Floods caused enormous damage

Southend pictorial middle page spread

These are the Canvey pictures from the middle page spread of the Southend pictorial dated 6th February 1953.

One of the few dry spots on flooded Canvey was reached by these cows which were rescued later in the week.
This flooded Canvey street is typical of the scenes throughout the Island on Sunday morning, when general evacuation was ordered. The water has now gone down considerably in depth and the breaches in the sea wall have been repaired. Nearly the entire Island population of 12,000 people were evacuated, and it will be some time before they are allowed to return to their homes, many of which can almost be entirely written off. Morale of the Islanders is still high, as witness the chalked notice outside an Island store, "Bear un—Canvey will rise again!"
Army lorries delivered thousands of sandbags to flooded Canvey. They were hurriedly filled by an army of soldiers and civilians .and used to repair the damaged sea wall.
Willing hands lower an old lady into a rowing boat after she had been rescued from her flooded home at Canvey.
Pictured with some of the families they rescued are these firemen, having their first break for many hours.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.