Hastings Archives - WW2 Roll Of Honour

Service Personnel

Green, William Charles

29th August 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

Name: William Charles Green

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment: Royal Engineers

Died on: Monday, 30th September 1940

Died at: Plaza Cinema, Robertson Street, Hastings

Parents: Mr Kenneth William and Mrs Ethel Maud Green

Home Address: 15 York Road, Bexhill on Sea

Additional Information: William Green, aged 17, was on leave from the Army and was killed when a single bomber dropped one HE bomb that hit the Plaza Cinema on Robertson Street, Hastings. Thirteen other people were killed and thirty five injured, twelve seriously.

He is buried at Bexhill Cemetery. Thanks to Mr M. Peel for proving this information.

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Notable Bomb Sites

60 St Georges Road, Hastings

9th May 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

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.

Notable Bomb Sites

42 Havelock Road, Hastings

2nd May 20219th May 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

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

Notable Bomb Sites

50 Emmanuel Road, Hastings

18th April 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

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.

Notable Bomb Sites

Emmanuel Vicarage, Vicarage Road, Hastings

11th April 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

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.

Notable Bomb Sites

28 Linton Road, Hastings

3rd April 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

On Tuesday 26th October, whilst an air battle raged overhead, a Dornier dropped 2 bombs on Linton Road. One of these was a direct hit on 28 Linton Road, destroying it completely.

House owner William Amiss, a member of the Home Guard, was badly injured and taken to the Royal East Sussex Hospital. He died there two days later.

This was to be the last fatality in Hastings & St Leonards due to air raids until March 1942. The Germans had switched strategy and focused their bombing more on London and northern parts of the country. The area still was under constant alert, and whilst there were only five bombing raids during 1941, the constant drone of bombers flying overhead ensured the town never relaxed.

Notable Bomb Sites

45 Milward Road, Hastings

28th March 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

On Thursday 10th October 1940, twenty four high explosive bombs were dropped on the town during two separate waves, the first at 6:44am and the second at 12:15pm. The bombs struck Stonefield Road, Milward Road, West Street, the West Hill, Priory Road, High Bank, Alfred Road and Ashburnham Road. One person was killed and two others injured.

Ethel Sutton, aged 54, was killed at her home at 45 Milward Road by one of the bombs.

Notable Bomb Sites

24 Fellows Road, Hastings

21st March 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

On Wednesday 9th October 1940, German planes dropped twenty high explosive bombs across Ore and Hastings. Canute Road, Offa Road, Martineau Lane, Broomgrove Road, Fellows Road and Pine Avenue were all hit. Two people were killed and eleven others injured, three seriously.

Emily Marchant, aged 28 died at 24 Fellows Road.

Notable Bomb Sites

Upper Broomgrove Road, Hastings

14th March 202121st March 2021
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Margaret Cleverly, aged 18 was killed in her home at 7 Upper Broomgrove Road.

Notable Bomb Sites

Pelham Arcade, Hastings

7th March 2021
by WW2RollofHonour

On Tuesday 8th October 1940, at around 4pm, a lone bomber dropped four high explosive bombs and two oil incendiaries on Havelock Road, Pelham Arcade and York Buildings in Hastings. Three people were killed in the attack with ten others injured, one seriously.

Joan Timms, aged 19, was walking with a friend towards the town centre opposite Pelham Arcade and Breeds Place when a bomb hit nearby. She was killed instantly, and her friend survived.

After the initial bombs were dropped the bomber then circled the town trying to locate the train station. After twenty minutes it finally dropped a 2,000lb bomb, but missed its target. The bomb hit the Braybrooke Road allotments instead.