The new plaque was unveiled in the Memorial Gardens. Photo credit: Richard Lucking
Chris Kilminster is a local historian with a special interest in the Second World War and – in particular – the Bath Blitz of 1942.
His seven year old sister Mary, and his mother, were amongst the 31 men, women and children who huddled together in a public air raid shelter at Roseberry Road in Twerton at 5 am on Sunday morning, April 26th, 1942.
Above them enemy bombers were laying waste to the city during the second of three raids that brought death and destruction to Bath.
It was at that moment that a large 500 kg bomb scored a direct hit on their place of refuge – and only three of those inside survived. Chris lost his sister. His mother (who re-married) survived – though she had lost her family and a leg.
In June 2019 l went to the site of that terrible tragedy where Chris was able to witness the realisation of a dream.
A riverside garden – named in honour of his sister – and a memorial unveiled to commemorate all 417 people in Bath who lost their lives during those terrible raids.
Now today at noon he unveiled – together with the Mayor of Bath, Cllr Michelle 0’Doherty -another memorial plaque – this time in the Memorial Gardens on Shaftesbury Road.
It bears the names of all the 66 children who were killed by enemy bombs in Bath during the last war.
He’s been doing detailed research through war casualty records and says he can think of no better time than Christmas to remember the lost souls who didn’t live to see peace and goodwill to all men return.
Our family of eight lived in Kingsmead Street and fortunately though the bombing was devastating and we were blitzed out of home we became Survivors of the Blitz. Unfortunately the Bath Blitz Project failed to convince the Council to erect a suitable memorial to the 417 who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As the survivor’s number fall by the year there is no longer any memorial service, which is rather sad. Now each year I go and place a bouquet of flowers by the plaque at the Cenotaph. With the changes taking place at Queen Square there is the opportunity for the Council to redeem themselves for a long overdue memorial.
Thank you so much as you righty say we are getting less every year it’s my continued aim too make sure the victims will always rememberd in our city of Bath. CHRIS KILMINSTER
May l Chris kilminster thank every one including the mayor her speech was was well received it was also attended by members of the public lots of tears were shed each child was individually addressed by full name and age we addressed the service as THE LOST GENERATION please take time to carefully read the names and ages often all the children in famlies finally l send my personal love to my sister MARY AGED 7 who lost in devastation of our city
Very well done Chris kilminster from your followers in our city of bath
Simply well done l am glad to say l was there