In the afternoon of Thursday 24th September 1942, seven German fighter bombers with a fighter escort dropped a large number of high explosive bombs across St Leonards. As they flew across the town they also fired their machine guns indiscriminately. The bombs struck Warrior Square, West Hill Road, Quarry Hill and De Cham Road.
The houses at 5 to 7 West Hill Road were badly damaged in the explosions and seven people died there, including three children;
Fanny Bloore aged 60
Cyprian Browning aged 82
Maureen Close aged 7
Barry Coltham aged 4
Elfrida Crauford 59
Gerald Drake aged 60
John Tarrant aged 5
In a bad day for the town, a total of 23 were killed, and 43 other injured, 21 seriously.