The Blitz - 14th November 1940

Another anniversary approaches. 73 years ago tonight. RIP

Same day of the week as well - Thursday, as in 1974 (The Telephone Exchange), but that's another story which sadly reflects the date & day Incidentally, the CWGC site allows you to view the names, ages & addresses of the unfortunate civilian victims of the 1940 raids, in many cases women & children whose fathers etc. must have been away serving. It's possible to track a line of bombs dropped by the geography of the street names. One other sad fact I found was that one woman who lost her husband in the Oct or Nov 1940 raid was killed herself at another address in the city the following April.

A piece on this story - Coventration - The Coventry Blitz

Hi everyone I am posting on this forum for some information and advice regarding some research I am doing. During my research I came across this website and having emailed Rob directly he suggested I ask on here hence why I am posting. I hope that I do not offend or annoy anybody for contacting you all in this way. I am currently a researcher at Shiny Things Productions who are looking into creating a true stories film about evacuees during WW2. I am personally in charge of this research into WW2 and those that were evacuated. I am looking for people from a variety of backgrounds to share with me their true life stories and memories of being evacuated, what it was like, how it affected them etc. My research is vast and varied and I really am looking for people to allow us to tell their story as accurately as possible. I am obviously aware that this subject matter can be upsetting or awkward for people to talk about and would only seek to offer people the chance to tell their stories and be heard. The stories would not be altered in any way but would be told exactly how they happened. Many films skim over the subject of evacuees but this true life film would put the events at the heart of the film. We are in no way trying to exploit these memories. We would not change the stories we choose to film in any way given to us either by the child themselves or siblings and/or any correspondence available from that time. I am only interested in peoples own true life stories and telling/ reenacting those stories as accurately as possible. My own grandmother was an evacuee so I would treat each person and their story with the respect it deserves. To clarify I would not be filming you directly, I would be looking for people to share with me their stories which (with their permission) would then be reenacted as accurately as possible. This is being done so that people of ill health can also share their stories and memories without putting pressure on people. Even if you would not like your memories featured I would still like to include them in my research as the more information I have the truer and stronger the outcome of the film will be. If you have any advice or stories for me I would be very grateful for your help. This is a subject I am very passionate about and I believe that these stories of peoples lives should be told. I will of course be in touch to let you all know how the project is progressing. Thank you all for reading this post. If you would like to contact me with memories, advice, information or just to find out more then please feel free to contact me either by responding to this post, or via this email address: katrinateobald@gmail.com or you can call me on 07565858436. I hope that you are all well. Best Wishes Katrina Teobald

My dad was 12 when the war started and went to Coventry School at Cleobury Mortimer. The story he told us was on the night of the Blitz the boys could see the glow in the sky, they didn't know for sure but the Cov lads knew deep down it was Coventry. A group of them decided to run back home that night, my father included. He maintained that he was the only one to get back, the others giving up or being picked up on the way and taken back. He covered the 50 odd miles in a few hours, and got back not long after dawn to the devastation, not knowing who would still be alive in his family. He walked through Spon End which had been hit hard, past his pre-war home near the Arches, and on to Canley where he had moved when Gerrard and Queen Margarets Rd were built before the war. Eveyone was safe as obviously the outlying areas hadn't been hit as badly. Not long after he died a few years ago, my mum bumped into a chap who was with him at the school, and asked him, if it was true he was the only one who made it back to Coventry. The chap confirmed that he was the only one that made it back that night.

Thank you Jennie Brown for sharing your Granddad's story with us, so much detail and very interesting

Local author, David McGrory, has been asked to write a book about Coventry's Blitz, to be published next year, which will be the 75th anniversary of the Big Raid itself. One of the book's chapters will contain the memories of anyone who has recollections of the Blitz itself, and Dave will give full credit in his book to anyone who offers their memories of that terrible night. So, if anyone on here either remembers the blitz, or knows someone who would be willing to contribute their recollections, please get in touch so I can pass you on to Dave for inclusion in a book about one of the most significant events in our city's history. Cheers, Rob

Blitz Coventry in Colour. Telegraph photos keep scrolling right down.

Yes thank you too.a brilliantly told story. I can add one little fact maybe. "Evacuation to Dordon and school in Polesworth" My father George Turner was a teacher at Holbrooks Junior School and then Hen Lane He evacuated his family and some of the school (I don`t know which, but from this story,it sounds like Holbrooks) to Polesworth

My husband says there were air raid shelters in Burnaby Road and at the back of the Dunlop and the Jaguar in Holbrook Lane.

Les Mac, Yes I remember the shelter in Hall Green road, it wasn't used because of what you say, damp smelly and horrible,no idea of the pipe. I to was evacuated (to Ansty) but after two nights, bombs were dropped trying to hit the canal and Shilton Station, many cattle were killed in the field we had to cross to school, so dad brought us home. the droning of the engines was frightening, but we got to know when they were going to bypass Coventry, and went back to bed. I'd like to had that Jiebe story was the best real account of the people I have read, spot on.

Another year has passed On this day I always think also of Graham Clitheroe battling to save the roof of Holy Trinity Another special day in this week of special days

This time (8.25 pm) 74 years ago, I was in a shelter next to Edgewick School on the Foleshill Road with my parents, listening to the explosives of the bombs. The whole underground shelter shook which was very frightening. We went in the shelter at 7 pm and never came out until 7 am the following morning. I'll never forget the fires and smoke that we came out to. When I see the world news on TV my heart goes out to all those innocent people caught up in the senseless fighting that they are having to endure and to thank god that my family and I survived the Coventry blitz when over 600 Coventrians perished.