On 2nd Feb 1943 3 German aircraft (described later as Messerchmidts) bombed the historic town of Battle, East Sussex, site of the Battle of Hastings. Two bombs exploded, killing 2 people, while the third hit the Green in front of Battle Abbey, failed to explode and bounced past a sentry of the Canadian Engineers stationed at the entrance, going straight through the gateway. Two tons of explosives were stored at this site at the time, which could well have destroyed much early English history had the story been different. As I happened to be walking to school at this time I am interested, my query being, which German Luftwaffe element was targetting me? A passing gentleman threw me into and through the door of the Abbey Hotel pub which probably caused my lifelong interest in drinking. I drink to his memory, in thanks. Gordon
Gordon, Thanks for sharing this. How fortunate you were that the gentleman helped you. From The Times, Wednesday, February 3, 1943 SHOPPING CENTRE BOMBED IN SOUTH-EAST The Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security stated last night:- This morning three enemy fighters dropped bombs at a place near the south-east coast of England, causing some damaged and a small number of casualties. The raiders flew low over a small south-east town and dropped bombs in a shopping centr. A number of business premises were wrecked by blast and two hotels were badly damaged. A bomb hit a newsagent's shop and killed the proprietor and his wife and injured customers. One bomb fell harmlessly on a cricket field. Another bounced through a gateway, narrowly missing a bystander, who was uninjured. It then penetrated through walls to a lawn. A raider machine-gunned the streets, and two children are among the casualties.
A passing gentleman threw me into and through the door of the Abbey Hotel pub which probably caused my lifelong interest in drinking. I drink to his memory, in thanks Or nowadays - if you had his name you could of course sue him for contributory negligence....!
Ha ! Great Post Gordon and as good as any reason to start drinking in my book ! Unfortuantely there is no entry for the above date in ATB's The Blitz Vol.3 apart form a genral mention of boming in Sussex as well as other home counties on the 2nd Feb '43. I found these that were possibly killed in the bombing thanks to Geoff's search engine. CWGC :: Certificate CWGC :: Certificate Tom and Gladys Giles (Husband and Wife) killed at 75 High Street and buried in Battle, Rural District Cemetery. Regards Andy
TOM GILES Civilian War Dead who died age 45 on 02 February 1943 Firewatcher; of 75 High Street, Battle. Son of Mrs. Giles, of Green Bank, Underwood, Plympton, Devonshire; husband of Gladys Giles. Died at 75 High Street. Remembered with honour BATTLE, RURAL DISTRICT GLADYS GILES Civilian War Dead who died age 45 on 02 February 1943 of 75 High Street, Battle. Daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. C. Sargent; wife of Tom Giles. Died at 75 High Street. Remembered with honour BATTLE, RURAL DISTRICT
Another account: Open Writing: Battle - And The Battle Of Britain Unfortunately, on the other hand, we were back home when a lot of the bombing took place and I remember one particular day when one of the girls who lived in Battle was called, by the Headmistress and told that a bomb had dropped on her parents 'newsagents' shop and they had been killed. Another bomb fell in front of Battle Abbey and bounced through the gateway without exploding. The abbey, as I have already said, had been taken over by the Army and the guard on duty fainted but was otherwise unhurt! A third bomb landed on the cricket pitch, bounced off and eventually exploded at the bottom of the field adjacent to our bungalow. I was at school so did not see it. Sadly no Luftwaffe Unit on Googling yet - the word 'Battle' being somewhat hard to search with ...
A third bomb landed on the cricket pitch, bounced off and eventually exploded at the bottom of the field adjacent to our bungalow. That's a hell of a yorker!
Re von Poop's quote: The school in question was Bexhill County Grammar School for Girls. and the girl was named Peggy Tickner, who had previously been at 'Battle and Langton' primary school. The shop which was demolished in the High Street was Tickner's Newsagents. I understood that Peggy was the daughter of the owners - possibly of the wife, by a previous marriage? I can recall that on the way home from school that day we crossed the fields at the rear of the premises and found a small treasure trove of coins scattered over a large area! On recent visits back to the area I've noticed many school children on projects associated with the Battle of Hastings and wonder what would the scene be like had the third bomb, and the 2 tons of stored explosives, 'gone up'. Not much left to commemorate, I imagine. As to the cricket ground, restored, I played there for the town 2nd XI immediately post-war. Gordon
