With tomorrow being 11thNov I thought I would share details of one of the air raids that Spalding suffered on 12th May 1941 killing two residents of the town. #lestweforget2020

In this raid Spalding town centre received considerable damage as a large number of incendiary bombs hit the upper stories of the town centre buildings together with a substantial number of high explosive bombs. #lestweforget2020

The fires were so extensive that assistance was needed from Peterborough, Boston and Bourne plus the 18yh Battalion of the Royal Welsh Regiment. #lestweforget2020

At least 10 businesses in the town centre were totally gutted. Including Woolworths in Bridge Street ( now a home interiors shop), and Pennington's (a large shop on the site of Barclays Bank and Boots). #lestweforget2020 picture is of this site in Hall Place

A bungalow occupied by Mr and Mrs Watson in Alexandra Road was demolished with houses in Ayscough Avenue also damaged.

A bomb exploded adjacent to this house in Stonegate. The house still stands today. Many houses in Stonegate lost their windows. My parents house, some distance away had a crack in its bay window when I was a kid that we were told was caused by this blast. #lestweforget2020

I understand two women were killed inside the house adjacent to the Stonegate house pictured which received a direct hit and the husband of one of them survived with injuries. #lestweforget2020

Of the dwellings affected by bombing one was demolished, eight badly damaged and 250 slightly damaged. Substantial damage with 10 businesses gutted, over 20 badly damaged and several others slightly damaged. #LestWeForget

In addition the brewery in Cowbit Rd. Was damaged, Welland Rd cratered, water mains and sewage pumps hit. Farmers in Cuckoo Road had 11 high explosive bombs hit potatoe, bulb and wheat fields. #LestWeForget

My great grandfather Frank Elsden was both a special constable and an auxiliary fireman at the time. I wonder which hat he wore on that night? #LestWeForget