The scars of war

Today and tomorrow – April 25th & 26th, 2014 – mark the 72nd anniversary of the Bath Blitz of 1942 in which 714 men, women and children lost their lives. Hundreds more were injured and tens of thousands of buildings damaged or destroyed.

Three devastating Second World War air raids in which people were machine-gunned in the streets of a city which had no fixed defences against such terrifying aerial attacks.

The 'scars' of war still evident in this Bath-stone wall.
The ‘scars’ of war still evident in this Bath-stone wall.

We’re told they were retaliation raids against historic cities in this country following the Allied bombing of ancient German towns – like the medieval port of Lubeck.

james st west
A wider view of the same wall.

A tiny portion of shrapnel-scarred wall is still evident on the face of a building in James Street West.

The site is due to be re-developed for student accommodation but the wall is to remain as a lasting memorial to the terror and the future – more positive – hopes for the city and its people.

Any comments or  war-time memories from you – the Virtual Museum’s visitors – are very welcome.