The Essex Record Office at Chelmsford holds records of reported incidents of enemy bombing. A separate file was kept for each area in which incidents occurred during a raid or period of raiding and all messages relating to incidents in any one area were included in that area's file. Messages received or dispatched about an incident after a raid were also attached to the appropriate incident file.
When incident files were no longer required for current reference they were bound together chronologically in volumes according to areas. Each volume contains an index to the dates of the raids and localities affected in the area.
The following is a list of some of the incidents that took place in the High Country area during 1940.
19 September
11.24 hrs
22.50 hrs
Stanford Rivers. Bomb dropped at bridge Farm. Damage to road. Blocked.
Greensted. Blake Hall Station. 3 H.E.’s. 21 cows killed and injured.
21 September
04.15 hrs
Stapleford Tawney: Parachute Mine. Green Farm. Extensive damage to farmhouse and property. No casualties.
25 September
01.00 hrs
Theydon Mount: Land Mine. Did not explode. Patients and staff evacuated from the Hill Hall Maternity Home. Last patient left at 03.35 hrs and staff left at 04.20 hrs. 40 patients and 30 staff.
29 September
17.23 hrs
Stapleford Tawney: H.E. bomb dropped opposite church and Tawney Hall farm. Road blocked. Cottages, church, school and farm damaged. Telephone and overhead cables down.
1 October
14.40hrs
Theydon Mount: A magnetic mine was detonated at Hill Hall. Considerable damage was caused to the property on the Hill Hall estate. No casualties.
5 October
Theydon Mount: Owing to presence of unexploded land mine reported in Mount Wood, road closed at Coopersale end of Banks Lane, opposite North Farm from Mole Trap P.H. to Mount Village, and Colliers Hatch to Mount village.
Theydon Mount village evacuated. 11 people accommodated at Cottage Home, Coopersale Common.
A search has been conducted all day but mine has not been located. The road closure is temporarily in abeyance.
6 October
20.00 hrs
Stapleford Tawney: Incendiary Bomb. Electric overhead cables damaged. Power would need to be turned off.
9 October
21.00 hrs
Stapleford Tawney: Incendiary Bombs have fallen at Tawney Hall, causing fire to house. Number of animals injured.
10 October
21.40 hrs
Toot Hill: H.E. I slight casualty.
13 October
22.45 hrs
Toot Hill: H.E. bombs. 2 cottages partially demolished. Rescue party sent to investigate. 2 slight casualties.
18 October
03.40 hrs
Stapleford Tawney: 3 H.E. Road at Colliers Hatch slightly damaged. Now repaired.
Ongar Park Wood: 2 parachute mines. Cold Hall badly damaged. Cottages at Ongar Park Wood also damaged.
Toot Hill: Unknown – suspected H.E. Ceilings down.
21 October
00.20 hrs
Stanford Rivers: H.E. Slight damage to property
22 October
21.30 hrs
Stapleford Tawney: H.E. Damage to overhead electricity cable.
30 October
About 21.00 hrs
Stanford Rivers: 1 mile NNW of church and ½ mile SW of Stewarts Farm, bomb crater 6 foot deep from hedge to hedge in narrow road.
30 October
21.05 hrs
Stanford Rivers: H.E. 2 ½ miles SE of Chipping Ongar. Berwick Lane blocked.
2 November
19.20 hrs
Stanford Rivers: H.E. Damage to telephone wires.
4 November
H.E. bombs have fallen in the vicinity of Greensted.
6 November
01.55 hrs
Tawney Common: H.E. No injuries reported. Damage to roof of cottage and things broken inside.
Stanford Rivers: 1 bomb exploded in centre of Toot Hill road. Repair services on spot and road now open.
16 November
22.35 hrs
Toot Hill: Parachute mine. 8 people evacuated.
22 November
06.10 hrs
Stanford Rivers: 4 H.E. bombs. 2 houses (40 and 41 Berwick Lane) extensively damaged. 1 person slightly injured
Toot Hill: damage to roof of buildings. 1 bull injured.
24 November
20.00 hrs
Greensted: 3 H.E. bombs. Damage to water main and telephone wires. Damage to houses. Road closed 80 yards west of church.
27 December
20.30 hrs
Stapleford Tawney: 2 H.E. bombs. Damage to cottage, occupants evacuated.