Castle Street, Hastings

At 1pm on Sunday the 23rd May 1943, German fighter bombers, approximately 10 Focke Wulf 190s, swept across Hastings and St Leonards in a ‘tip and run’ raid. They dropped 25 high explosive bombs and sprayed machine gun fire indiscriminately. The raid was the second worst for the town in terms of casualties, with 25 people killed in total and 85 injured, 30 seriously. Among the buildings suffering damage from the raid were the Albany Hotel, Warrior House Hotel, Swan Hotel, Reeves Antique Shop, Old Town, Warrior Gate Public House, Norman Road and Gensing Road.

One of the bombs exploded in Castle Street killing 47 year old Home Guard Sergeant, Thomas Johnston. Henry Neall, aged 49 was also killed nearby at the rear of Woolworths.

60 St Georges Road, Hastings

On Sunday 17th May 1942 four Messerschmitt 109s did a ‘tip and run’ raid run on Hastings. The attackers fired their machine guns indiscriminately as they swept across town, dropped their bombs and then fled back to their base across the Channel. The four high explosive bombs dropped that day hit Falaise Road, Havelock Road and Middle Street. At Havelock Road house numbers 40 to 44 were damaged so badly they had to be demolished.

Constance Torrance, aged 28 was killed in her home by machine gun fire at 60 St Georges Road, Hastings.

The attack on that day claimed one other life, with 8 other wounded, 2 severely.

42 Havelock Road, Hastings

On Sunday 17th May 1942 four Messerschmitt 109s did a ‘tip and run’ raid run on Hastings. The attackers fired their machine guns indiscriminately as they swept across town, dropped their bombs and then fled back to their base across the Channel. The four high explosive bombs dropped that day hit Falaise Road, Havelock Road and Middle Street. At Havelock Road house numbers 40 to 44 were damaged so badly they had to be demolished. Albert Portsmouth, aged 40 was killed in his home at 42 Havelock Road.

The attack on that day claimed one other life, with 8 other wounded, 2 severely.

50 Emmanuel Road, Hastings

On Sunday 3rd May 1942, at 9.05pm, four Messerschmitt 109s swept over the town and dropped high explosive bombs on Vicarage Road and Emmanuel Road, Hastings and Barley Lane, Middle Road, The Broadway and Oakfield Road in Ore.

Mary Gamblen was killed when one of the bombs hit 50 Emmanuel Road. Her husband James Gamblen was badly wounded and died at the Municipal Hospital two days later.

The attack on that day claimed three other lives, with 35 other wounded, 12 severely.

Emmanuel Vicarage, Vicarage Road, Hastings

On Sunday 3rd May 1942, at 9.05pm, four Messerschmitt 109s swept over the town and dropped high explosive bombs on Vicarage Road and Emmanuel Road, Hastings and Barley Lane, Middle Road, The Broadway and Oakfield Road in Ore.

Two year old Deidre Battersby was killed as she slept in her cot when one of the bombs hit The Emmanuel Vicarage in Vicarage Road. Her mother and sister were injured but survived. Her father, Reverend Jason Battersby, was away at the time.

The attack on that day claimed four other lives, with 35 other wounded, 12 severely.