Blitz Grangetown (@blitzgrangetown) 's Twitter Profile
Blitz Grangetown

@blitzgrangetown

Remembering the Blitz bombing in Grangetown, Cardiff 80 years ago

ID: 1344254810686681089

linkhttps://www.blitzexperience.co.uk/project-rz4dl calendar_today30-12-2020 12:12:09

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191 Followers

12 Following

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David Jones, 84, a retired cafe manager, his wife Emma and three daughters, aged 47, 48, and 50 all died at No 10 Clydach St. Another neighbour died with Carrie and Thomas Lyons at No 8, the parents of Dillon. The rescue party was based nearby at the old YMCA, now the mosque.

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Wartime censorship meant there was very little detail of what happened and where. The next morning's paper did not even name Cardiff. The days and weeks ahead would see more information released but little of the amazing courage shown by ordinary people, who saved many lives.

Wartime censorship meant there was very little detail of what happened and where. The next morning's paper did not even name Cardiff. The days and weeks ahead would see more information released but little of the amazing courage shown by ordinary people, who saved many lives.
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Kathleen Morgan, 27, died at home when a bomb damaged 52 Paget Street, a corner shop and off licence, she ran while her husband was with the RAF. Her toddler daughter Mary was with her at the time but survived.

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Nearby, fruit and potato salesman Lloyd Roberts, 29, was killed at 60 Paget Street. He was at the home of neighbour Francis Gregan, 61, who appears to have survived.

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Charlie Ayland, 58, died of a fractured skull after 43 Pentrebane St was bombed. In the backyard next door, while visiting his in-laws, Len Roodhouse, 31, was killed. His wife was expecting their first baby

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There was extensive damage to Llandough hospital too. The youngest Grangetown casualty was a patient there, three-month-old baby Peter Gillman, of 13 Corporation Road. His death certificate gives no more details, other than it was "as a result of war operations"

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There were around 70 deaths in Grangetown alone. Hundreds of homes, like this one in Avondale Crescent, were damaged. Neighbouring districts in Butetown, Riverside, as well as Canton and Roath also suffered casualties before last bomb fell at 04.50.

There were around 70 deaths in Grangetown alone. Hundreds of homes, like this one in Avondale Crescent, were damaged. Neighbouring districts in Butetown, Riverside, as well as Canton and Roath also suffered casualties before last bomb fell at 04.50.
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There was also an undoubted mental toll, grief and stress. Our research uncovered several suicides in Cardiff, unreported. The brave policeman who risked his life in the Ferry Rd rubble, died young, deeply traumatised. "All he did was wander around in a daze," said his widow.

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Look around Grangetown, like here in Jubilee St, and other parts of Cardiff and you can see how the Blitz redrew the lines, where parts of Victorian terrace once where.

Look around Grangetown, like here in Jubilee St, and other parts of Cardiff and you can see how the Blitz redrew the lines, where parts of Victorian terrace once where.
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Look out for a forthcoming book on Cardiff and The Blitz, by Steve Duffy (Wordcatcher Publishing), including many of these themes and tonight's stories in depth, along with what happened 1940-1943 in other areas. Dedicated to extraordinary, unsung efforts of many ordinary people.

Look out for a forthcoming book on Cardiff and The Blitz, by Steve Duffy (Wordcatcher Publishing), including many of these themes and tonight's stories in depth, along with what happened 1940-1943 in other areas. Dedicated to extraordinary, unsung efforts of many ordinary people.
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Across Cardiff, there were 165 deaths and 427 injuries. Of the seriously wounded, 21 were children. On top of thousands of fire bombs, between 95 and 100 high explosive bombs and parachute mines were dropped. *We remember - and we continue to work for a peaceful world.*

Across Cardiff, there were 165 deaths and 427 injuries.
Of the seriously wounded, 21 were children. On top of thousands of fire bombs, between 95 and 100 high explosive bombs and parachute mines were dropped. 
*We remember - and we continue to work for a peaceful world.*
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3 Jan 1941: Firemen still working, boy rescued from rubble in Riverside as children played, search for remains + effects at Hollymans, plea for blood donors, more die in hospital, unexploded bomb in Bromsgrove St, blood runs in the gutter in Ferry Rd

3 Jan 1941: Firemen still working, boy rescued from rubble in Riverside as children played, search for remains + effects at Hollymans, plea for blood donors, more die in hospital, unexploded bomb in Bromsgrove St, blood runs in the gutter in Ferry Rd
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If you missed this on Saturday you can still catch up with the amazing work produced by the artists and young people as part of the #NTBE project commemorating 80 years since the #Grangetown Blitz. Take a look blitzexperience.co.uk

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Alfred Townsend, 66, of 23 Knole Street, Grangetown, died of injuries 15 days after Blitz Grangetown. Injured 2 Jan 1941, in Forrest Street. Left a widow Jessie and two sons. Brought up in Splott, worked as railway wagon repairer. #WW2 #80years

Alfred Townsend, 66, of 23 Knole Street, Grangetown, died of injuries 15 days after <a href="/BlitzGrangetown/">Blitz Grangetown</a>. Injured 2 Jan 1941, in Forrest Street. Left a widow Jessie and two sons. Brought up in Splott, worked as railway wagon repairer. #WW2 #80years
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Imagine 53 of these exploding in one night, not controlled or people at a safe distance, and many more bombs dropped besides. #CardiffBlitz

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William Morgan, 69, a fruit seller from Court Road, Grangetown, died in St David's hospital on 1 March 1941, two months after being badly injured in the #Cardiff #Blitz while in Neville Street, Riverside on the night of 2/3 January. The widower was buried in Cathays Cemetery.

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Gunner George Conway, 43, died #WW2 #OnThisDay 1941, with Royal Artillery, 77 HAA Regiment, believed to be on anti-aircraft duties during Blitz, possibly northern England. Lived in Bromfield St with wife Frances & three children. Formerly of Cathays. Buried at Cathays Cemetery.

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The body of Mary Noble, 42, recovered from site of Blitz bombing on corner of Ferry Rd, #WW2 #OnThisDay 1941, nearly four months before. Her son also killed but daughter rescued.