Home History of Seaham - Stories and remarkable and memorable events in the history of Seaham Seaham and World War 2 Air raid over Seaham 15th August 1940 by Les Alexander

Air raid over Seaham 15th August 1940 by Les Alexander

Air Raid Over Seaham, 1940

 

 

Through July and early August,1940 there had been air-raid warnings in the Seaham area but ‘All Clear’ sirens sounded without there being any enemy aircraft making an appearance over Seaham. Most enemy aircraft at this time seemed to be searching the North Sea for convoys and were well away from our coast.

The Battle of Britain had been raging in the south of England and R.A.F. Fighter Command had been stretched to the limit trying to contain the onslaught. Some fighter squadrons were sent north into 13 Group area to take much needed rest and recuperation.

On the morning of Thursday15 August a surprise attack on North East airfields was launched by the Luftwaffe. At first there were a number of float planes deployed in an attempt to foil radar into thinking this was the main attack. However, it is believed that for some reason the DR navigation was wrong and the main attacking force arrived over land just south of Holy Island. This force comprising of bombers of the Lion Geschwader of Luftflotte 5 stationed in Stavanger, Norway, then turned south, moving down the coast of Northumberland and Durham.

The Chain-Home radar station at Turnhouse reported a large formation of enemy bombers approaching. The radar operators had not seen such a force before and could not say exactly how many aircraft were involved but it was obviously a large number. 13 Group Command scrambled 72 Squadron based at Acklington to engage the enemy.

By the time the raiders reached Seaham the sky was black with aircraft. Most were Heinkel 111 bombers accompanied by escorting Messerschmitt Bf110 fighters from the Zerstorer (Destroyer) unit. 72 Squadron were soon joined by Hurricanes of 49 Squadron also from Acklington as well as 607 Squadron from Usworth and 605 from Drem in southern Scotland. More Spitfires from 41 Squadron at Catterick were scrambled to join the fray.

Two seven-year-old boys, (we’ll call them James and David), played in the street in Beech Crescent, Parkside on that warm August day. As the siren sounded James asked his dad if he could go with David into their air raid shelter at the back of his house over the road. There did not seem to be any cause for concern, after all, everyone was getting used to ‘Warning’ and ‘All Clear sirens’ without anything going on in between. David and James ran back over the road and climbed down into the Anderson shelter. They sat together on the long bunk bed next to David’s mother while David’s dad sat by the wooden door fixed to the corrugated steel entrance.

Within two or three minutes the sound of anti-aircraft gunfire could be heard in the distance. Soon the anti-aircraft guns seemed to be all around, producing a deafening noise mixed together with that of exploding bombs, screaming aircraft engines and the rattle of their gunfire. Crows and rooks from Dawdon Dene were in a panic and every bird was airborne and calling out in their fright.

David’s mother pulled the two boys down and covered their heads with cushions, crouching over them. Both boys were crying and scared they were going to die. In time the terrible noise died away; the two boys came out from under the cushions and David’s mother wiped away the tears from their eyes. The ‘all-clear’ siren sounded and James ran back across the road into the arms of his mother and father; they were safe. Inside the house the vibration from bombs and gunfire had brought down all the soot in the chimney and was piled high across the hearth and rug.

By this time what was left of the raiders was heading out over the North Sea after jettisoning their bombs over Seaham. One Heinkel had been harassed by three Hurricanes and it came down in the sea just off the coast at Dawdon. It lay on the surface for a while before sinking. The lifeboat had been launched but, by the time they reached the spot, there were no survivors to be found.

A number of houses in Ilchester Street, Stavordale Street and Fenwick’s Row were hit by bombs and a number of people were killed. Four people in one house were killed and in the same street Mrs Shaw, a widow, was killed and also her daughter, Mrs Johnson. However, Mrs Johnson’s eighteen-month-old baby survived with only minor injuries. Others killed in the raid were Mrs Ferry and Mr Edward Swan. Those taken to hospital for treatment were Mr Henry Gale, Mrs Gale, Mr J Harvey, Mr Patrick Brett, Mr Nicholas Brown, Mr Robert Bird, Mrs Elizabeth Kirby, Mr George Cummings, Mr John Ferry and Mr Thomas Herrington. In another street three houses were hit and it was here that Mr Swan and Mrs Tempest were killed.

Dawdon Parish Church was damaged by a bomb and a large hole was made in the north wall. The roof also suffered much damage as did the vicarage next to the church. The vicar, the Reverend James Duncan, took shelter under the stairs when the warning siren sounded. Within minutes bombs fell on both sides of the vicarage blowing off heavy doors and badly damaging the kitchen near where the vicar was taking shelter. The vicar’s dog took shelter in the only room that was not damaged and a pet canary in the dining room was also unhurt.

James and David met again in the street and some older boys told them that there was a lot of shrapnel to be found all over Parkside. James said he would get a paper bag to put the pieces in and the two young lads started picking up the jagged-edged pieces of shell fragments. The pieces were still very hot and holding the paper bag for more than a few minutes was difficult.

Someone came round from the corner of Daphne Crescent and said there were two unexploded bombs in the field between Daphne Crescent and the Dawdon Dene. James and David ran round into Daphne Crescent and joined a small group of people standing by the wooden fence at the edge of the field. A.R.P. wardens had called for the bomb disposal men. A man was showing some of the people where bullets from the aircraft had hit some of the house walls in Daphne Crescent.

Before long the sound of aircraft could be heard again but this time they were three R.A.F. fighters returning to their base in Durham. The small crowd of people in Daphne Crescent waved and cheered at the aircraft and probably other small crowds gathered around Seaham did the same. The fighter at the back of the three did a ‘victory roll’ and this brought louder cheering from the crowd. This ‘victory roll’ though frowned on by Commanding Officers was a great morale booster for those below who had just come through the most terrible ordeal. Young James and David, with an arm around the other’s shoulder, waved and cheered these heroes in the sky who had chased away the enemy.

