North Shields Anderson Shelter Bombing Graves

[@Hellsconsort]

I'm from North Shields, lived there all my life. I can't remember if we learnt something about this in primary school or if I'm imagining it. Sad stuff, that whole family - several generations! Thanks for sharing man.

[@sineadspencer6444]

Hi Dave. Thank you for uploading this. I cried at the end as the last headstone you showed is actually my family the steele’s and Swinney’s. Swinney was my Nannas maiden name and she was evacuated during the war and lost her whole family Mary Ann (grandmother) Doreen (Aunt) Jane and Peter (Mother and father) and David (brother) she was 8 years old at the time and was only left with her other brother and Aunty who was also in the house, they were not in the Anderson’s shelter at the time it was a direct hit from a land mine on their house. I’m currently doing research to make a family video so we don’t forget our family history! Thank you for uploading I have never seen this grave in person as my Nanna moved to Australia in the 60s which is where we all are now.

[@blustardave]

My dads oldest brother was a sailor in the war and his body was found washed up on a beach in scotland. He was trying to help his mate, and he was also found, within the grasp of my uncle i never met..He was only 17.. There is also a war memorial in the cem. That has lots of graves, most of them aged 17, 18, 19.. Such a great loss...War is like a broken pencil...Pointless..

[@blustardave]

Hi..Thanks for watching..:).. It is sad that so many people lost their lives that night..I've also lived in shields all my life..:)..What school did you go to?.. Regards..Dave

[@baconsoda]

One of the saddest sights I ever saw is a row of graves in a graveyard in Donegal. They are 7 or 8 graves of British sailors who were washed ashore in WW2. Some have names, most don't but, for me as a child, it was the ages that were shocking, 17,18... These were children.

[@colette093]

Hi Dave, thanks for uploading this. Could you please tell me which cemetary this was and @ginSkimPivot, how I could find the details to contact Rowland park. I am writing a play which will be called 'Lemonade Raid' and will be performed in Newcastle in April/May based on the Lemonade Shelter and the community who used it. . I am meeting a survivor of that night and she will be telling me her story. I'll be sure to keep you updated on my findings thanks! Colette :)

[@blustardave]

Hi Jo..Thanks for watching..It is sad.. An Anderson shelter is an air raid shelter. :) Dave

[@blustardave]

Thanks for the comments..:)..I have lived in North Shields all my life, as did my Grandparents, and Great Grandparents.. My mothers family lived on the fish quay, on Bird Street, during the war, and my fathers family lived on the Balkwell estate.. I have a video, with pictures and footage of the bombings , including footage of the pop factory, and some footage of the coronation street bombing... I will try and get some uploaded onto here for you..:) Regards...Dave

[@blustardave]

It is sad Bob..Many of North Shields community died pointlessly in that raid..

[@blustardave]

Hi Colette, and thanks for your interest in my vid. The cem is in North Shields, Preston cemetary. And i can tell you how to get in contact with Roland Park also...He is also in the cem, i have uploaded another vid, which contains footage from the pop factory bombing, if that is also any help, and as for pics, they will be in the local library.. I also know a few survivors of that night..Me for example...lol.. If my grandma hadnt cooked a roast on that night, i couldn't have typed this..:)

[@allotmentlazyness]

you see programs on tv but it does not sink in until you see the graves, i was taken round a grave yard near cannock chase, so many names, makes me wonder if those that wage war have the same kind of feelings. i think i was better for the visit

[@DavidM2002]

My great uncle along with his wife and daughter were killed in that bombing. Joseph, Margaret, and Mary Gray.

[@Gehenna71]

You should come to Tyne Cot Cemetery (and a lot more) One can not imagine till he sees it. Can you imagine THOUSANDS died for 5 meters of mud? Flanders Fields ... pointless deaths, human kind learned nothing. Absolutely nothing.

[@TheCajuntransplant]

Just an observation, from what i could see the dates are not all the same. For example the first headstone was the 6th of May 1941 and the Steele family was 30th of September 1941. So maybe all during WW2 just different events. Thanks for the history though.

[@blustardave]

It took months to recover all the bodies from the site. Maybe that is why the different dates. All the graves on this burial site are the bodies of the families that were killed in the pop factory shelter. Thanks for the comment.

[@TheCajuntransplant]

@@blustardave Thanks for the clarification. It was just all too devastating.

[@blustardave]

@@TheCajuntransplant Yes it was a devastating blow to the town. Whole families gone from baby to gran in one night. The pop factory was used as an anderson shelter. Everyone was in the cellar as it was thought to be safe deep underground but the force of the bomb caused all the heavy factory equiptment to fall into the cellar unfortunately killing everyone. The bombers were bombing the shipbuilding dock nearby. Tragic. Thanks again for your interest.

[@TheCajuntransplant]

@@blustardave I appreciate you posting the video and responding so quickly. My heart just aches at the massive loss. Getting on the internet is like going down a rabbit hole. You never know where it may lead you. I am so glad I stumbled upon your channel.

[@blustardave]

Hi..I have uploaded a vid with footage from bombing during the war..check it out, i'm sure it has coronation street on it...:).. Look for.. North Shields. During The War. Cheers