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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Norfolk => Topic started by: CoastalPlains on Tuesday 24 February 09 13:58 GMT (UK)
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I would appreciate some help please.
I have found 3 members of my family who were killed when Horning was bombed on 26th April 1941.
I cannot seem to find a list of all the people who were injured or died there, though I think there were nearly 30 of them.
Does anybody have any more information about this event, or have a relative who died there? Does Horning have a memorial for this?
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Hi CoastalPlains
'there were 120 bombers over the United Kingdom that night from the Shetlands to the West Country - had more "success"; the worst incident being at Horning Ferry in Norfolk where 15 died in a public-house which received a direct hit.'
http://www.bpears.org.uk/Misc/War_Misc/allenheadsww2.html
This is all that it mentions.
RAF Neatishead was nearby. Maybe that is why it was bombed or just getting rid of bombs before flying back home.
At least you probably know where they were now. Maybe Norwich Record Office will have some mention of them. There are websites with some names of those killed in Norwich and Norwich Castle Museum has a section with film about the Norwich bombing.
There is a photo of a memorial to WW1 deaths which is on the web. Just Google Horning.
Regards Wendy
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I seem to recall there was a TV program a few years ago that covered part of this, but it's way to long for me to remember the name of the program..
I know that's not much help but thought i might mention it, just incase.
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Hi Coastalplains....i live in Horning although not a local as such been here around 5 years,but know a few of the locals now so will ask around for you and let you know what i come up with......have you any names that might possibly help...there is a monument in the cemetery for the people of Horning who died in WW1 but nothing about the Ferry Inn bombing.BTW the Ferry Inn has now closed down for the foreseeable future,so just the 2 pubs left in Horning now.
Regards
Steve
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Coastalplains.....i have a record of what happened on the night of the bombing plus the names of all the casualties(killed and injured)plus a bit on some of the casualties....if you PM me your address i'll post it on to you 8) :D
Regards
Steve :D
Just noticed you live in Gt Yarmouth so could possibly meet you and hand over the goodies personally.
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Hi Steve
That's amazing, thank you so much for finding that for me!
I work in North Walsham so I'm not far from Horning at all, I'll PM you :)
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A little more
Given as the FERRY HOUSE 1879.
Also given as the FERRY HOTEL.
The thatched house was destroyed by bombing at 9.45pm 26th April 1941. Subsequent reports stated that 21 of the 24 occupants were killed. A later account gives the number of dead as 22. Licensee Albert Stringer was `pulled alive from the
wreckage by his wife Rita'.
Rog
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Thank you Rog, Wendy and Blue-Spirit :D
It seems like a fascinating story and I'm eager to find to what happened.
Since my original post I've found another member of the family who was killed there. From what I can make out they may have lived next to the Inn, but I'm not certain...
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Thank you so so much for the info Steve, it's just what I needed and you are a hero for bringing it to me.
I can't believe it was actually 5 people :'(
Now I just have the mystery of the niece to solve!
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No probs...anytime...nice to meet you.....if you put the mystery on here someone may be able to help if you are stuck.
Steve 8)
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Hi again,
Since my original post I've found another member of the family who was killed there. From what I can make out they may have lived next to the Inn, but I'm not certain...
When I was googling I found reference to a family in the house next door, but for all my tries I can't find it again. Was it the Grange? It was destroyed as well.
Rog
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It was The Gideons. You may have found my notes online (as Steve did!) though :)
Steve it was great to meet you too and sorry I couldn't stay long. The article is very helpful, I'd never have known about the niece otherwise, as she doesn't share their surname.
I want to dig for her info myself for a while, as I'm really enjoying the process of all of this. I'll ask for a hand if I get stuck though!
I'm going to add some of the article here later, in case it can help anyone else.
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You probably don't need it now but CWGC will give you a print out of all the Civilian War Dead recorded for that date. One of the bigger town libraries may have the CWD list for Norfolk.
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I actually found all of this through CWGC!
Someone here mentioned it on another thread, so I put my families' names in and hey presto.
I think I'm getting there on the niece's name, but I need to find which sibling she came from.
Thank you all for your help on this one
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Hello,
Really interested in what happened during the 26th April 1941.
My grandfather ( LAC WJ Smith, RAF) was killed in the Ferry Inn while based at Coltishall.
