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THREAD - THE SOUTHAMPTON BLITZ:
#OnThisDay eighty years ago - 23 November 1940 - the Luftwaffe targeted Southampton and the town suffered its most destructive raid of the Blitz so far.
It was front page news in America as the Nazis claimed Southampton was left a smoking ruin...
#OnThisDay eighty years ago - 23 November 1940 - the Luftwaffe targeted Southampton and the town suffered its most destructive raid of the Blitz so far.
It was front page news in America as the Nazis claimed Southampton was left a smoking ruin...
Southampton had already suffered many tragedies.
The Luftwaffe had marked out their main targets on an aerial photograph. These included the gas works at Northam and the Supermarine factory at Woolston. Over one hundred people died in raids on these targets in September 1940.
The Luftwaffe had marked out their main targets on an aerial photograph. These included the gas works at Northam and the Supermarine factory at Woolston. Over one hundred people died in raids on these targets in September 1940.
The Supermarine factory on the banks of the River Itchen at Woolston was notable for being the place where the Spitfire was designed and first built.
This image shows Bridge Road in Woolston after the nearby Supermarine factory was targeted in September 1940.
This image shows Bridge Road in Woolston after the nearby Supermarine factory was targeted in September 1940.
On 6 November 1940, a 500lb bomb hit the Civic Centre’s art gallery during a daylight air raid on Southampton.
The explosion killed thirty-five people.
Tragically, a class of fifteen children had been taking shelter in the basement and only one child survived the direct hit.
The explosion killed thirty-five people.
Tragically, a class of fifteen children had been taking shelter in the basement and only one child survived the direct hit.
The 12th century Bargate was bricked up during the Second World War and used as an air raid shelter. Many of the town’s medieval vaults were also used as shelters.
Much of the surrounding area would be bombed but rather miraculously, the Bargate survived.
Much of the surrounding area would be bombed but rather miraculously, the Bargate survived.
At this very moment exactly eighty years ago, a little after 6pm on 23 November 1940, the first bombs fell in what would become a sustained and brutal six hour air raid on Southampton.
Lives were lost, entire areas were flattened, and fires raged throughout the night.
Lives were lost, entire areas were flattened, and fires raged throughout the night.
The Garibaldi Arms was destroyed #OnThisDay eighty years ago. Twenty-six people were killed inside, including landlords Bert and Vera Reynolds. The only survivors were the Reynolds’ four children.
Titanic survivor Edgar Perry was killed. His wife, Martha, also died in this raid.
Titanic survivor Edgar Perry was killed. His wife, Martha, also died in this raid.
Bernard Street after the 23 November 1940 raid, compared to how it looked many years before the destruction of the Second World War.
Bernard Street, then and now. The Blitz would change the face of Southampton forever...
Southampton High Street during the Blitz in November 1940 and a similar view in November 2020.
The Red Lion pub can be seen here. It has been a pub since 1552 and, despite being damaged during the bombing, it’s still going today. Holyrood Church can be seen in the distance.
The Red Lion pub can be seen here. It has been a pub since 1552 and, despite being damaged during the bombing, it’s still going today. Holyrood Church can be seen in the distance.
During the raid #OnThisDay in 1940 the bombs continued to fall until around midnight.
It was reported that the red glow of Southampton burning could be seen from France.
The Luftwaffe would return the following week, with two huge raids over two consecutive nights.
It was reported that the red glow of Southampton burning could be seen from France.
The Luftwaffe would return the following week, with two huge raids over two consecutive nights.
This thread will be continued next week, to coincide with the date the Luftwaffe returned to Southampton: 30 November 1940.
Thanks for reading and I hope you will join me again next week.
Thanks for reading and I hope you will join me again next week.
30 November 1940.
#OnThisDay eighty years ago, on Winston Churchill’s sixty-sixth birthday, the Luftwaffe again targeted Southampton.
It had been a week since their last major raid and the town would suffer another terrible and tragic night of bombing during the Blitz.
#OnThisDay eighty years ago, on Winston Churchill’s sixty-sixth birthday, the Luftwaffe again targeted Southampton.
It had been a week since their last major raid and the town would suffer another terrible and tragic night of bombing during the Blitz.
At this very moment exactly eighty years ago, at around 17:55 on 30 November 1940, Southampton was lit up by German flares.
The air raid sirens began wailing and the first wave of Luftwaffe bombers dropped their high explosives and incendiary devices on to the town below...
The air raid sirens began wailing and the first wave of Luftwaffe bombers dropped their high explosives and incendiary devices on to the town below...
The 30 November 1940 raid lasted six hours.
Early on, twenty-five people were killed when a shelter on the High Street was hit. Gwen Hughes and her two children were the only survivors. The shelter became flooded and it took five hours for Gwen and her children to be rescued.
Early on, twenty-five people were killed when a shelter on the High Street was hit. Gwen Hughes and her two children were the only survivors. The shelter became flooded and it took five hours for Gwen and her children to be rescued.
After the rescue, Gwen was taken down Southampton High Street.
“When I was being taken down the street a bomb exploded 50 yards (45 metres) behind me as well. We carried on and I remember the scenes to this day. The entire High Street was a huge wall of fire and flames.”
“When I was being taken down the street a bomb exploded 50 yards (45 metres) behind me as well. We carried on and I remember the scenes to this day. The entire High Street was a huge wall of fire and flames.”
