A Grateful Nation Soon Forgot

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At the gateway to the River Thames in Southend, an unprecedented number of merchant ship Masters and convoys came together during WWII, with 84,297 ships sailing from Southend Pier between 1939 and 1945. This book aims to provide a detailed account of this significant yet overlooked event in the nation’s defense, supported by unique documentary evidence. It serves as a historical reference for readers seeking to expand their knowledge. This largely forgotten chapter of WWII history was aptly summarized by A. P. Herbert, who noted, "A Grateful Nation Soon Forgot." Herbert, involved throughout the war, witnessed the critical role of the Naval Control Service (NCS) in managing vital convoy operations from Southend. Many veterans from the Battle of Jutland volunteered for convoy work, including experienced Admirals and Vice Admirals who led early supply convoys. Southend's long sea pier, extending one and one-third miles into the Thames Estuary, was ideal for these operations. Aware of its strategic importance, the Germans attempted to destroy the facility in a bombing raid on November 22, 1939. However, Captain John Pelham Champion, in command of the NCS, anticipated the attack and prepared a defense, successfully thwarting the German plan and keeping the Thames open to London throughout the war, contrary to Winston Churchill's predictions.