Remembering the few

Throughout four turbulent months during the hot summer of 1940, Britain’s future hung in the balance.

Germany was about to launch Operation Sealion, the name given to the proposed invasion of this country.

However, Hitler realised that supremacy of the skies was an essential precursor to the assault, particularly control of the tactically sensitive area over South-East England.

As a result, Maldon and the Dengie found itself in the thick of aerial dogfights and at least 26 aircraft came to grief in our district.

The first incident happened on August 18, just after 5.30pm. A Hurricane I of 151 Squadron, based at RAF North Weald, crashed on the Burnham Marshes following engagement with enemy aircraft.

Pilot Officer Ramsey lost his life that day and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

The following Saturday, August 24, a German invader came to grief. A Heinkel III fell in Maypole Road, Heybridge. It was 4pm and the stricken aircraft exploded and caught fire, killing all but one member of the crew.

The survivor was young gunner Hans Zaunigk, who had bailed out and was captured injured in Scraley Road. He still lives in Berlin to tell the tale.

On the following Monday, August 26, another Hurricane crashed and burned out in Southminster, minus its Czech pilot, who floated safely down to earth on his parachute.

It was not the only Hurricane to come down that day – there were two more in Wickham Bishops and Great Totham, both destroyed within five minutes of each other.

Flight Lieutenant Weaver lost his life during the morning of August 31 when his Hurricane spun down, crashing in the mud off West Point, Osea Island.

The site is officially a war grave and “Pip” Weaver’s DFC was gazetted shortly after his death.

A few hours later, two Dorniers were destroyed in separate incidents at East Wick Farm, Burnham, and South Wick Farm, Southminster.

With the arrival of September, a Spitfire crashed near Creeksea church during the morning of the third and just 45 minutes later, a Messerschmitt 110 at Stud Farm, Mundon.

That particular aircraft flew low over the fields, force-landed, skidding along the ground, and burst through a hedge, ending up in a ditch.

The ARP wardens were quickly on the scene and watched as the pilot, Lieutenant W Manhard, coolly combed his hair before having to be unceremoniously, forcibly removed from the cockpit.

Another aircraft from his unit flew on crewless and narrowly missed historic Edwin’s Hall, Woodham Ferrers, ending up in the moat.

That same day, a Hurricane from 46 Squadron, Stapleford Tawney exploded near the sea wall of Redwood Creek, Burnham.

On the Wednesday, September 4, a Spitfire from RAF Kenley engaged in combat with Me109s.

On that occasion the Luftwaffe won the fight and the Spitfire finished up in a meadow at Howe Green, Purleigh.

Another victim that day was Pilot Officer Barber, from Stapleford Tawney, who suffered a fractured jaw and vertebrae when his Hurricane was forced down west of Chigborough Farm, Goldhanger Road, Heybridge.

A further Hurricane crash happened during the afternoon of September 5 in North Fambridge, and on September 7 a Hurricane from Douglas Bader’s squadron, 242 of Coltishall, force-landed at the old aerodrome at Stow Maries.

The 21-year-old pilot, P/O DW Crowley-Milling, cut his head and took some nasty bruises, but was safe and happy as he joined the crew of a nearby searchlight station for a cup of tea. He was back in the fight within days.

Two further Hurricanes conclude the district’s involvement in the battle – one east of Dammer Wick, Burnham, and a 310 Squadron aircraft at Great Whitmans Farm, Purleigh.

During the 16 historic weeks of the Battle of Britain 1,017 British and 2,753 German aircraft were destroyed.

The cost in human terms was just as immense with more than 530 British airmen and 3,200 Luftwaffe personnel killed.

It has been described as a “battle of attrition”, which left both sides “battered and exhausted”, but without Churchill’s “Few” the progress of war could have taken a very different turn.

We should never forget the important part played by those brave young pilots and particularly remember the battles in the skies over Maldon and the Dengie.

* Local author and historian Stephen P Nunn has described these incidents in more detail in two of his books – Maldon, the Dengie and Battles in the Skies (2006) and Heinkels over Heybridge (1987).

Both are available for purchase from the Maldon Tourist Information Centre.