On Saturday 17 August, the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry arrived in Seaham to inspect the damage done to houses and they called on the Reverend Duncan at the church and spoke to members of the public, sympathising with the bereaved and injured.

On Monday 19 August the funeral of those lost made a sad procession through crowds to Seaham cemetery and men stood bare headed as a mark of respect.

The first was that of Mr Thomas Rochester and his wife, Eleanor and their daughters, Eileen, who was just nineteen and Joyce who was fourteen.

A home service was conducted for the funeral of Mrs Barbara Ferry and her daughter Doreen, another fourteen-year-old. Doreen had been a member of the Girl Guides and a small detachment of Girl Guides brought a wreath.

The next cortège to follow was that of Mrs Edna Tempest, mourned by her husband, Charles Tempest in his naval uniform and a brother in the navy and two brothers-in-law in the army also attended.

The funeral of Mrs Shaw and her daughter, Mrs Mary Johnson followed with a service at home and at the cemetery. Mrs Shaw was a widow from the First World War and her daughter was employed at Seaham Hall Sanatorium. Mrs Johnson’s husband, a miner, was chief mourner and there were representatives of the Miners’ Lodge and also nurses from the sanatorium present.

The last funeral was that of Mr Edward Swan, a colliery banksman. and representatives of the Miners’ Lodge attended the service conducted by the Reverend E.N.O. Gray.

This daylight raid over Seaham came as a great shock to the people of the town but they were determined to get on with their lives and face any future difficulties that might come. At a special meeting of New Seaham Working Men’s’ Club, it was decided to lend to the Government £1,000 free of interest until the end of the war. This was a typical reaction to the attack on Seaham and other local groups looked at more ways to help the war effort. This spirit was not confined to the adult population alone and many children joined in fund raising efforts to raise money for the ‘Spitfire Fund’. One group of thirteen children, led by two older girls, Marion Fail of Ranksborough Street and Tessie Lennox of Stanley Street North, who organised things, set about their fund-raising campaign. The younger children included Rita Fail, Edna Lennox, Joe Lennox, Hazel Oliver, June Sandy, Betty Pemberton, Theresa Scholin, Margaret Cowan, Vera Watson, Frances Watson and Hazel Bell. These enthusiastic young children raised £1 6s 7d which was forwarded to the ‘Spitfire Fund’ by the Chairman of Seaham Urban Council, by Mr F.H. Lee.

In Dalton-le-Dale, the Chairman of the Parish Council, Mr. Henry Crow, made an appeal for donations which he said would be in the form of a thanksgiving for their safe deliverance after the recent attack. ‘We owe our safety and survival to the vigilance of the Royal Air Force and the gunners of the Anti-aircraft Batteries who are able to speak to the raiders in a language they understand,’ said Mr Crow.

Four days after the attack on the North East, a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Durham Miners’ Federation on Monday 19 August, 1940 had before it a proposal to consider handing over £10,000 from their funds for the purpose of buying two Spitfire Aircraft. The proposal, if accepted by the miners, was seen as the appropriate answer to Hitler’s bombing over the North East. Will Lawther said that they would hand over to the R.A.F.two Spitfires that would harass still further these ‘murderers of the air’. Of course this resolution was carried unanimously.

In early April, 1941 the Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook, sent a bronze plaque on an oak base to be presented to the Durham Miners’ Association. The plaque was inscribed, ‘In the hour of peril Durham Miners’ Association earned the gratitude of the British Nations sustaining the valour of the Royal Air Force and fortifying the cause of freedom by the gift of two Spitfire aircraft.’ The inscription ended with, ‘They shall mount up with wings as eagles.’

To underline the importance of coal in the war effort, there was a meeting in the Miners’ Hall, Durham 5 July, 1941. A t this meeting, miner’s representatives throughout the county, including those from Seaham, heard an appeal by Admiral Sir Edward Evans for the miners in the Durham coalfield to give their fullest effort in coal production over the next few months.

Underlining this message, Sir Edward introduced the two pilots who were now flying the two Spitfires that had been paid for with the £10,000 donated by the Durham Miners’ Federation. The two pilots were greeted with loud cheering.

The two pilots were Flight Lieutenant J.N. McKenzie D.F.C. from New Zealand and Pilot Officer Balbage D.F.M. Flight Lieutenant McKenzie had nine enemy aircraft to his credit

and Pilot Officer Balbage, eight. Balbage said, ‘You have contributed two grand little aircraft. It would do your hearts good to see the number of Spitfires now flying over the other side on these sweeps.’

The Minister for Aircraft Production had named the two Spitfires, ‘Miner’s of Durham I’ (R.A.F. No. P8089) and ‘Miners of Durham II’ (R.A.F. No. P8091). Miners of Durham I was at that time flying with 43 Air Fighting Development Unit and Miners of Durham II was with 74 Squadron, now at Acklington in Northumberland.

Sir Edward also brought a message from the Minister of Food, Lord Woolton, who said, ‘I will do all that is possible to do, with the food resources at my command, to see that the miners of the county are properly fed. Already, in many places, pit-head canteens have been established. I hope that will rapidly increase in number and in usefulness.’

It seems that Hitler had misjudged the fortitude of the people of the North East and in particular the mining families here. It is worth remembering that this was a time when the British people were very thankful to the Durham miners for their contribution towards the successful outcome to World War II.

 

 

Les Alexander as a young boy lived through this event on 15th August 1940. This is his story.