The day Nuneaton was bombed by the Germans - killing 130 people

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The day Nuneaton was bombed by the Germans - killing 130 people

Postby dutchman » Sun May 21, 2017 7:10 pm

76 years ago this week more than 100 people were killed in a devastating attack

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Church Street, Nuneaton after the bomb fell on May 17,1941 (Photo: Nuneaton Memories)

In the early hours of May 17, 1941, a bomb fell on Nuneaton.

Around 130 residents died in the raid during the World War II blitz.

Houses were destroyed leaving behind devastating damage.

The bomb on May 17 wasn’t the first to fall on the town. Air raids started on August 25, 1940, and lasted until July 28, 1942.

Bombs were once dropped in Nuneaton in error when the town was mistaken for Birmingham and it was often targeted due to it having munitions factories.

It suffered heavy bombing damage during the Second World War but May 17 was the worst attack.

The results were devastating. As well as the 130 deaths, 380 houses were destroyed and more than 10,000 homes were damaged.

Photos provided by Nuneaton Memories show the devastation left behind.

Today, during a walk through the town it is hard to imagine that it suffered this huge attack less than 100 years ago as the town was rebuilt after the war.

Around 10 years ago though, blitz victims were remembered with a memorial in the town.

It paid tribute to the innocent victims who lost their lives that day following an appeal by Ray Gibson whose sister died that day.

He worked to get the memorial to ensure people like his sister, who was only nine years old, are not forgotten.

The commemorative boulder can be seen near to the war memorial in Riversley Park.

For more historical photos and information about Nuneaton, go to http://www.nuneatonmemories.co.uk

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Manor Court Road, Nuneaton after the bomb fell on May 17,1941 (Photo: Nuneaton Memories)

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