This incredible image appears in the ‘The World Aflame’, a remarkable book by @marinamaral2 and @dgjones. The photograph shows a woman being rescued in Southampton. Gwen Hughes and her children would have faced a similar ordeal and they were very lucky to survive.
The 30 November 1940 raid caused a firestorm in Southampton and thousands of reinforcements were brought in from around the country to help fight some six hundred and seventy separate fires.
When the Luftwaffe returned on the night of 1 December, the fires were still burning.
When the Luftwaffe returned on the night of 1 December, the fires were still burning.
A great number of Southampton’s churches were either damaged or completely destroyed during the Blitz.
Holyrood Church dated back to 1320. It was destroyed #OnThisDay - 30 November - in 1940.
The ruins on Southampton High Street now stand as a memorial to the Merchant Navy.
Holyrood Church dated back to 1320. It was destroyed #OnThisDay - 30 November - in 1940.
The ruins on Southampton High Street now stand as a memorial to the Merchant Navy.
All Saints’ Church, which had stood on the corner of the High Street and East Street since 1795, was destroyed during the 30 November and 1 December raids.
There had been a church on this site since the 12th century. Jane Austen worshipped here when she lived in Southampton.
There had been a church on this site since the 12th century. Jane Austen worshipped here when she lived in Southampton.
Thankfully, so many of Southampton’s historic buildings did manage to survive and you can find out about some of them here: https://historicsouthampton.co.uk/old-town-walk/
Some buildings only received minor damage during the Blitz, such as the Star Hotel on Southampton High Street.
Some buildings only received minor damage during the Blitz, such as the Star Hotel on Southampton High Street.
The three raids in eight days exactly eighty years ago killed over two hundred people. Thousands of buildings and homes were damaged or destroyed. Much of Southampton‘s historic town centre was turned into rubble and twisted metal.
Above Bar before and after the destruction.
Above Bar before and after the destruction.
One eyewitness later wrote: ‘It was as though the town had been the victim of a savage and brutal assassination.’
During these November raids, a public air raid shelter in Hoglands Park took a direct hit. An eyewitness estimated that around fifty people must have been inside and they simply did not stand a chance. Accounts of this particular tragedy are absolutely horrific.
The @OrdnanceSurvey head office on London Road was bombed during the Blitz. A few years ago they made a map which shows where the bombs fell on Southampton during the two raids on 30 November and 1 December 1940. This doesn’t include 23 November and other raids during the war.
Northumberland Road in November 1940.
On 2 December 1940, around 4,000 people left Southampton. Vans with loud speakers advertised evacuation. People packed their things into suitcases and prams and simply left. Many were homeless after the bombing raids. Hundreds lost more than just their homes...
© IWM ZZZ 8205C
© IWM ZZZ 8205C
In December 1940, just a few days after the worst nights of Southampton’s Blitz, King George VI visited the town.
He’s at the front of the group. This photograph was taken on Above Bar Street as he walked towards the Bargate. People shouted ‘God Save the King!’ as he passed.
He’s at the front of the group. This photograph was taken on Above Bar Street as he walked towards the Bargate. People shouted ‘God Save the King!’ as he passed.
In January 1941, Winston Churchill visited Southampton. On the steps of the Civic Centre, he addressed a crowd. “Are we downhearted?” he asked.
“No!” was the unyielding response. Their town had just been heavily bombed, but the people of Southampton showed incredible resilience.
“No!” was the unyielding response. Their town had just been heavily bombed, but the people of Southampton showed incredible resilience.
Despite the destruction the Blitz had brought, life had to go on.
Above Bar Street.
Above Bar Street.
Southampton was rebuilt after the war. However, it could be argued that although the austere post-war rebuild was contemporary and functional back then, the Blitz robbed the town of much of its old character and charm.
East Street before the war and the same view in 2020.
East Street before the war and the same view in 2020.
This bench in Hollybrook Cemetery is a memorial to the civilians who were killed by enemy action in Southampton during the Second World War.
The back of the bench is made from the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Blitz.
The back of the bench is made from the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Blitz.
Ron Hunt was in Southampton as Nazi bombs pummelled the town. He sent some postcards to his parents back home in Godalming. You may be interested in this article I wrote, in which I look at Ron’s postcards and Southampton’s Blitz: https://historicsouthampton.co.uk/postcards-from-the-blitz/
The Luftwaffe continued to target Southampton in 1941 and 1942. The German bombers brought with them yet more destruction and many more people were killed.
Southampton had been smashed but it survived and in June 1944, an invasion was launched from the battered port.
Southampton had been smashed but it survived and in June 1944, an invasion was launched from the battered port.
Most of those who took Gold and Juno beaches on D-Day embarked at Southampton.
Between D-Day and victory, 3.5 million Allied troops passed through the port.
The Nazis tried to destroy Southampton but failed. The town then had a monumental role in helping to defeat the Nazis.
Between D-Day and victory, 3.5 million Allied troops passed through the port.
The Nazis tried to destroy Southampton but failed. The town then had a monumental role in helping to defeat the Nazis.
END OF THREAD.
BIG thank you to everyone who took the time to read, share, and comment.
One of my main sources was the excellent ‘Southampton’s Children of the Blitz’ by Andrew Bissell. I recommend this book if you’re interested in learning more about the Southampton Blitz.
BIG thank you to everyone who took the time to read, share, and comment.
One of my main sources was the excellent ‘Southampton’s Children of the Blitz’ by Andrew Bissell. I recommend this book if you’re interested in learning more about the Southampton Blitz.
