Before l die

Richard Wyatt

Seventy-eight years ago, Chris Kilminster was born into a Bath family that had suffered loss during the Second World War.

Five members of it had been killed by a Luftwaffe bomb that landed on the air raid shelter in which they had taken cover during the city’s infamous Baedeker Raids.

Chris has this image taken after the raids of 1942

For 55 years of his life, he’s been researching every aspect of how Bath reeled from bombing raids that killed 417 people and damaged or destroyed 19,000 buildings.

The unveiling of a memorial to those killed in the Roseberry Road air raid shelter

He’s also made it his mission to establish memorials at several sites in the city.

I took this picture of Chris during the unveiling of the Roseberry Road memorial in the newly established ‘Mary’s Memorial Garden’ back in 2019. Thinking that he had achieved his aim to never forget what happened there. Little did l know then that he would go on to decide there is more to do!

Now he wants help from his fellow citizens and/or benefactors to stump up the cash so he can seek permission for a special city-centre plaque which would explain what happened during those dark days.

Chris is suggesting Orange Grove as a possible site for the new memorial.

I am no hero, says Chris, but time is short. I am getting on in years, and not in the best of health, and would love to see this special marker in place before l die.

Willi Schludecker – pictured as the 21-year-old pilot who took part in the bomber raids over Bath

He joined me at Wyatt’s Place for an hour, and l hope you will find time to hear what he had to say. Including his account of the German bomber pilot who came back to Bath to say sorry for what he – and his fellow members of the Luftwaffe – had done to the city and its people.

I have put the direct link to Spotify and Wyatt’s Place here. There are many other podcasts to listen to as well at this location.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/richard-wyatt0/episodes/Chris-Kilminster—the-man-on-a-mission-to-ensure-we-never-forget-how-Bath-faced-its-wartime-bombers-e373bo7

If you want to contact Chris, his email is kilminster@aol.com

Let’s get talking about Chris’s idea for a central memorial so our younger citizens, students and visitors can know that our city of light endured such darker days.

Meanwhile, on the subject of the Bath Blitz, an email and photo from Malcolm Miktchell.

He writes: ‘This is a photo of Kingsmead showing the bomb damage. with reference to your recent chat with Chris Kilminster. The bombed church spire bisects our cottage, where our family of eight survived the first two raids of the Blitz by sheltering in the coal house.’

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.

3 Comments

  1. Unfortunately the Bath Blitz Project worked hard to have a memorial for the 417 victims in the City Centre but failed in their efforts. Sadly many not with us any longer so their Memorial Services no longer take place. As my family were Survivors of the Blitz we supported there efforts. Sadly this is down to the Council once again and I heard no celebration for VJ Day.

  2. I post-date the Bath Blitz by 9 years, but my parents & eldest brother survived it – although they were living in Odd Down at the time. My father was actually on fire-watching duties at the Paragon when it was hit (with Harry Patch – last surviving soldier of WW1, when he died a few years back). This would be a worthy memorial – along with the names of those who actually died on Bath’s War Memorial. Is there a specific website/page to facilitate donations, I wonder?

    http://www.bathheritagewatchdog.org/bathblitz/

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