Southend during World War II
editSouthend became an essential part of the British War machine. By June 1940, much of the town was sealed off, with all bar 10% of the population that were engaged in essential services evacuated and only military personnel remaining.[1] In 1939, the navy commandeered Southend Pier, renaming it HMS Leigh.[2]
In 1942, the area along the seafront from the Pier to Chalkwell was transformed into HMS Westcliff, a huge naval transit and training camp run by Combined Operations.[3][4]
- ^ Cuthbert Lindsay Dunn (1952). The Emergency Medical Services: England and Wales. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 106.
- ^ Michael Foley (2008). Front-Line Thames. History Press. ISBN 9780750952392.
- ^ John Lee (2023). A Grateful Nation Soon Forgot. The Remarkable Story of Southend's Contribution in Defence of the Nation. Paragon Publishing. p. 127. ISBN 9781399949606.
- ^ "Secret life of HMS Westcliff". Evening Echo. 28 September 2007.