It’s been 75 years since the largest air raid on York by the enemy German forces.
The city was severely affected by the bombing raids, leaving thousands of homes, businesses and public spaces destroyed. To mark Remembrance Sunday YorkMix has looked at York’s air raid history.
March 1937 – Air Raid Wardens Service created
Back row, left to right: Newby, J. D. Holmes, A. L. Pearson, Col. I.N. Ware, A. Murphy, J. Donaldson, A. Hudson, G. Dwson, Councillor H.C. Deburgh
Front row, left to right: Birkett, C. J. Minter, H. Richardson, T. C. Benfield, R. S. Oloman, G. H. Hunt, R.B. Wright, E. Hardisty, W.G. Birch
Photograph: Explore York Libraries and Archives
By the end of the Second World War 6,383 wardens had lost their lives.
In York alone 1,000 volunteers kept the city as safe as they could.
The co-ordination of response to an air raid took place within the 15th century Guildhall.
From here it was decided that 36 public shelters would be installed before the air raids could take place. The largest was in Lower Priory Street, able to hold 477 people.
August 11 1940 – Four bombs fall on York
Four individual bombs fell in and around the city.
York cemetery was hit causing damage to the gravestones and surrounding area. One bomb lay unexploded between Clifford’s Tower and Piccadilly.
November 1940 – York Waterworks bomb
A bomb targeted York Waterworks, but penetrated the soft ground and caused very little damage.
October 1941 – German map created
April 29 1942 – the Baedeker raid
The Germans’ decision to hit York followed the RAF’s raid on the German city of Lubeck of March the same year.
It is believed that the city was chosen for its historical, cultural and industrial attributes. On the night the targets were strategic: the railway station, the carriageworks, the airfield.
More than 70 German planes were involved in the raid. Allied planes shot down four of them aircraft. Beginning at 2.30am and finishing 90 minutes later, the raid left 92 people dead and hundreds injured.
Houses and schools were destroyed, the Guildhall and St Martin-le-Grand Church on Coney Street burnt out. The Bar Convent collapsed after being hit, killing five nuns.
August 9 1942 – lone raider
A lone raider dropped four bombs in the centre of the city. Despite two bombs going unexploded, one person was killed, nine injured and 36 suffered minor injuries.
The rebuilding of York after the 1942 raids took decades.
But there is still evidence of the damage, including in the remains of St Martin-le-Grand.
And for those who lived through ‘York’s darkest night’ the memories are still strong.