MANY have been thinking about the Battle of Britain in 1940 and the brave work of the Royal Air Force in defending the country.

Thurrock was surrounded with aerodromes at Gravesend, Hornchurch and Southend. We also had our own “dummy airfield ” at Bulphan to mimic Hornchurch and confuse the enemy.

All around Thurrock were antiaircraft gun sites and searchlights to further defend the area.

During August and September Thameshaven, Tilbury and West Thurrock were all bombed on a regular basis. Two sisters from the King family, in Kelvin Road, Tilbury, were killed when a bomb landed on their Anderson air raid shelter .

At Thameshaven, oil storag e tanks were bombed and burned for days. In the Thurrock Museum archives, we have some photographs taken by a journalist for the Grays & Tilbury Gazette.

All the photographs had to be sent via the censor’s office and sensitive information, such as the place and date of enem y action, were removed. Many photographs were banned from publication or at least delayed so the enemy intelligence gathering would be confused.

The Battle of Britain has an unusual distinction in that it gained its name prior to being fought, being derived from a speech delivered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill on June 18.

He said: “What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin.”

On Saturday and Sunday, at Tilbury Fort, there will be a display of Second World War artillery and a blank firing display of a 25-pounder field gun.

Ammunition and equipment of the time used by the Roya l Artillery will be displayed and a narrated firing re-enactment will occur several times each day.

Normal English Heritage entrance fee and free to members

DOWN MEMORY LANE is written by JONATHAN CATTON, Thurrock Heritage and Museum Office. Memories, photographs or objects relating to Thurrock’s past will be gratefully received for the Thurrock Museum collections. Contact by letter at Thurrock Museum, Thameside Complex, Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5DX, call 01375 413965, make a personal visit or e-mail jcatton@thurrock.gov.uk