1940

5 September

Whilst engaged in a world war two dogfight with German Luftwaffe fighters, a British Spitfire Mk1 R6635, of 41 Squadron, RAF is involved in a mid air collision with another Spitfire, P9428, and crashes near Markhams Chase (now Janet Duke) school in Laindon at 15.25 hrs.

15 September

A German Luftwaffe Dornier Do-17 Z-2 Bomber, Werk Nr 3294 was shot down by British fighters at Gladstone Road, Langdon Hills. The crash was recorded as happening at 14.33 hrs in an area now incorporated in the Marks Hill nature reserve. These air raids became known as the Battle of Britain, and this date is specifically remembered as a key turning point in the battle for air superiority waged by the German Luftwaffe over the Royal Air Force.

1941

To counter possible German invasion the local Home Guard began the construction of concrete pill boxes at various places within the district. Some still survive today at Wat Tyler country park in Pitsea.

1942

1943

The Winston Social Club in Northumberland Avenue, Laindon opened. It was once known as the Carlton Social Club.

1944

7 October

A German V2 rocket fell on Pitsea at Northlands Drive. Fifty people received injuries, five of them serious. It left three houses totally demolished and many others damaged.

1945

5 July

Mr. Ray Gunter elected Labour MP for the Essex South Eastern constituency. Majority 3,591. Labour win General Election.

1946

The Berry Amateur Boxing Club in Laindon founded by Fred Nunn. The club in its early days was sometimes called the Berry Athletic Boxing Club, but is now known as the Berry Boys and initially trained at the Mission Hall in Salisbury Avenue, Langdon Hills. They later moved to a number of locations in the High Road, Laindon including the old Fire Station, and from the late 1960s had been based at Northumberland Avenue before the building was demolished in the 1990s to make way for the Station Gate Shopping Centre. Early tournaments were often held at the Laindon Memorial Hall in the High Road.

Basildon Town Football Club founded.

1 August

New Towns Act passed in parliament.

11 November

Stevenage in Hertfordshire is designated Great Britain's first new town.

1947

6 August

Town and Country Planning Act passed in parliament.

1948

Basildon Cricket Club reformed with home matches played on land now occupied by The Tractor Plant in Cranes Farm Road.

25 May

Government grants provisional approval for creation of a 50.000 population new town in Basildon, Essex.

30 September

Labour Government Minister of Town and Country Planning, Lewis Silkin, MP, visits Laindon High Road School to address locals on the proposed plan for a new town in Basildon.

1949

4 January

Official approval of the draft Designation Order confirming Basildon's designation as a new town is given by the incumbent Labour Government's Minister of Town and Country Planning, Lewis Silkin, MP.

3 February

Government appointed Basildon Development Corporation created and given the task of building the new town. Initially working from temporary accommodation in London the Corporation acquired Gifford House in London Road, Bowers Gifford in October 1949. The property, standing in one acre of land, was then converted to office use and additional buildings were also constructed in the grounds and they would remain there until their dissolution in 1986. Sir Lancelot Keay, K.B.E. F.R.I.B.A. was appointed Chairman and Brigadier W.G.D. Knapton, C.B.E. M.I.R.E. became the first General Manager in May 1949.

5 September

Craylands Senior Council School for Girls and its Boys' counterpart, amalgamate to become Craylands County Secondary School. Mr. L.A. Gredley was the first Headmaster. In 1968 the school merged with Fryerns Grammar & Technical to become Fryerns Comprehensive.