hall. No damage or casualties.

29/11/1940 22.50 Great Warley 2 – H.Es exploded, 1 in garden of “The Crosses”

near “Goldings” and 1 near the North gate of Coombe Lodge. Considerable damage to property. No casualties.

THE SECOND WORLD WAR November 1940

Nov1

THE SECOND WORLD WAR November 1940

(Britain)

On the 5^th November 1940 Acting Captain Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen commanded the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay who was escorting thirty seven merchant convoy ships in the North Atlantic. The convoy was attacked by German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer and the Royal Navy vessel Jervis Bay immediately engaged with the enemy head on. Although outgunned and on fire, Jervis Bay maintained the unequal battle for three hours thus giving the convoy time to scatter. Badly wounded, Fegen went down with his ship when Jervis Bay finally sank. His courageous action enabled thirty one of the convoy vessels to escape and he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Neville Chamberlain died on the 9^th November 1940 aged 71, one month after he had resigned from the House of Commons. He had resigned as Prime Minister in May 1940 and Winston Churchill had taken over as the new Prime Minister. Churchill wished for Chamberlain to return to the Exchequer but he refused, however, he did accept a seat in the five member War Cabinet. He had been diagnosed with terminal cancer which resulted in him retiring from politics. By refusing Britain’s highest chivalry award, the Order of the Garter, he wished to remain as plain Mr. Neville Chamberlain.

In the Mediterranean on the night of the 11/12^th November 1940 British naval forces launched the first all aircraft, ship to ship naval attack against the Italian battle fleet which was at anchor in Taranto in Italy. Twenty-one Fairy Swordfish biplanes armed with torpedoes from HMS Illustrious damaged 3 battleships, 2 cruisers and multiple auxiliary craft. This attack against the Italian navy at Taranto secured the British supply lines in the Mediterranean. A Japanese officer, who was in attendance at Taranto, witnessed the engagement and realised the potential for the Japanese navy.

The Battle of Gabon in French Equatorial Africa (FEA) concluded on the 12th November 1940. The French Free Force, allied to Britain, wrestled Central Africa from the Vichy French occupying the country. The Vichy government administered authority over all unoccupied French territory. Gabon was last colony in FEA not to rally to Charles De Gaule’s radio appeal to reject the Vichy regime. On the 27^th October 1940 Free French Forces crossed into FEA, with British Royal Naval support, and gained control over the Vichy regime. On the 12^th November 1940 the final Vichy forces surrendered without a fight at Port Gentil.

The air raid to hit Coventry on the 14^th November 1940 was the most severe the city had sustained during the war. At around 7.20 pm thirteen specially modified Luftwaffe aircraft, fitted with electronic navigational aids, accurately dropped marker flares on the city. The first wave of follow up bombers dropped high explosive bombs destroying many of the utilities of water, electricity and telephone facilities. The following wave of bombers dropped a combination of high explosive and incendiary bombs. Many war manufacturing businesses were the targets which were based close to the city centre. At around 8.00 pm Coventry Cathedral was set alight by incendiaries and the flames rapidly spread out of control. The raid reached its climax around midnight and the all clear sounded at 6.15 am on the morning of the 15^th November 1940. The raid was concentrated on the city centre with over 4,300 homes destroyed and around two thirds of the city’s buildings damaged including two hospitals, two churches and a police station. An estimated 568 people lost their lives in the raid and over 1,200 people were injured.

On the 16^th November 1940 Churchill ordered some British troops based in North Africa to assist Greece in the Greco-Italian War. See the invasion of Greece by Italy.

The De Havilland Mosquito made its first flight on the 25^th November 1940. The Mosquito was a twin engine shoulder winged combat aircraft. The frame was constructed almost entirely of wood coupled with twin Merlin engines, made it one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world. It was originally designed as an unarmed fast bomber but later developed into a multi role combat aircraft, being used as a bomber, pathfinder, fighter bomber and fighter. The Royal Air Force (RAF) took delivery of the first operational Mosquito bomber on the 15^th November 1941. The Mosquito served with other air forces in the European, Mediterranean and Italian theatres.

The Luftwaffe launched a massive overnight bombing raid against Liverpool on the 29^th November 1940. The worst single incident was when a large underground shelter in Durning Road, Edge Hill received a direct hit. Inside the shelter were approximately 300 people tightly packed together. The building collapsed into the basement shelter crushing many of the occupants. In all, 166 men, women and children were killed with many more being badly injured.

