OP Log

2^nd 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 152^o.

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 – 3^rd 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 140^o.

1455               Patrol from 2 Paras in front of their zone.

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

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.

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 Cap^e 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 Cap^e 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.  Adj^t 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 6^d 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 21^st 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 8^th 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.             

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).

March 1943

(Britain)                                                                                

RAF Bomber Command began the Battle of the Rhur on the5^th /6^th March 1943 and continued until the 31^st 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 5^th/6^th, 10^th/11^th and 12^th /13^th March 1943. Four other targets were attacked on the 10^th/11^th, 26^th/27^th and 29^th/30^th 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 8^t /9^th 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 1^st 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 2^nd February 1943 when the German 6^th 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 19^th 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 5^th to 8^th April 1943.  The second and third stage of Manstein’s plan would be when the Germans surrounded and entered Kharkov, and on the 15^th 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 13^th 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 6^th 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 7^th 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 19^th 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 17^th March 1943 Patton ordered the U.S. 1^st 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 1^st 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 23^rd 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 20^th March1943, under the codename Operation Pugilist, the 50^th 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 22^nd March 1943, recaptured much of the ground penetrated and by the 24^th 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 2^nd New Zealand Division and the 4^th 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 21^st/24^th 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 26^th 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 2^nd 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 7^th 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 28^th 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 2^nd /4^th 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 2^nd /3^rd March 1943, and followed up with attacks by PT boats on the 4^th 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 10^th March 1943 the USAAF 14^th 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 26^th 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 26^th 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 19^th 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 9^th/10^th 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 31^st 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 10^th 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 16^th 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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