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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Hogan on Sunday 12 December 10 17:04 GMT (UK)

Title: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Hogan on Sunday 12 December 10 17:04 GMT (UK)
We are looking for sories information on bombing raids in the Liverpool and Merseyside area during WW2. Do you know any details about the lesser known victims?

We have recently concentrated on the following

Cleveland Square Shelter 31/08/1940

Bentinck Street Railway Arch Shelter 20/12/1940

St Anthony's School Shelter 22/12/1940

8 Firemen killed ay Green Lane, Old Swan 17/12/1940

Pemberton Road, Old Swan 03/05/1941

Upper Stanhope Street Bombing 10/01/1942

If you know anything about these events or any others in the area please post details, or contact us. Do you know anyone who told you stories about bombing raids?

We have noticed that a lot of the bombing victims are resigned to history. Would you help us remember those that died.

With Thanks

http://liverpoolremembrance.weebly.com/index.html

Ant
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Pete Keane on Sunday 12 December 10 17:29 GMT (UK)
Hogan

Cant offer any help with your search other than to suggest the old BBC Peoples War site.

My Grandfather was in the South Lancs Regt, and was stationed in Liverpool (gurading the tunnel) during part of the blitz, he talked of helping people in the aftermath and firefighting.

Just like to say I think your Bernard Hogan website, detailing your families contribution and losses, is very good.

Regards

Pete
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: rutht22000 on Sunday 12 December 10 17:46 GMT (UK)
Hi Ant

I've got sadly almost an entire family wiped out one night - 29 November 1940 - the Knowles family who lived in Ashfield, Wavertree ranging from grandmother down to grandchild - 5 lives lost on the night and another one - an in law from the same blast but he died in Hospital on 2 December.  I have some information about that family tucked away (I'll need to find it to give you more than the basics!).  They were my grandfather's cousins

as well as a lady Sarah Young (nee Russell) whose body was never found when Ernest Brown Instructional School/Durning Road was hit that night as well.  I never knew that that glass memorial existed until I had a look at your site and I see she's on there.

Sarah's was my uncle Will's mother in law.
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Hogan on Sunday 12 December 10 18:02 GMT (UK)
Thank you Peter and Ruth

Ruth I am so sorry to hear about your family. If you gather the details I can add them to the website as one family so they will have their own entry.

Just contact me when you have the details

Thanks

Ant
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Hogan on Sunday 12 December 10 18:09 GMT (UK)
Hi Pete

Interesting story of your grandfather guarding the tunnel.

Do you remember what he talked about?

Ant
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: rutht22000 on Sunday 12 December 10 18:20 GMT (UK)
Thanks Ant.  I'd like them to be remembered as its a huge tragedy that we have only relatively recently become aware of as the generation back on the Knowles family were a mystery for years and then I found all this.

I can give you the basics of it now (all on 29 November):-

Hannah Knowles, aged 61, widow of John Knowles,  at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Her children:-

Janet Baker (nee Knowles), aged 28 and her daughter Mavis Baker, aged 3, both at 27 Ashfield, Wavertree

Charlotte Knowles, aged 20, at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Thomas Henry Knowles, aged 18, at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Edna Knowles, aged 16, at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Janet's husband Leslie Ernest Baker died on 2 December 1940 at Smithdown Road Hospital, aged 30, from infection caused by metal railings through his feet.

I know I have photographs of Janet, Edna and Charlotte somewhere that I could give you (but it may take a while to find, but hope the above will suffice for now)

Thank you for putting them up on the site  :)
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Hogan on Sunday 12 December 10 18:47 GMT (UK)
Thank you Ruth

So So sad. But a story that should be told.

Looking at the " AShFIELD " is it Ashfield Road in Wavertree?

I will look at it all in the tomorrow. Baby is due his feed.

Ant
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 12 December 10 18:48 GMT (UK)
Was there a matchworks in Litherland?
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: rutht22000 on Sunday 12 December 10 18:50 GMT (UK)
Hi Ant

Its definitely the Ashfield off Picton Road; i am not sure whether it was always known as Ashfield or Ashfield Road.
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: rutht22000 on Sunday 12 December 10 18:55 GMT (UK)
Was there a matchworks in Litherland?

Yes there was a Bryant and May Diamond Matchworks on Linacre Road
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 12 December 10 18:58 GMT (UK)
When was that hit?   
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: rutht22000 on Sunday 12 December 10 19:06 GMT (UK)
think it was about the middle of 1941

edit : http://www.litherland-digital.co.uk/album_5/pages/matchy1941.htm
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Hogan on Tuesday 14 December 10 18:16 GMT (UK)
Thanks Ant.  I'd like them to be remembered as its a huge tragedy that we have only relatively recently become aware of as the generation back on the Knowles family were a mystery for years and then I found all this.

