Notable Bomb Sites
In the morning of Monday 21st December 1942, a single German fighter fired its machine guns as it flew low across St Leonards. Bullets hit Marline Avenue, Sedlescombe Road North, , Madeira Drive, St Helen’s Road, Bexhill Road, Bulverhythe Road.
At 140 Sedlescombe Road North, 57 year old Beatrice Walker was killed by this gunfire.
Notable Bomb Sites
During the morning of 7th December 1943, a German plane flew over the Brede parish and fired its machine guns at ‘targets’ across the area. At Brede Hill, Brede, Violet Lewry was with her daughter on the way to catch a bus. Hearing the plane, she attempted to take cover in a shed, but the bullets passed through the shelter. Violet’s daughter, 14 month old Joyce Lewry, was wounded by these bullets and died later that day at the Buchanan Hospital.
There is some doubt about the exact location of the incident, as some sources say it happened at Westfield. However, Violet and Joyce lived at Hare Farm Cottages, Brede and the image shows the closest bus stops. As the attack took place in the morning, it’s possible that she might not have travelled to Westfield that early.
Notable Bomb Sites
During the morning of 7th December 1943, a German plane flew over the Westfield parish and fired its machine guns at cottages across the area. At Plumtree Cottages in Spray Lane, Joan Beeching, aged 28 was in her kitchen. She was hit several times by bullets and died later that day at Buchanan Hospital. Her son, lying asleep upstairs, and her neighbour escaped injury despite many other bullets passing through the houses.
Civilian
Name: Joyce Elizabeth Lewry
Died on: Monday, 7th December 1942
Died at: Westfield
Additional Information: Joyce Lewry, aged 14 months, was wounded when a German plane machine gunned, seemly at random, houses and civilians in and around Westfield. She died later that day at Buchanan hospital. One other person was killed in the attack.
Joyce was the daughter of Robert John and Violet Patricia Lewry. She lived at Hare Farm Cottage, Brede.
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Civilian
Name: Joan Primrose Beeching
Died on: Monday, 7th December 1942
Died at: Plumtree Cottages, Sprays Bridge, Westfield
Additional Information: Joan Beeching, aged 28, was wounded in her home when a German plane machine gunned, seemly at random, houses and civilians in and around Westfield. She died later that day at Buchanan hospital. One other person was killed in the attack.
Joan was married to William Henry Beeching and lived at Plumbtree Cottages.
She is buried at Sedlescombe Church cemetery.
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Civilian
Name: Beatrice Harriet Walker
Died on: Monday, 21st December 1942
Died at: 140 Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards
Additional Information: Beatrice Walker, was killed when an unknown fighter plane machine gunned Sedlescombe Road North, Marline Avenue, Madeira Drive, St Helen’s Road, Bexhill Road and Bultherhythe Road.
Beatrice, the daughter of Edwin and M P Hiscock, was married to Rev’d Joseph Walker. She lived at 11 Boscobel Road North, St Leonards.
I was unable to locate Beatrice’s grave marker in the main area of WW2 war graves, so she is likely buried else where on site. I will look to find it when I revisit Hastings Cemetery.
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