Friday 14 November 2014

A Walk around Burngreave Friday 14th November 2014 - The Zeppelin Attack on Sheffield September 1916



A 1.5 mile walk through the area of the Sheffield Blitz in the First World War. On the night of Monday 25 September 1916 a single Zeppelin dropped 36 bombs in a line between Burngreave and through Attercliffe to Darnall – looking at where some of the bombs fell, and what has become of the area now. Meet Chris Hobbs outside St Catherine’s Church on Melrose Road (S3 9DN). 
These are my notes from the walk

First bomb fell in Burngreave Cemetery where it demolished a boundary wall - two incendiaries, were dropped around 12.25 am and fell in Burngreave Cemetery, near to the Melrose Road entrance. Other than scorching some grass and a notice board no damage was caused.

Second bomb close to Danville Street where the first fatality occurred - killing 49 year old Frederick Stratford, who was struck by shrapnel whilst in bed. STRATFORD, Frederick (Boiler Fireman, age 49). Died at 11-1 Danville Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground; Grave Number 47, Section O2 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.

Third bomb claimed the lives of two elderly women in a house in Grimethorpe Road -  bomb fell on No 112 and exploded killing 76 year old Ann Coogan and her 56 year old daughter, Margaret Taylor.
COOGAN, Ann (Widow, age 76).Died at 11 Grimesthorpe Road; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground; Grave Number 251, Section NN of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. TAYLOR, Margaret (Wife of J Taylor, age 59). Died at 11 Grimesthorpe Road; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground; Grave Number 251, Section NN of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.

Fourth bomb - Corner of Petre Street and Lyon Road (73 Petre Street), Thomas Wilson, who had retired to bed, heard the exploding bombs and rushed to his bedroom window. His timing could not have been worse. As he looked out a bomb fell on a nearby outbuilding and exploded. He was struck on the chin by a bomb fragment and died instantly. WILSON, Thomas (Fitter, age 59). Died at 73 Petre Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 542, Section BB of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.

Fifth bomb - 43 Writtle Street a 57 year old woman died from wounds and shock. - My Great Grandma, Elizabeth Bellamy (57) nee Pigott was protecting my mum who was 11 months old and in a cot at the same house" She got out of bed when the first bomb dropped and was passing across the room to get her grandchild when a bomb struck her in the back, tearing it open. Her body was nearly severed at the trunk. She died in hospital."(SDI 29.09.1916) BELLAMY, Elizabeth (Wife of W Bellamy, age 57). Died at 43 Writtle Street; Buried on September 29, 1916 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 4544, Section JJ of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.

Sixth/Seventh bombs Two bombs fell in rapid succession in Cossey Road, the first of which demolished three houses in a row and penetrated the cellar of the middle one - 26 Cossey Road. 

Sixth bomb - landed on a block of three terrace houses comprising No's 26, 28 and 30. In No 28 Alice and Albert Newton were killed as they lay in bed. Luckily, their infant son was spending the night with his grandmother in a nearby street and was unharmed.
NEWTON, Albert (Labourer, age 28). Died at 26 Harleston Street; Buried on September 29, 1916 in Consecrated ground;  Grave Number 462, Section BB of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
NEWTON, Alice (Wife of A Newton, age 27). Died at 26 Harleston Street; Buried on September 29, 1916 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 462, Section BB of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
George and Eliza Harrison lived at No 26 with their two daughters and two grandchildren. After the warning had sounded they were joined by their neighbours from No 24, William and Sarah Southerington. George and William stayed in the living room while everyone else took shelter in the cellar. All eight were killed in the explosion. The Southeringtons' house suffered only minor damage and had they stayed at home would probably have survived.
SOUTHERINGTON, John William (Carter, age 37).  Died at 24 Cossey Road; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground;  Grave Number 35, Section V1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
SOUTHERINGTON, Sarah Ann (Wife of J W Southerington, age 47). Died at 24 Cossey Road; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground;  Grave Number 35, Section V1 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.

Seventh bomb hit 10 Cossey Road killing a young couple Levi (23) and Beatrice Hames (22) and their baby son Horace William (1) as they lied together in bed.

Eighth bomb fell in Corby Street and claimed a further nine victims.  Corby Street ran parallel to the Atlas Steel and Iron Works and the Norfolk Steel Works but the works remained untouched. At number 136 Corby Street, seven people in the same family, the Tyler's, were killed, five of which were children. In total the bomb claimed a further NINE victims.
In Corby Street (now Fred Mulley Road) a high explosive bomb demolished No 142 killing Selina (41) and Joseph Tyler (45) and their five children Joseph Henry (14),Ernest (11), Albert (8), Amelia (5) and John (2).
TYLER, Albert (Son of J H Tyler, age 8).  Died at Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground; Grave Number 1199, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
TYLER, Amelia (Daughter of J H Tyler, age 5). Died at Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground;  Grave Number 1199, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
TYLER, Ernest (Son of J H Tyler, age 12). Died at Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground; Grave Number 1199, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
TYLER, John (Son of J H Tyler, age 2). Died at Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground; Grave Number 1199, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
TYLER, Joseph (Son of J H Tyler, age 14). Died at Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground;  Grave Number 1199, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
TYLER, Joseph Henry (Cupola Tenter, age 44). Died at Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground;  Grave Number 1199, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
TYLER, Selina (Wife of J H Tyler, age 41) Died at Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground;  Grave Number 1199, Section KK of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
The same bomb also killed 11 year old Richard Brewington of 134 Corby Street BREWINGTON, Richard (Son of M E Brewington, age 11). Died at 134 Corby Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in General ground; Grave Number 101, Section G of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
ALSO fatally injured Martha Shakespeare of 143 Corby Street, who died  later in the day in the Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Road. SHAKESPEARE, Martha (Wife of W H Shakespeare, age 36). Died at 143 Corby Street; Buried on October 2, 1916 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 23, Section K5 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.

The last casualty of the raid

A bomb in Princess Street demolished the Primitive Methodist Chapel. Further bombs exploded near to Washford Road bridge and in Woodbourn Road where a man was blown to pieces as he warned a household to put out their lights.
GUEST, William (Workman, age 32). Died at 9-1 Kilton Street; Buried on September 30, 1916 in Consecrated ground;  Grave Number 47, Section Z4 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield.
The final few high explosive bombs fell near to Manor Lane, but did little damage. The Zeppelin then flew over Darnall and Tinsley Park Colliery where it dropped several incendiary bombs, before heading out to sea and returning safely to Germany.
The bombing had resulted in 24 fatalities outright. There was a further four fatalities in the days after the raid, leading to an overall total of 28. There were also 19 persons who received injuries in the raid. With regard to property, 89 houses were seriously damaged whilst another 150 suffered minor damage.
The Baltic Arms at 420 Effingham Road was damaged in the raid.
All but three of the victims were buried in Sheffield's Burngreave Cemetery. The exception were the Hames family who are buried together in Sheffield's Abbey Lane Cemetery

No comments:

Post a Comment