General Chat

I,m sure I’ve seen a website that shows where bombs fell in the raids. Can’t think what it was called.

The family are to be found on the World War 2 Civilian Deaths on Ancestry. As they died on the same day I can only assume it was in a bombing raid. Nothing extra comes up on Google for the right place and date.

Thanks to AnnMarie for the hug - sometimes this is just what is needed.

The most moving thing I came across was something I was already aware of. The death in July 1945 by what is now called friendly fire, in Germany of my uncle, aged only 19. In his effects were two dresses bought for me - his only niece. Sometimes I wish my Mum had held on to at least one of them.

On 15 December 1942, retreating enemy planes dropped their bombs for a quicker getaway.
My great great grandad was outside his greengrocery shop in Aldeburgh High Street when these bombs fell. One hit his shop. He died on 16 December 1942, aged 92.

He was one of 6 civilians who were killed in Aldeburgh that day.
The other 5 were in the Post Office, which also received a direct hit.

I also have an amazing letter my gran was sent, from a friend, describing how her father and brother survived the bombing of their pub - the Green Man - in Southampton, in 1940.

You can probably find them here on Ancestry.

UK, World War II Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945

“These volumes contain the Roll of Honour of those civilians, citizens of the Commonwealth and Empire, who were killed in the United Kingdom by enemy action during the 1939–1945 War, while engaged in household or in business activities, or at their posts as members of the Civil Defence Services. Their graves are scattered throughout the country.”

I know what you mean.

My mother's 2nd cousin married and moved to Birmingham, only a few miles from our home town. She had 3 children and in wartime her husband joined the army, leaving his teenage brother with his wife.

They lived on a direct flight path to where my father was making spitfires. The bombs fell short that particular night and wiped out several homes, all 5 were killed. The man survived the war, I've found him on electoral lists, he doesn't seem to have remarried.

The majority of my husband's relatives were from London. On the first day of the blitz some arches in London were bombed and collapsed. 3 generations of my husband's family were killed, they were sheltering with neighbours under the arches.

I found this out doing my tree as well, it brings home the reality of civilian casualties of war.

Was this in a bombing ?

Jacqueline, Sending you a hug.

The highs and lows of family research are hard to take sometimes.

Take care.

AnnMarie <3 <3

While researching the extended familiy I have just found that my father's cousin, his wife and their daughter where killed on the same day in 1940. Although I was born towards the end of the war we lived only four or five miles from them and I cannot recall ever being told about the tragedy.

In nearly twenty years of research I have never been so moved or upset by a discovery.