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.