On the following night, the 30^th November 1940, the Luftwaffe launched the first of two consecutive bombing raids on Southampton in southern England which became known as the ‘Southampton Blitz’. The town was a key target for the Luftwaffe not only for being the U.K.’s main military port but also the Supermarine factory at Woolston manufacturing the Spitfire fighter aircraft.

——————

(Germany)

On the 12^th November 1940 German Dictator Adolf Hitler and Foreign Ministers Joachim von Ribbentrop for Germany and Vyacheslav Molotov for the Soviet Union met in Berlin to discuss the New World Order. Hitler believed Britain was defeated and offered India to the Soviet Union. However, Molotov expressed Soviet interest in Finland, Bulgaria, Romania and Bosporus. On the 13th November 1940 Molotov again met Hitler asking for German acceptance to destroy Finland but Hitler resisted any attempt to expand Soviet influence in Europe. On the 18th November 1940 the three signatories of the Tripartite Pact formally invited the Soviet Union to join, which the Soviets considered to be an update of the existing agreements with Germany. The result of joining would be to have a share in the spoils of the British Empire. Following the meetings, on the 25^th November 1940 the Soviet Union issued her terms to join the Tripartite Pact including substantial new territorial gains for the Soviet Union.

The Tripartite Pact was an agreement between Germany, Italy and Japan signed in Berlin on the 27^th September 1940. The Pact was a defensive military alliance which was primarily directed at the United States in the event that America would enter the war. On the 20^th November 1940 Hungary was the first country apart from the original three signatories to sign the agreement. Three days later on the 23rd November 1940, Romania also signed the agreement. When German troops entered Romania, Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini was determined to launch an invasion of Greece, starting the Greco-Italian War. Romania was one of the largest oil producers in Europe which supplied approximately 30% of all the axis oil production. The Slovak Republic signed the agreement on the 24^th November 1940 and became the third new country to join the Pact. Slovakia had been closely aligned with Germany following the declaration of independence from Czechoslovakia in March 1939.

—————-

(Italy)

On the 1^st November 1940 Turkey declared neutrality after the Greco-Italian War began on the 28^th October 1940.

The Italian advance continued into Greece on the 2^nd November 1940 and Vovousa was captured whilst Italian aircraft bombed Salonika (Thessalonica). The Greeks began to retreat toward the main defensive line of Elaia-Kalamas. The Italians faced difficulties in advancing because of the harshness of the terrain and the Battle of Elaia-Kalamas on the 8th November 1940 ensured the defensive line could not be breached. The Italians ended their futile offensive in Greece. In the mountains near the Greek-Albanian border the Battle of Pindus ended with a Greek victory on the 13th November 1940. The Greek counter-offensive against the Italians began on the 14^th November 1940 and on the 19^th November 1940 the Italians were evicted from Greek soil. The Battle of Korytsa was fought and won on the 22^nd November 1940. Korytsa, in Southern Albania, was defended by the Italian Army against the attacking Greek Army. Greek victory was complete when the town was captured but the remnants of the Italian Army avoided capture as the Greeks were unable to pursue the retreating Italians.

On the 16^th November 1940 Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered some British troops in North Africa be sent to Greece. British military leaders were concerned that the troops were needed for the campaign against the Italians in North Africa.

—————–

(Other Theatres)

On the 5^th November 1940, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was re-elected for the third term as president of the United States of America. He was elected on the speech he made in Boston on the 30^th October 1940 that America would remain neutral as far as foreign wars were concerned or that any American “boy” would not be sent to Europe to fight. Within a year the USA would be at war with Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany.

On the 21^st November 1940 the Belgian government, in exile, declared war on Germany.

In America the Martin B-26 Marauder was twin-engine medium bomber which made its first flight on the 25^th November 1940. Manufactured by the Glenn L. Martin Co. from 1941 to 1945 they first saw action in the Pacific Theatre of War. In March 1939 the United States Army Air Corps. Issued a specification for a medium twin-engine bomber with a maximum speed of 350 mph (560 km/h) a range of 3,000 miles (4,800 km) and a bomb load of 2,000 lb (909 kg). The Martin Co. submitted their design in July 1940 which was accepted and it only took two years to produce an operational bomber from the original concept.

————————-

The Bay Museum & Research Facility

Category Archives: November 1940

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

THE SECOND WORLD WAR November 1940