The Blitz occurred from 7th September 1940 to 11th May 1941 and was conducted by the German Air Force. This was a series of mass air attacks on targets across England, though London received about 60% of the bombs dropped, followed by Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow and Plymouth (21% between them).
The Lutwaffe bombed London for 56 out of 57 days and nights from the 7th September.
The 15th September 1940 was the biggest raid with some estimates being 1,500 German bombers aiming to raid London throughout the day. This was met by a large group of Hurricanes and Spitfires. This day was to become known as ‘Battle of Britain Day’.
11th September 1940 – Sandown Cottages, Teynham
Elsie May CASTLE, age 28
Died at Preston Hall Emergency Hospital, Aylesford and buried at Murston (All Saints) Churchyard
Commemorated on Teynham Church WW2 Memorial
Louisa BANFIELD, age 53
Died at Preston Hall Emergency Hospital, Aylesford and buried at Bredgar New Cemetery
Commemorated on Teynham Church WW2 Memorial
29th September 1940 – West Street and Cockleshell Walk, Sittingbourne
Reported in the East Kent Gazette on 5th October 1940 (click on image to see larger version)
9 Cockleshell Walk
Dennis James SKINNER, age 17.
10 Cockleshell Walk, Sittingbourne
Gladys Rose CRUTCHLEY, age 24
John Michael CRUTCHLEY, age 2 months
17 West Street
Kate Elizabeth FOWLER, age 59
48 West Street
Nellie GAMBELL, age 67
Alice MANUELL, age 61
Roy MANUELL, age 7 (died next day at Preston Hall Emergency Hospital, Aylesford)
All are buried in Sittingbourne Cemetery
All commemorated in WW2 Book of Remembrance in Holy Trinity Church, Sittingbourne and on plaques in the bench walls at Sittingbourne War Memorial
15th October 1940 – 11 The Crescent, Kemsley
Elsie May JOHNSTON, age 47
Commemorated on Kemsley and Grovehurst WW2 Memorial in Kemsley Bowls Club
5th November 1940 – Outside greengrocers shop at 125 Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne
Reported in the East Kent Gazette on 12th and 19th November 1940 (click on image to see larger version)
Ruth Madeline KENNETT, age 25
Valerie Ann KENNETT, age 9 weeks
Wendy Ann CLUNN, age 4
Lorna Margaret WILKINS, age 4
Michael WELLARD, age 5
All are buried in Sittingbourne Cemetery
5th December 1940 – 31st Park Road, Sittingbourne
Reported in East Kent Gazette on 14th December 1940 (click on image to see larger version)
Frank ELLIOTT, age 42, died at Preston Hall Emergency Hospital, Aylesford
Barbara Catherine MARSH, age 16
Alice Isabella BENNETT, age 83
Robert John Gray BENNETT, age 81 (died next day at Memorial Hospital, Sittingbourne)
All are buried in Sittingbourne Cemetery
12th January 1941 – 72 Occupation Road, Belvedere
Rebecca WHITING, age 20
Resided at Bayford Road, Sittingbourne
17th April 1941
Died at corner of Wickham Road and Court Downs Road, Beckenham, when his vehicle was hit by high explosive shell. Auxiliary Fire Service.
Reported in East Kent Gazette on 26th April 1941 (click on image for larger version)
Richard BEACON, age 27
Buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Teynham
Commemorated on WW2 Memorial in Teynham Church
10th May 1941 – High Street, Wapping
Reported in East Kent Gazette on 17th May 1941 (click on image for larger version)
Bernard John DORMER, age 32
London Fire Service
Buried in Sittingbourne Cemetery
Commemorated on Murston WW2 Memorial
Research is continuing on civilian casualties incurred during World War Two, as the above is not an exhaustive list.
HRGS would appreciate any information, especially photographs, that you may have with any of the people listed above, or indeed anyone you were related to who was lost during the war. If you can contribute towards our research, which we aiming to produce an inter-active display, then please Contact Us.