Family knowledge had it that he only went for a couple of pints to have a quiet night away from work.
How unlucky can you get.
Any local info would be of interest
regards
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Hello Chinditcoy1967
I'm sorry to hear your grandfather was also involved in this terrible incident.
I'm not at home at the moment so can't check whether he is mentioned in the article that Pompeyboy mentioned, but I'd be happy to pass a copy of it on to you if you'd like.
The Ferry Inn re-opened recently, so I got to go and have a look around (and a very nice chilli con carne!) There is a plaque on the bar about the bombing.
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Hello all,
Just awakening this old thread to alert anyone who was interested to an event being held at the Ferry Inn on 26th April (the 70th anniversary of the bomb) organised by a local historian.
There will be live music, a plaque unveiling and a minute's silence; there was an article about it in the Evening News yesterday:
http://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/norfolk-food-features/horning_pub_remembers_tragic_event_from_70_years_ago_1_868398
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The booklet mentioned in this article might also be of use - http://www.broadlandmemories.co.uk/blog/2010/10/the-ferry-inn-horning-an-eventful-history/
If you are keen for a copy of "A Norfolk Village At War" by Charles Carrodus you will find a copy on Amazon UK at the moment.
Also wonder if this gives you any leads - http://www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/2434476573/
A.
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The booklet mentioned in this article might also be of use - http://www.broadlandmemories.co.uk/blog/2010/10/the-ferry-inn-horning-an-eventful-history/
If you are keen for a copy of "A Norfolk Village At War" by Charles Carrodus you will find a copy on Amazon UK at the moment.
Also wonder if this gives you any leads - http://www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/2434476573/
A.
I came across this site & thread quite by accident. I was checking the location of the Ferry Inn and saw that unfortunately I had missed the 70 year commemoration of the events of that awful night. After following a few links this site came up. The reason I was looking for the Inn was because my Grandfather is Flying Officer Harold Paul Roberts, I'm Paul Roberts. I have been to the Ferry Inn on a couple of occasions with my parents, both of whom sadly died with two months of each other in November 2010 and January 2011. On the first visit we arranged for the Padre' from RAF Coltishall to perform a service at Harold's grave. The second time was when we attended the closing down day at RAF Coltishall. Both times we went for lunch at the Ferry Inn. I'm amazed to find someone else also related to an airman killed on the same night.
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A reference to this bombing is made in Robert Standford Tuck's account of the Battle of Britain, Fly for your Life. page 221. He was at the Ferry Inn on the night, leaving shortly before the bombing due to a premonition of the disaster. According to that account there were crews from 257 and 222 Squadrons along with many locals.
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Hi Paul_Roberts, I'm sorry to hear your relative was involved (and that it's been 6 months since your post!) I don't know if you'll check this.
I went to the 70th commemorative event, it was a really busy night, the pub was packed and it was quite respectful to the events of 1941. Not sure it'd be of any use, but I'd be happy to chat to you about it if you'd like to PM me.
I am trying to track down the historian who organised it, Eddie Steele (Steel?)
I briefly spoke to him that night and he had some great info about my Suttons research, so I asked for his phone number or email address, but he told me to just pop round to his house any time...
I don't suppose he is a member of this site? I don't feel right just turning up at his house (he didn't give me the address, just roughly described it).
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According to informal family records my grandmother Alice Bertha Crews (nee Rushmore) died in this bombing, and she certainly died on this date. I can find no reference to her in lists of civilian casualties in relation to the bombing. She had lived with her husband Samuel George Crews in Lowestoft prior to the war and might have moved alone to Horning to avoid the frequent air attacks on Lowestoft, or have been visiting.
I would appreciate any information that readers might have.
With regards,
BIT
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Hi BIT
Welcome to RootsChat
Have you seen the burial details for Alice and Samuel on the Lowestoft Cemetery Index
see
http://apps.waveney.gov.uk/pages/cemeteries/Lowestoft/colman_ditcham.aspx
Alice's address was given as Flint Cottage, St Peters Street, Lowestoft
regards
yokel
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Hi this is a message for Coastal Plains- I am researching the history of the Sutton Family as Henry lived in my house in 1910-1918-did you manage to find any information on your relatives-I do have some.