Hi, My mother was telling me yesterday that people are trying to get a memorial in Doncaster for the 70th anniversary of the Balby landmines. On looking through posts already on the forum, I have found details of 2 of my great uncles who were killed by them. I am trying to find out more information and if anyone has anything more they can tell me and and pictures they are willing to share with me I would be very grateful. Thank you Pam
Using Geoff's Search Engine, these 22 are the deaths as reported by Doncaster County Borough ARCHER, ERIC WALTON WHITWORTH, E W W Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 37 CASSON, EDWARD JOHN, E J Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 45 CASSON, EDWARD, E Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 18 CASSON, ESTHER MAY, E M Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 20 DEAKINS, LAURA, L Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 25 FONE, PEGGY, P Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 3 GIBSON, GEORGE, G Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 30 GREENDALE, MARY GERTRUDE, M G Civilian Civilian War Dead 01/09/1942 50 GREGORY, REGINALD ANDERSON, R A Civilian Civilian War Dead 08/05/1941 33 HYLAND, MOLLIE, M Civilian Civilian War Dead 08/05/1941 30 LANCASHIRE, SAMUEL ARTHUR, S A Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 45 NICHOLSON, HAROLD, H Civilian Civilian War Dead 05/09/1942 52 NORTROP, ALFRED, A Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 16 NORTROP, ARTHUR, A Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 19 SHEPHERD, GEORGE, G Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 30 STRAW, ARTHUR WILSON, A W Civilian Civilian War Dead 21/12/1940 32 UNSWORTH, ARTHUR, A Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 44 WEBB, BERTHA, B Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 35 WEBB, JOSEPH, J Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 Unknown WEBB, VIOLET MAUREEN, V M Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 5 WHEELIKER, RICHARD HAROLD, R H Civilian Civilian War Dead 09/05/1941 39 WHITTLES, PETER ALBERT, P A Civilian Civilian War Dead 22/12/1940 16
welcome to the forum if you could publish their names perhaps forum members could assist page attached from Blitz Then and Now Volume 2 re 9/5/41 main damage was around Weston Road,Balby
Casualties from the Weston Road Bombing Incident 08/09 May 1941. On the night of 08/09 May 1941 large canisters of explosives hanging from parachutes - devices called an aerial mines - descended on the Weston Road and Loversall Hospital areas of Balby, Doncaster. The subsequent blasts resulted in 18 people killed and 73 injured, a number of these seriously. Buildings suffered too with 13 houses destroyed with a further 19 being demolished later, over four hundred were damaged altogether. Eric Walton Whitworth Archer, aged 37 – Died at 48 Wordsworth Avenue, Doncaster. Son of Arthur and Phoebe Archer of 3 Wood Street, Ossett, Laura Deakins (Nee Taylor) aged 25 - Died at 51 Weston Road on 09 May 1941 – Wife of William Deakins. Edward Casson (18) - A.T.C.; Died at 48 Wordsworth Avenue. Son of Lillian Casson, and of Edward John Casson. Died at 48 Wordsworth Avenue. Edward John Casson (45) - Home Guard; of 48 Wordsworth Avenue. Husband of Lillian Casson. Died at 48 Wordsworth Avenue. Esther May Casson (20) - Hospital Nurse; of 48 Wordsworth Aenue. Daughter of Lillian Casson, and of Edward John Casson. Injured at 48 Wordsworth Avenue; died same day at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. Peggy Fone (3) - Daughter of William Henry and Ruth Fone, of 106 Sandford Road. Died at Wordsworth Avenue. George Gibson (30) - of 60 Wordsworth Avenue. Died at Weston Road. Samuel Arthur Lancashire (45) - Husband of B. Lancashire, of 79 Furness Road, Harlesden, Middlesex. Died at 49 Weston Road. Alfred Nortrop (16) and Arthur Nortrop (19) – Sons of John and Alice May Nortrop of 47 Weston Road, Balby. Injured at Weston Road, died same day at the Royal Infirmary - George Shepherd (30) - Firewatcher; of 56 Wordsworth Avenue. Son of John Henry and Tamer Shepherd, of 20 Victoria Street; husband of Doris Shepherd. Died at Weston Road. Arthur Unswroth (44) – Died at 50 Wordsworth Avenue. Bertha Webb (35) - Died at 53 Weston Road. Joseph Webb (9 months) - Died at 53 Weston Road. Violet Maureen Webb(5) – Died at 53 Weston Road Richard Harold Wheeliker (39) – Died at 23 Wordsworth Avenue.
