Heard today that the glare which I saw last night was a German plane shot down near St. Osyth. I believe this is true.
Another alarm tonight at the same time. I wonder if the Germans are training bomber pilots for the winter?
Fine sunny day, though cold.
Does anyone have any information on this wartime incident at St Osyth? I haven't been able to track down any records so far so perhaps the story was false? Thanks CP
Update 24 September 2011:
Thanks to readers of E.J. Rudsdale's blog, it is now possible to corroborate EJR's account of the German plane which was shot down in the Clacton area on 16th September 1941. Mike Dennis (see his comments below) kindly drew my attention to the German Aircrew Remembrance Society website which has an entry for a German plane shot down near Clacton on Sea on 16th September 1941 and includes the pilot's name, Erwin Veil. Roger Kennell of the Clacton Victoria County History Group then contacted me to say that his father recorded the following entry in his diary on Thursday 18th September 1941: 'Last Tues we shot down a German bomber near Jaywick'. This would have been the night of 16th September 1941 and, therefore, also confirms EJR's account of this plane being shot down in the Clacton area.
Many thanks to Mike and Roger for your help with my enquiries about these events.
The Clacton VCH Group's book: Clacton at War, which Roger Kennell helped to compile, is a fascinating history of Clacton, a coastal town on the frontline in the Second World War. CP
16th September 1941
Penelope phoned this morning, in a great state because she thought the pony had got mange. I cycled over at 6 o’clock, leaving Hampshire to feed Bob. The pony was quite alright, but had grazed her back through getting hung up. I do wish P. would not leave a trailing rope on her – it is very dangerous. We walked through the fields behind Lufkins, and I ventured to put my arm round her. Had supper, and heard the noise of RAF planes going over, then the sound of a siren at Brantham or Mistley. Left about quarter to eleven. There was a glare in the sky towards Clacton,* and two searchlights which soon went out. The glare was visible until I got almost to Colchester. Very cold, the sky clear and starry, but a thick ground mist. The air smelt more like November. Strange and unearthly to ride swiftly and silently through the mist, not a soul to be seen anywhere. Walking up Johnny Bois Hill I could hear the water gurgling in the brook at the bottom.
Nobody about in Colchester except a policeman at the Holly Trees gate. Thankful to get in and have hot ovaltine. Alarm off at midnight.
* The glare that EJR saw in the sky was from a German plane which was shot down near Clacton on 16th September 1941. See EJR's account for 17th September 1941 for more details.
Nobody about in Colchester except a policeman at the Holly Trees gate. Thankful to get in and have hot ovaltine. Alarm off at midnight.
* The glare that EJR saw in the sky was from a German plane which was shot down near Clacton on 16th September 1941. See EJR's account for 17th September 1941 for more details.
15th September 1941
Very long Committee meeting today. The Executive Officer [J.C.Leslie] attended. Met Woods outside the “Lamb” this evening, and had a long talk about horses. He is still reserved and is very lucky, as he is only 28 now. Another alarm tonight at half past 8, but nothing came over. All clear very soon.
14th September 1941
Rain all day, but determined to cycle to the Rushbury’s at Higham, as I had arranged to do so. Had some very pleasant conversation with Mrs. R. [Mrs. Rushbury was the wife of the artist, Sir Henry Rushbury].
Home by 6.30, and had supper with Molly Blomfield at the café. She was on duty the other night, and heard the bombs whistle down right over the ambulance depot. Most horrifying. I hate and loathe these sudden attacks.
All men were registered as “fireguards” today, but I did not have to trouble, being a Special Constable.
Home by 6.30, and had supper with Molly Blomfield at the café. She was on duty the other night, and heard the bombs whistle down right over the ambulance depot. Most horrifying. I hate and loathe these sudden attacks.
All men were registered as “fireguards” today, but I did not have to trouble, being a Special Constable.
12th September 1941
Awakened from a bad and confused dream at a quarter to 4 this morning by an alarm. (Funny how, when awakened like this, one always hopes it is the “All clear” of an alarm one has missed, right up to the first wavering warble).
First alarm for about a fortnight. No planes to be heard for a few minutes. Then I heard a plane approaching low and steady, and thought “That’s one of ours”. Plane seemed to go overhead, then three or four loud explosions. There was a faint trembling, and a few pieces of plaster fell from the roof of the cell.
