When the bomb fell, Monday 16th September 1940
The Rev Norman Brown recalled:
‘London was the chief target at the time and its defence was the first consideration. This allowed lone raiders to cross our shores with comparative impunity, and it was such a lone raider that was heard circling the parish for some time overhead. Two bombs were heard to fall. One fell in a field close to a row of houses [Beards Terrace] it exploded the following afternoon, fortunately causing no damage. The other fell in the church-yard close to the north west corner of the church, penetrating at an angle, so it must have been directly under the tower before detonating. Later, rods were put down the hole made by the falling bomb, but the bottom was not reached at 25 feet, how much deeper it went we do not know. The depth at which it exploded probably accounting for the noise, arching as it were over the near vicinity, so that it was heard more clearly at a distance than close at hand. The shaking of the ground which resulted from the explosion would be accentuated at the top of the walls, which must have been sprung outwards so that the roof would no longer be supported. The roof of the nave collapsed dragging down the north arcading and so the roof of the north aisle. It is impossible to describe the scene of desolation which was to be seen by the light of the full moon. From the road little unusual was first to be noted, except a curious unwonted lightness was seen through the windows. But how different was the view from the north of the church. The tower still stood, though rent by long ominous cracks, only the south arcading and the south wall of the nave remained spanned by the roof of the south aisle. There before one lay a sea of twisted sheets of lead, from which protruded here and there the wreckage of timbers, broken stone, and rubble. Looking eastwards the chancel seemed to be still intact. Many at the time remarked on the significance of the cross still standing on the rood screen, eloquent in its challenge to the chaos wrought by the folly of mankind.’
Denis Wood was at home at the Pest House at Tilkey when the bomb fell and he remembers it vividly;
‘The bomb screamed as it came down, a terrible row and I saw it hit with a huge flash, it was just a ball of flames I thought the trees round the church were on fire at first but I don’t think they were. Two bombs came down the other fell at the top of the church yard there, not far from Beards Terrace. Next day George and Phyl went to look and were half way up Church Field when it went off, must have been on a timer, they threw themselves flat on the ground, and decided not to go any further.'
‘London was the chief target at the time and its defence was the first consideration. This allowed lone raiders to cross our shores with comparative impunity, and it was such a lone raider that was heard circling the parish for some time overhead. Two bombs were heard to fall. One fell in a field close to a row of houses [Beards Terrace] it exploded the following afternoon, fortunately causing no damage. The other fell in the church-yard close to the north west corner of the church, penetrating at an angle, so it must have been directly under the tower before detonating. Later, rods were put down the hole made by the falling bomb, but the bottom was not reached at 25 feet, how much deeper it went we do not know. The depth at which it exploded probably accounting for the noise, arching as it were over the near vicinity, so that it was heard more clearly at a distance than close at hand. The shaking of the ground which resulted from the explosion would be accentuated at the top of the walls, which must have been sprung outwards so that the roof would no longer be supported. The roof of the nave collapsed dragging down the north arcading and so the roof of the north aisle. It is impossible to describe the scene of desolation which was to be seen by the light of the full moon. From the road little unusual was first to be noted, except a curious unwonted lightness was seen through the windows. But how different was the view from the north of the church. The tower still stood, though rent by long ominous cracks, only the south arcading and the south wall of the nave remained spanned by the roof of the south aisle. There before one lay a sea of twisted sheets of lead, from which protruded here and there the wreckage of timbers, broken stone, and rubble. Looking eastwards the chancel seemed to be still intact. Many at the time remarked on the significance of the cross still standing on the rood screen, eloquent in its challenge to the chaos wrought by the folly of mankind.’
Denis Wood was at home at the Pest House at Tilkey when the bomb fell and he remembers it vividly;
‘The bomb screamed as it came down, a terrible row and I saw it hit with a huge flash, it was just a ball of flames I thought the trees round the church were on fire at first but I don’t think they were. Two bombs came down the other fell at the top of the church yard there, not far from Beards Terrace. Next day George and Phyl went to look and were half way up Church Field when it went off, must have been on a timer, they threw themselves flat on the ground, and decided not to go any further.'
Comments
By Bobcroot: They had a. Fuse of. Up to 155 min or more.and also had special effects to stop handling. I did a course on Bomb disposal in 1957. They were electric fuses. By Kerry glen-martin: Just read the old original cut out from the newspaper,found it in a very old box,so very sad no words.