Zepplin brought down - Billericay - Saturday night . Set on fire. Everyone in it died. Next Sunday morning in chapel not very interested in the service. Soldiers marching past - attracted us youngsters. Home to diner then off to see the Zep. We went nearly to South Green. Fragments of the Zep were strewn for quite long distances. Aluminium chips, burnt silk cord and cloth. Quite a time it took before getting home to a late tea.

One incident. Mr J Madle from Stock brought his sister Emma to see the Zep in his cart and horse. When Jimmy got to a corner of the road a lorry came along with the rudder of the Zep. This piece was longer than the motor carrying it and on the corner as the motor turned the rudder swung round over the top of the Madles cart. Emma ducked in time to save her head from being knocked off.

A memorable day. Stock boys sold pieces of the Zep and made quite a bit of cash.

Mr Hodges Farm - later Mr Mac Morland. These trenches were opened to the public to view. Trenches had a parapet, drainage and a roof. Wood and earth. Very smart. But never needed in the war. Stock youth gathered to see the trenches. Them being about a mile from Stock village. They were asked or agreed to march like the soldiers do back homewards. Officer Kruger Cable. On the march Harry Lipton something of a tramp came on the scene. Kruger gave the order "Eyes Right".

One day he was seen outside Greenwoods lying down on one of the two lawns. (This was before the brick wall was built). Sonny no doubt had been to the Bakers Arms and after a spell of drinking come away with a bottle to keep him going. Somehow the top of the bottle broke, but the contents were still inside it. Don't know who reported Sonny but out came R A Ellis J P and went to Sonny. Don't know what was said but Sonny got to his feet, and started to take off his belt, and pretty quickly R A Ellis J P had vanished.

The Regiment had a lot of horses on Stock Common, and on the Bowling Green side of the Cricket Pavilion. A plank was, or planks were erected. Cottees hedge and pond was opened was opened up, so that water from the pond on the other side could be accessible. Casey was at the pond one day. He liked his drink to. He was told "If you will swim from end to end of the pond with your uniform on you can earn a pint of beer." So eager for a drink Casey jumped in with his clothes on, swam to the other end of the pond and earned a pint

This white haired soldier, like Casey and Sonny knew what guardroom detention was. Their guardroom was upstairs in a room attached to the old butcher's shop and house (Now the Estate Agents).

The bedroom in particular was overlooking the sweet shop opposite belonging to Miss Wood - later Mr Frank Eve.

Snowey seemed to be happy to get his head out of the window over the front door "Where officers and officials entered and left". Snowey used to spit at them.

1. A couple of horses bolted pulling a wagon from the road past the Hoop to Jarvis's building yard. The horses panicked - galloped from Jarvis's and past Stock Bakery bay window. The hub of the wagon wheel just caught the corner of the Bakery bay window - breaking a few bricks. The horses were said to have galloped to the Forest Lodge Road opposite Stock Ship inn. Not a lot of damage reported.

2.An army horse tried to jump the garden wall opposite the Grocery shop - then Moores shop. The brick wall was smashed, the horse died and was left for some days lying at the roadside covered with a tarpaulin waiting to have a post mortem. Later …Not a pretty sight (Horse inside opened up).

Organist Miss Nellie Cottee (small organ supplied) accompanied by her father A C Cottee (Keeping his eye on her Nell thought).

Before the end of the service Mr H Sparrow appeared coming up Birch Lane. So Sunday School kinds had to leave and follow WAG as we called him.

When all was ready after the 1914-1918 World War with names of some lovely characters inscribed in the stones.

Maybe one of the first soldiers to get killed was Reginald Jarvis only son of Mr Edgar Jarvis. Probably the last soldier to get killed was Victor Plume - Bert Plumes brother Vic was a sniper, a very fine rifleman, but the last few days of the war it was reckoned a sniper got him.

So when the Sunday arrived for the unveiling of the war memorial it was General Sir James Wilcock late governor of Bermuda who officiated. A big crowd attended.

This day was very exciting for villagers. Out of the sky this big monster flew down in one of the fields farmed by Mr Spiers.

It was the first footpath field from Hanningfield Road to Birch Lane. Don't know what caused it to land. It could have been engine failure. The pilot went to stay at Issacs house top of Mill Road. When the plane was righted a Miss Issacs was given a short flight. Think this type of aero engine was the type when the cylinders revolved with the propeller. This caused a great crowd of folk to visit the scene. Harry Brown, whose parents were the proprietors of the Hoop Inn had been given a brand new cycle. Harry was so excited about seeing the aeroplane he left the cycle outside the Hoop and it fell into the road. Harry got a ticking off from his parents when he eventually got home.

A crowd gathers to see a man with a muzzled bear on a chain. The man sings or chants - something thus.

Donald Jarvis got very close to the bear and suddenly it curled one of its front legs round Don's leg.

"Don't move - stand still" the man said. After a while - with patience the bear released its hold and Don was free unhurt.

From Stock Green the man and the bear journeyed on going the way to Chelmsford. But rumour said the man went into the gate and stile gravel pit and climbed a tree and had a good look over the landscape. Don't know about this incident, but saw the sight on the village green.

Charlie Farrow - Workhouse Lane had relations in London. When things got too bad with the continual bombing and landmines they (2 ladies) came to stay with Charlie for a time, till things got easier. They said the worst things were land mines and doodlebugs. "We would be sitting in a room by the fireplace at times when 'Bang' - then a blast of air down would blow a shower of soot and all in the room would eventually see each other like niggers. A good laugh, a clean up then another sit in. another Bang - more soot - another fright. This happened quite a lot" They said.

Arthur Elliott living in a bungalow not far from Stock Ship Inn. German bombers attacking again. The search lights had a bomber for quite time in their sights. The gunners gave the plane a peppering which crippled it. a British fighter signalled it was around. The gunners ceased fire. The fighter came to finish the bomber. One of the German airmen parachuted and landed on the roof where Arthur was staying, Arthur arrested the airman who gave no bother or resistance and Art went with him to Chelmsford in a hired motor car.