London during of 11th December 1940

[nickclark]

I'm researching a raid on London during of 11th December 1940.

I'm particularly interested in the area East of London namely Southend and Westcliff on Sea as I believe bombs were dropped in this area on the return back from hitting London. My only reference is an original document giving details of bomb damage from the Southend museum, Essex.

If anyone has any further information i.e. which group carried out the raid or any other details they could add I would appreciate it.

I have little about the raids during this period but I have reference to one that was possibly carried out on the 9th/10th of December? This is from Goebbels Diaries 1939-1941 translated and edited by Fred Taylor (Hamish Hamilton London 1982 edition)

10 December 1940 (Tuesday)
Yesterday: A glorious day in Berlin. We are two hours late. Very heavy air raid on London. Some 600,000 kilograms. Entire districts of the city engulfed in flames. Only one aircraft lost. A really fine show. London is playing things down, but the American reports are strong and vivid. Nice to hear. The previous day they were talking about a decline in our offensive capability.

11th December 1940 (Wednesday)
Yesterday: Filthy weather. Hardly any daylight. Few incursions into the Reich, and we are unable to do anything at all over England. This is a pity, because we would so much have liked to give London another pasting. The reports that are beginning to pour in about the big raid on London are horrendous. Herr Churchill would not have it otherwise.

Given the diary entries above, perhaps the date I have of a raid (11th December 1940) relates to the early hours shortly after midnight as enemy planes were returning from hitting the city of London but the 10th would seem more likely?

Nick Clark