Hi All Some reports suggest 18 died whilst others vary from 15 to 19 Is there a definitive list available - and have we missed any names? Regards John
There may be a new list now as this has really been looked into and been in several local Doncaster papers lately with all the interest in the memorial service that is to take place on 9th May at the chapel at Rose Hill cemetery. Am not sure which paper it was, but I do know there was a two and half page article about the bombings and the campaign for a memorial as my mother and and one of her cousins are involved in the campaign.
My grandfathers brother-in-law was Richard wheeliker. I’d like to know more about what happened that night. I was told he was a warden and was killed along with his two colleagues while investigating the mines
You do know that you are posting this enquiry on 11 November? Richard, was born 11 November 1901 according to 1939 Register. Occupation: coal hewer, living at 23 Wordsworth Avenue (same as CWGC). His son, also Richard H, was born 14 June 1921, a brickyard labourer. The three daughters (Manson, Brown and Hopewell/Barraclough) and his wife Martha obviously were not in the house at the time, your family history may know why (shelter in back garden?). In the 1939 Register he's not shown as having auxiliary duties, such as an Air Raid Precaution warden, but obviously most people did their bit as the War developed. He is shown as being killed at his home. In 1939, the Archer family lived at No 29, an there is an Archer amongst the 22 I listed 7 years ago. The Gibson family were at No 60, presumably almost opposite, so it looks as if one or both landmines hit the homes in an area close together. There may be a Local History Society or the local newspaper archive may hold more information, and check out the links in the posts above, there may be more in them. Denaby Main can't be far from Balby, so there is a possibility that this may also be a relative WHEELIKER, GORDON KENNETH. Flight Sergeant (Navigator/Wireless Op.) Service Number 1681705. Died 14/02/1945. Aged 22 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of George and Mary Wheeliker, of Denaby Main, Yorkshire. Buried at HABBANIYA WAR CEMETERY. Plot 6. Row E. Grave 10.
Yes it seems as though he was at home. I wonder if he went outside the shelter to investigate the device and it exploded on him. Apparently they had various timed detonations which made them very deadly. Richard came from Canada. Not sure how they met but my auntie is still alive and she remembers Martha but not Richard as he died as she was a baby. Not sure about the other wheelikers. These are their children
To complete blanks for his parents WHEELIKER, R. Serjeant. Service Number 19073. Died 27/10/1915. 7th Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Buried at RUE-DU-BOIS MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX. Plot I. Row C. Grave 13. Register of Soldiers Effects shows widow Hannah and that Richard died accidentally. Soldiers Died in the Great War shows enlisted Conisborough. Born Awsworth, Ilkester (Notts) 1911 Census shows Richard and Hannah plus 4 children after 8 years of marriage. Mother Hannah E Maud; Richard Harold, Thomas; William Henry and George Married Hannah Elizabeth M Jones 1st Qtr 1901 in Doncaster. He'd also reached the rank of Sergeant in the KOYLI in the Boer War, but obviously home by 1901 for the marriage... Wheeliker, R. Sergeant 6737 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Boer War 1899-1902 Soldiers Effects also indicates that Hannah is also shown as Hannah E M Marshall, so she remarried 3rd Qtr 1916 to Thomas Percival Marshall (Would have been tough for a widow with 4 young children) Hope that helps!
I'm late to the party, but thought I'd add my tuppence. My great-grandad, great gran, aunt, uncle and my mum were all victims of the Balby landmines on the night of 8/9 May 1941. All lived fortunately. My mum believes her grandparents lived on Weston Road. Possibly the end house. When the landmine exploded, my aunt and uncle were coming down the stairs and the ceiling fell down on them. This may verify that my great-grandparents lived in the end house, because that’s the only house in the photo that has the stairs exposed. My mum was buried under a settee, which protected her from all debris that piled on and ultimately saved her life. This is a copy of a photo my mother has. It is the image that has been published many times when discussing the Balby bombing. Regards, -Scott