I leapt out of bed, bundled on trousers, boots and tin hat, grabbed my glasses and rushed out to open the doors. I could hear the noise of the plane and bursts of machine gun fire towards the north. Taylor was coming across the Park, in darkness, and I heard him call “Hurry up there!” but who to I don't know. Then the alarm bell rang from the roof, and I rushed up there, my heart almost bursting. Old Simons called out from the north side of the roof “Look at the fires, Sir!” and I saw in the direction of North Station dozens of glowing fires. The plane was going away towards the east, still firing. The night was cloudy, with a fitful moon. There was not the slightest effort to fire on the intruder.
I heard the faint sound of a whistle, but no sound of fire-engines. A goods-train came clanking down the Ipswich line, and stopped by Clay Lane crossing. Gradually the fires flickered out, except one or two, apparently near the By Pass Road, which burned a long time. A few drops of rain fell, and it was very cold. I stood wondering if anybody had been killed down there in the darkness, and was thankful to find in daylight that there was no damage or injuries – three H.E. fell in fields beyond the station, but that was all. Old Simons said “I hope I done right Sir, to ring the bell?” I told him yes, and went down below to get warm. Lay reading “Lemmy Caution” for an hour then heard the All clear at 10 to 5.
Capt. Round had his car smashed in a collision with an army lorry today, but was not hurt. I keep hearing about crops not yet harvested. Sunny most of the day, and a few clouds, getting very thick tonight.
EJR includes a notice in his journal for this date, issued by the War Agricultural Committee on the subject of the 'Immobilisation of farm tractors in the event of an invasion'.
First alarm for about a fortnight. No planes to be heard for a few minutes. Then I heard a plane approaching low and steady, and thought “That’s one of ours”. Plane seemed to go overhead, then three or four loud explosions. There was a faint trembling, and a few pieces of plaster fell from the roof of the cell.
I leapt out of bed, bundled on trousers, boots and tin hat, grabbed my glasses and rushed out to open the doors. I could hear the noise of the plane and bursts of machine gun fire towards the north. Taylor was coming across the Park, in darkness, and I heard him call “Hurry up there!” but who to I don't know. Then the alarm bell rang from the roof, and I rushed up there, my heart almost bursting. Old Simons called out from the north side of the roof “Look at the fires, Sir!” and I saw in the direction of North Station dozens of glowing fires. The plane was going away towards the east, still firing. The night was cloudy, with a fitful moon. There was not the slightest effort to fire on the intruder.
I heard the faint sound of a whistle, but no sound of fire-engines. A goods-train came clanking down the Ipswich line, and stopped by Clay Lane crossing. Gradually the fires flickered out, except one or two, apparently near the By Pass Road, which burned a long time. A few drops of rain fell, and it was very cold. I stood wondering if anybody had been killed down there in the darkness, and was thankful to find in daylight that there was no damage or injuries – three H.E. fell in fields beyond the station, but that was all. Old Simons said “I hope I done right Sir, to ring the bell?” I told him yes, and went down below to get warm. Lay reading “Lemmy Caution” for an hour then heard the All clear at 10 to 5.
Capt. Round had his car smashed in a collision with an army lorry today, but was not hurt. I keep hearing about crops not yet harvested. Sunny most of the day, and a few clouds, getting very thick tonight.
EJR includes a notice in his journal for this date, issued by the War Agricultural Committee on the subject of the 'Immobilisation of farm tractors in the event of an invasion'.
11th September 1941
The ghosts seemed very active early this morning – knockings, footsteps, and creakings all over the [Castle] building.
Waller was here this morning from Coventry. Says he can get plenty of food in Colchester, bacon, butter, and sugar. I gather he gets it through a friend in the Co-op. He also got 5 gallons for petrol without any coupons. Fine day, warm, few clouds. Lovely evening.
Waller was here this morning from Coventry. Says he can get plenty of food in Colchester, bacon, butter, and sugar. I gather he gets it through a friend in the Co-op. He also got 5 gallons for petrol without any coupons. Fine day, warm, few clouds. Lovely evening.
10th September 1941
The news of the Spitzbergen raid is horrifying. To deliberately go to a little remote community, forcibly kidnap the whole of the population, destroy their homes, livestock and belongings, seems to me to be an evil deed.
Dull, cloudy and rather cold.
The Spitsbergen raid by British, Canadian and Norwegian forces on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen took place in August 1941 but the news was presumably not released until September. The raid was launched to deny coal and port facilties to the Germans. More details on this raid can be found on the WW2 Today website and includes a contemporary account from an islander who had to leave her home. CP
Dull, cloudy and rather cold.
The Spitsbergen raid by British, Canadian and Norwegian forces on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen took place in August 1941 but the news was presumably not released until September. The raid was launched to deny coal and port facilties to the Germans. More details on this raid can be found on the WW2 Today website and includes a contemporary account from an islander who had to leave her home. CP
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