Gravestone to 131 killed in Nuneaton's worst night of Blitz rededicated on anniversary...

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The poignant ceremony took place exactly 80 years after the town suffered its biggest and most horrific loss



A poignant rededication ceremony has been made to the gravestone that honours the 131 killed in Nuneaton's worst night of Blitz.

It took place this morning (May 17) - exactly 80 years to the day when bombs rained down from the skies and caused utter devastation to huge parts of the town.

Overnight on May 16 and 17, 1941, Nuneaton suffered its own horrific Blitz where 131 people, including one child, were killed in just one night.

There is a mass grave to honour them in Oaston Road cemetery, but historian Ben Mayne had noticed it had started to sink into the ground.

He was determined to get the headstone re-stored in time for the anniversary today (May 17) and, following a remarkable effort between himself, Nuneaton Memories and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, it was achieved.

As a result, the gravestone was fully restored to its previous white colour, the precious words to the fallen re-painted and now it cuts a proud and poignant figure in the cemetery.

To mark its restoration a small rededication ceremony was held, with Father Brian Regan providing a short but touching service before he blessed the stone.

He said: "We dedicate this beautiful headstone in the memory of all those unnamed souls who lost their lives in May 1941.

"God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, bless this grave, which we mark a resting place of all those who were lost in this cruel bombing. That they may have everlasting life and rejoice with your saints forever."

Even more fittingly, watching on and paying her respects was Ben Mayne's grandmother, Margaret Corbett.

She had celebrated her fifth birthday on May 16, 1941, blissfully unaware that later that evening her whole family's life would be changed forever.

They lived in Heath End Road, one of the hardest hit areas during the bombing and had it not been for her father's quick actions, she and her then six-year-old brother would not have lived to tell the tale.

Exactly 80 years on, she stood in front of the gravestone to those who did not survive the horror of the bombings, stood next to her grandson, who has made it his mission to ensure that all those who lost their lives on the night are remembered.

Together with Mark Palmer of Nuneaton Memories, the Nuneaton resident is trying to trace all those who lost their lives on that night - and have found some who were buried in Bucks Hill and Attleborough cemeteries.

But they will not stop until all of those who lost their lives in the horrors of May 1941 are remembered.