I can give you the basics of it now (all on 29 November):-

Hannah Knowles, aged 61, widow of John Knowles,  at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Her children:-

Janet Baker (nee Knowles), aged 28 and her daughter Mavis Baker, aged 3, both at 27 Ashfield, Wavertree

Charlotte Knowles, aged 20, at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Thomas Henry Knowles, aged 18, at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Edna Knowles, aged 16, at 23 Ashfield, Wavertree

Janet's husband Leslie Ernest Baker died on 2 December 1940 at Smithdown Road Hospital, aged 30, from infection caused by metal railings through his feet.

I know I have photographs of Janet, Edna and Charlotte somewhere that I could give you (but it may take a while to find, but hope the above will suffice for now)

Thank you for putting them up on the site  :)


Hi Ruth

Just looking on the CWGC site. There is a MAVIS BAKER, daughter of Janet.

I have stored these details and will add them when you locate your info.

Ant
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: johnlynn40 on Saturday 05 February 11 18:21 GMT (UK)
Hi

The names on this list are my partners relatives.   How do we find out more?
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: ScouseBoy on Saturday 05 February 11 18:26 GMT (UK)
Was the Rotunda Cinema a victim of the blitz?   Do you remember on Scotland Road a big hole in the ground at a Y junction and traffic lights.     The hole has now been filled in.
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: rutht22000 on Sunday 06 February 11 10:18 GMT (UK)
Hi

The names on this list are my partners relatives.   How do we find out more?

Hi Lynn,

I've PM'd you in response to yours  :)
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Beatle on Thursday 10 February 11 15:15 GMT (UK)
My dad used to say the Jolly Miller on Mill Lane/Queens Drive was the first building to be hit by German bombing. I don't know if its true but always said it as we drove past.
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Matt82 on Monday 25 February 13 00:54 GMT (UK)
Hi there

Realised I'm a little late for this but...

The Knowles were my grandma's family (Kathleen)

I believe we have photos of all the sisters, and my great grandmother.

I'll introduce my dad to this site. He's very interested in the family history, and knows a lot more than me about the whole thing.

I visited the street a few years back, and it was very moving. Can't imagine what they must have gone through, but my grandma would often tell me about it.

Matt
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: ashtree on Wednesday 22 May 13 23:30 BST (UK)
I lived in Ashfield (it's not Ashfield Road!) from 1945 to 1968. I was married in St Thomas's Church - now demolished - in 1968. My mother told me about the terrible loss of life from the 'landmine' in 1940. She was due to be married in St Thomas's in 1941 but the church window had been blown out so her wedding took place at Childwall instead. It was a lovely street to live in, with a great mix of housing types and good people. My grandfather, Thomas Burrows, a hay carter, had lived in our house in Ashfield since almost when it was built around 1910. He died there in 1949.
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Catherine Cook on Monday 11 November 13 23:11 GMT (UK)
I am a relative of the Thompson family who tragically passed in the St Anthonys School shelter. Alexander Thompson was my Great Grand Uncle ) on my mothers side of the family.
Alexander, his wife Margaret and 3 young children decided to use the school bomb shelter along with a member of his wifes family.
His sister (my great grandmother) and all their brothers/sisters and their families were in the church shelter.
The school shelter was sadly obliterated directly by a bomb. I always remember my mum telling me how her mother had lost family during the war and on this occasion it was a sad version of events as the family had chosen different shelters.  When researching online I came across this site which listed all the names of those who passed, at each location and on what date. http://liverpoolremembrance.weebly.com/christmas-blitz.html

From ancestry.co.uk I was able to find grave locations at Ford Cemetery Plot AF307. Alot of my ancestors are buried or remembered here. On my journey for some reason I did not write this plot down so it is on my to do list to revisit and pay my respects.
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Catherine Cook on Monday 11 November 13 23:16 GMT (UK)
We are looking for sories information on bombing raids in the Liverpool and Merseyside area during WW2. Do you know any details about the lesser known victims?

We have recently concentrated on the following

Cleveland Square Shelter 31/08/1940

Bentinck Street Railway Arch Shelter 20/12/1940

St Anthony's School Shelter 22/12/1940

8 Firemen killed ay Green Lane, Old Swan 17/12/1940

Pemberton Road, Old Swan 03/05/1941

Upper Stanhope Street Bombing 10/01/1942

If you know anything about these events or any others in the area please post details, or contact us. Do you know anyone who told you stories about bombing raids?

We have noticed that a lot of the bombing victims are resigned to history. Would you help us remember those that died.

With Thanks

http://liverpoolremembrance.weebly.com/index.html

Ant

PLEASE SEE ABOVE MY POST REGARDING ST ANTHONYS SCHOOL SHELTER
Title: Re: Liverpool and Merseyside Blitz
Post by: Jane ed on Wednesday 10 July 24 11:05 BST (UK)
To Ruth T, my great grandmother was the Sarah Young you mention, killed in the Durning St disaster. Mother of Violet Bynon, in turn mother of Alan, my late father.