大象传媒

Mrs Wilson, known as Sylvie Rider during the War-time, remembers South Ockendon as playing a significant part during the War.

There was an Army based in Buckles Hill (The Royal Artillery. The Soilders used to fire on the enemy as they flew over on their way to London. The unit was very succesful in bringing a number of aircraft down. I remember the site as being called the 'Ack Ack' site. I'm not sure why this was.

We think it could be because the 'ack ack' sound in the sound of the machine gun fire. The village was very attractive but at that time there was not as much housing until later after the War. This was when the German Prisners of War were used to create housing from pre-fab buildings. They also helped to make roads.

I can remember the Church hall of St. Nicholas where we recently visited again for a VE Day Tea Dance. We would reminisce on a piece of disused ground. A bomb landed at this very site during the war.

I used to telephone my Husband, who was my boyfriend at the time. Each Sunday night from a telephone box in a nearby village. One night as I was leaving the house at number six in Church Crescent, a Doodle Bug exploded and blew the door clean away, but I walked away shocked but unscathed.

My boyfiend Rex was concerned because he didn't hear from me that evening. But I did make contact the following day at my place of work in Grays. He was relieved to find I was alright.

I am very proud of my Dad who was called Reginald Rider. He used to work at Vandenburg & Jurgens, a factory in Purfleet. Approximately two years into the War Reg became a hero as he pulled six people from a burning factory when It was bombed. He later recieved three medals for his deeds.

I also remember the Oil refinery at Purfleet which was also hit. The whole area was lit up as thought it was day light.

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