Clacton air disaster fund found after more than 70 years Published duration 3 June 2013

image caption Two people died, 160 were injured and 67 houses badly damaged when a German bomber crashed in Clacton during World War II

A fund set up more than 70 years ago to help people in an Essex seaside town affected by air raids has been found with about £1,700 in the account.

The fund was established after a German bomber carrying sea mines crashed in Victoria Road, Clacton, on 30 April 1940, killing two people.

About 160 people were injured and 67 houses badly damaged.

Money from the original fund was used throughout World War II, but then lay dormant accruing interest.

The account documents were found recently in an office in Clacton town hall during an office move.

Band leaders

Richard Barret, Tendring District Council's finance and procurement manager said it had been a "fascinating" discovery with information about those who had contributed to the initial fund.

"There is a ledger of donations with names such as world famous band leaders Billy Cotton and Joe Loss, Lady Byng of Vimy, church collections, the General Steam Navigation Co Ltd, 'an offering from a visitor'. along with many more from businesses and individuals," he said.

"The final figure in the book is £1,244 and 12 shillings. Money was then obviously handed out during the war and the remaining £243 put into a Post Office Savings Account in 1950."

image caption The German bomber was carrying sea mines when it crashed in Victoria Road, Clacton on 30 April 1940

image caption The bomber crash-landed on No 25, killing Frederick Gill and his wife Dorothy

image caption The Heinkel had been circling over the seaside town for about 30 minutes before it came down

image caption The disaster fund was set up to help people in Clacton affected by enemy raids, with money given by people such as band leaders Billy Cotton and Joe Loss

image caption A plaque on a bench in Victoria Road commemorates the Heinkel bomber crash, but the fund will now be used to enhance the area

The Heinkel bomber crash-landed on Frederick and Dorothy Gill's house at 25 Victoria Road, killing the couple.

The plane had been circling over the town for about half-an-hour before it came down, and the crash was followed by a massive explosion.

Ron Guyott, 82, who was nine at the time, said: "I was in bed asleep. It [the crash] blew in all the windows.

"Luckily the night blinds kept us clear of it. It looked as though [the plane] was sitting on top of a bungalow."

The original fund was administered by officials from what was then Clacton Urban District Council, and continued to be used through the war to help anyone affected by air activity.