9 Grosvenor Gardens, St Leonards

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.

At 9 Grosvenor Gardens in St Leonards, 77 Year Old Margaret Redhead was killed during the attack. He death was probably caused by machine gun fire, as there are no bombs recorded as striking nearby.

In a bad day for the town, a total of 23 were killed, and 43 other injured, 21 seriously.

61 Warrior Square, St Leonards

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.

Warrior Square in St Leonards is a seafront park surrounded by high rise hotels and accommodation. The impact of the bombs collapsed several of these buildings, burying many people under the rubble. The evidence of this devastation can still be seen today. There are several buildings whose architecture is out of place with the majority of Victorian buildings that surround the central gardens. These are the ones that were damaged or demolished by the bombs.

At 61 Warrior Square seven people died;

Annie Harding
Mary Limb
Louis Loup
Mary Loup
Florence Mayer
Ada Miller
Alice Poole

In a bad day for the town, a total of 23 were killed, and 43 other injured, 21 seriously.

Bannow, Quarry Hill, St Leonards

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.

At the Bannow, a National Institute for the Blind, a bomb struck one of the outer wings of the building. Two residents, Dorothy Dean and Edith Waite were killed there and several others injured.

In a bad day for the town, a total of 23 were killed, and 43 other injured, 21 seriously.

5 to 7 West Hill Road, St Leonards

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.

484 Bexhill Road, St Leonards

On Monday 30th September 1940 a lone bomber dropped a high explosive bomb near to 484 Bexhill Road, St Leonards. Henry Cook, who lived at the address, died as a result of the explosion.

This happened on the same day as a bomb exploded over Hastings Town Centre, causing the most casualties in a single day up to that point in the war.

Carisbrooke Road, St Leonards

On Thursday 26th September 1940 a lone bomber dropped 14 HE bombs on Carisbrooke Road, London Road, Norman Road, Alfred Street and Silchester Road. The town suffered two attacks on this day.

Mary Backman, aged 74, was injured at Carisbrooke Road, St Leonards and died two days later. The image above shows the approximate location, based on the original bomb map featured in the publication ‘Hastings and St Leonards in the Front Line’. Two other people were killed in the raids, and several others injured.

25 Magdalen Road, St Leonards

On Wednesday 25th September 1940 St Leonards was subjected to two attacks at 1:15pm and 2:20pm. Eighteen high explosive bombs and 1 oil incendiaries were dropped. Properties in King’s Road, Western Road, Royal Terrace, Magdalen Road were severely damaged. Shornden Reservoir in Alexandra Park was also hit.

Victoria Hicks was killed in the raid whilst sheltering at her home at 25 Magdalen Road. Two other people were killed in the raids, but I’m unable to find out who they were. Sixteen other people were seriously injured.

Christ Church School, St Leonards

On Tuesday 10th September 1940 at 5:30pm nine high explosive bombs were dropped across St Leonard’s at Hollington Park, The Green, Sedlescombe Road South, Tower Road West, St Peter’s Road, Cloudsley Road, Woodland Vale Road and Christchurch School. Around 30 incendiary bombs were also dropped during the raid, setting several roof fires which were quickly brought under control by the Fire Service.

Amelia Wheeler was wounded near to Christ Church School and her home at 6 Tower Road. She died later that day at the Buchanan Hospital.

35 St Peter’s Road, St Leonards

On Tuesday 10th September 1940 at 5:30pm nine high explosive bombs were dropped across St Leonard’s at Hollington Park, The Green, Sedlescombe Road South, Tower Road West, St Peter’s Road, Cloudsley Road, Woodland Vale Road and Christchurch School. Around 30 incendiary bombs were also dropped during the raid, setting several roof fires which were quickly brought under control by the Fire Service.

Florence Cornwall was badly injured near her home at 35 St Peter’s Road and died later that day at the Buchanan Hospital.