During the war, a pigeon detachment (as they were known) was stationed at the Salvation Army Farm; training and looking after the birds that were used by the secret army in occupied France and other operations. In charge of a small detachment of men were Major Gordon Alison of the Cameron Highlanders and Captain Tom ? [surname forgotten].
The attached photos were taken outside Dorlie, 72 Castle Road West. Dorlie became an open house to all at the camp, serving tea and cakes.
![Gordon and Erica [Hawks] | Ian Hawks](https://d3gwxzh927wwj2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Army_Jeep-681x512.jpg "Gordon and Erica [Hawks]")
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I am 94 years of age and have lived in Benfleet Road for 58 years.
Where the block of shops is with the bedding and Pizza firms that area and way back into Castle Lane was the house of Dr.James and his wife. She was an excellent Horsewoman and kept her horses in a stable at the rear of the house. Mrs James was the first person to win £500 on the Ernie Premium Bond scheme.
On the corner where the church stands was a coffee stall and in front of it a wool shop owned by a daughter of the Bridge family.
This family was well known and the father owned the Benfleet Bus Company. At weekends an elderly man had a two-wheeled barrow from which he sold winkles and shrimps.
During the war the Army took over the Salvation Army Colony and set up a Royal Signals Army Pigeon Service Breeding and training Unit and had a series of Pigeon Lofts set up. I was already in the Army Pigeon Service and my home was in Leigh-on-Sea and fortunately for me I was posted to Hadleigh as Second in Command.
I have a large photograph of Benfleet Road when it was a Country Lane and on the right hand side of the road the land on which the school now stands has a “For Sale” sign.
That is about all I can remember at this stage.
24th.March 2011
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