V2 Rocket landings in Rochford District 1944/45
Rawreth, Canewdon and Foulness each hit five times
By Sid Barker
V2 Rocket attacks on England started on 8th September 1944 and ended in March 1945. Some resulted in serious loss of life and many others landed fairly harmlessly on open farmland and marshland, often causing only slight damage to property or very slight injuries to people.
In all I've managed to trace about 27 incidents in the Rochford District plus about 3 where the rockets landed harmlessly in the sea off Foulness Island. Listed below are the dates and places together where known with the details of any injury or damage. If anyone can remember anything further about any of these it would be most interesting to hear their recollections.
Sun Sept 17th 1944 - a V2 landed on open ground in Hockley amongst brambles, seriously injuring 3 people.
Tues Sept 12th 1944 - Paglesham - Fell on marshland - Slight damage to farm.
Mon 9th Oct 1944 - Havengore Island - Fell on marshland - No damage.
weds 11th Oct 1944 - Rawreth - Landed in ploughed field - 3 slight casualties.
Thurs Oct 12th 1944 - Rawreth - slight damage to property.
Fri Oct 1944 - Barling - Slight damage to farmhouse.
Sat Nov 4th 1944- Gt Wakering - Fell in minefield.
Tues Nov 14th 1944 - Rayleigh - Fell in field - Slight damage to property.
Thurs Nov 23rd 1944 - Foulness - Fell in field - Slight damage - No casualties.
Fri 8th Dec 1944 - Canewdon - Fell in field - Slight damage to property.
Tues Dec 12th 1945 - Creeksea - Slight damage to property. - Motor recovered by Royal marines and taken to nearby large house where they were billeted.It stood in the garden for some years until acquired by the Wallis Family in 1973.
Thurs Dec 14th 1944 - Gt Stambridge - Landed in creek.
Thurs Dec 24th 1944 - Rayleigh - No details of where, casualties or property damage.
Sat Jan 13th - Hockley - Fell in field - No damage.
Thurs Jan 14th 1945 - Rayleigh - Fell in field - 2 serious injuries - 2 Bungalows severely damaged.
Sun Jan 14th 1945 - Foulness - No damage.
Sat Feb 10th 1945 - Rawreth - No details.
Wed Feb 14th 1945 - Rawreth - No details.
Sat Feb 17th 1945 - Canewdon - No details.
Sun Feb 18th 1945 - Canewdon - No details.
Tues Feb 20th 1945 - Foulness - No details.
Sat Mar 3rd 1945 - Foulness - No details.
Sat Mar 10th 1945 - Rawreth - No details.
Sun Mar 11th 1945 - Foulness - Warhead failed to explode.
Thurs Mar 15th 1945 - Rayleigh - No details.
Sun Mar 18th 1945 - Battlesbridge - No details.
Thurs Mar 22nd 1945 - Canewdon - No details.
Rawreth took several hits and I remember my late mother telling me that one rocket hit a barn on the corner of Hooley Drive and Rawreth Lane, and demolished it. Subsequently a new modern style barn was erected which I remember. This has now been replaced by a house. Can anyone verify this or pin down the date?