Bomb Incidents in the Borough of Newport 26th June 1940 to 1st March 1941
Compared to some Newport escaped relatively unscathed from German air raids and attacks during the Second World War. However, that is not to say that there were not some particularly difficult and distressing incidents caused by raids or single bombs dropped by the Germans. Between June 1940 and the end of 1941 bombs were dropped with regularity in Newport mainly at industrial targets.
In June 1940 bombs hit Newport in the St. Julian’s and Dewstow areas. The first recorded bomb is just after midnight on 26 June 1940 in the HE Aluminium Works in the grounds of Cleveland Oil Company. On September 13 a barrage balloon brought down a German Heinkel bomber in Stow Park Avenue causing unfortunate casualties see the amazing full story here.
On October 9 1940 a bomber targeted the docks area dropping a set of bombs in Pill, hitting the Alexandra Dock Hotel, killing the landlady and injuring several others.
On May 31 1941 in the Ridgeway area a solitary aircraft offloaded bombs killing 23 and injuring 24 as over 500 houses are damaged by the raid.
On July 1 1941 huge parachuted land mines fell on the Maindee, Eveswell and Beechwood areas killing 37 and injuring 42. Some of the victims were children, one as young as five (Eire Gimlett of 13 Eveswell Street). John Beal lived near to the affected area said “There were many broken windows in the area and damaged buildings surrounding Eveswell but where the land mine dropped houses were destroyed and lives lost. They were obviously aiming for the railway sidings and the munitions factory nearby…”. The History of the Newport Police Force stated “The night of the 1st July, 1941, was the worst experienced at Newport. Parachute mines were dropped on the Eveswell Street area, Kensington Place, Belle Vue Park, in a field off Christchurch Road, on Tredegar Park golf links, Beechwood Road, and near the Transporter Bridge. Thirty-seven people were killed and 42 seriously injured.”
The South Wales Argus reported “Enemy planes which raided a South Wales coastal town did damage to house property and caused some casualties.” (thanks to Shaun McGuire’s excellent Newport’s War Dead site for this press story and the detail below).
On October 7 1941 bombs dropped in Rogerstone resulted in the loss of a further 18 lives.
After this there is little or nothing. German attention shifted to Russia and ultimately the raids on British territory diminished. In 1944 on September 17 the black out was lifted in Newport and street lights were illuminated once again.
Date & Time Bomb Total Bomb Type Hit Location 26/06/1940 @ 00:12 hrs 1 H.E. Aluminium Works field to grounds of Cleveland Oil Company. 26/06/1940 @ 00:12 hrs 1 H.E. Petrol Depot nearby. 26/06/1940 @ 00:12 hrs 1 H.E. Cleveland Oil Company. 26/06/1940 @ 00:12 hrs 2 H.E. In dry Dock. (Eastern Dry Docks) 26/06/1940 @ 00:12 hrs 1 H.E U.X. West side of River in mud. ( U X ) 12/07/1940 @ 16:35 hrs 1 H.E. Bar Bank – Lysaghts Works. 12/07/1940 @ 16:35 hrs 1 H..E. In field – junction Nash Road/Troston Lane. 12/07/1940 @ 16:35 hrs 2 H.E. In River Usk near Lysaghts. 12/07/1940 @ 16:35 hrs 1 H.E. In field at Lower Locks Farm, Nash Road. 13/07/1940 @ 00:15 hrs 1 H.E. Waste Land Mendalgief Road near Belle Vue Railway Crossing. 13/07/1940 @ 00:15 hrs 5 H.E. Upon grounds at Alexandra Docks. 13/07/1940 @ 00:15 hrs 1 H.E. On Neptune Works of Braithwaites, Alexandra Docks. 10/08/1940 @ 01:00 hrs 5 H.E. All fell in river near Pier Head. 10/08/1940 @ 01:00 hrs 7 H.E. All fell in river off Nash Point 14/08/1940 @ 17:38 hrs 7 H.E. All fell in river near Eastern Dry Docks and British Aluminium Company Works. 23/08/1940 @ 23:15 hrs 1 H.E. Fell on numbers 27&28 Capel Street. 23/08/1940 @ 23:15 hrs 1 H.E. Fell on 56&59 Capel Street and blasted into Raglan Street. 26/08/1940 @ 22:10 hrs 1 H.E. Dewstow Street near numbers 9 & 11 & 12 & number 14 26/08/1940 @ 22:10 hrs 3 H.E Near Railway bridge, Stephenson Road and Messrs. Lysaghts Works Yard 29/08/1940 @ 23:40 hrs 1 H.E Builders Yard rear of 19 Beaufort Place. 29/08/1940 @ 23:40 hrs 1 H.E Garden rear of 48 Badminton Road. 29/08/1940 @ 23:40 hrs 1 H.E Allotments rear of Badminton Road. 29/08/1940 @ 23:40 hrs 2 H.E. Playing fields St.Julians High School 10/09/1940 @ 00:30 hrs 2 H.E. On Pasture Land at Malpas Court. 10/09/1940 @ 00:30 hrs 2 H.E. On Pasture Land at Gwastad Mawr, Malpas. 13/9/1940 @ 03:30 hrs 1 German Plane Plane unknown recorded crashed at 32 Stow Park Avenue. 14/09/1940 @ 00:23 hrs 5 H.E. All on Alexandra Docks premises near South Lock and R.A.F. Maintenance Unit. 16/09/1940 @ 21:45 hrs 1 H..E. North Dock Gates 16/09/1940 @ 21:45 hrs 1 H.E. Near Hydraulic Shed – North Dock. 25/09/1940 @ 20:55 hrs 5 INC All fell around Tredegar Park, Park Close, Park Avenue, and Railway line near Park Avenue. 25/09/1940 @ 22:40 hrs 2 H.E. In river near Lovell’s sweet Factory. 25/09/1940 @ 22:40 hrs 3 H.E. On the Lawn of “Bishopstowe” Stow Hill. 25/09/1940 @ 22:40 hrs 5 H.E. South of the river Ebbw, East of G.W.R. sheds (M.C.C. area) 09/10/1940 @ 20:00 hrs Unknown number INC Firbank and Hove Avenues 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H.E. Near Drill Hall, Dock Street. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H.E. Dock Hotel, Watchhouse Parade. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H.E. Rear 75, George Street. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H.E. Millman Street. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H.E. Lewis Street, rear of House. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H..E. Baldwin Street. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H.E. Railway Line at Capel Street. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs 1 H.E. Alexandra Dock near number 3 Hoist. 09/10/1940 @ 20:20 hrs Many unknown number INC Millman Street, Castle Street, Baldwin Street, R.A.F.Maintenance Unit, Alexandra Docks. 26/02/1941 @ 20:30 hrs 1 H.E. Number 5 Ombersley Road. 26/02/1941 @ 20:30 hrs 1 H.E. 27 Bassaleg Road. 26/02/1941 @ 20:30 hrs 1 H.E. 27 Cae Brynton Road. 26/02/1941 @ 20:30 hrs 1 H.E. 48 Fields Park Road. 26/02/1941 @ 20:30 hrs 1 H.E. 31 Fields Park Avenue. 26/02/1941 @ 20:30 hrs 1 H.E. Field between Stelvio and Cae Brynton Road. 26/02/1941 @ 20:30 hrs 1 H.E. U.X. Near Maesglas .
H.E. = HIGH EXPLOSIVE
U.X. = UNEXPLODED
INC = INCENDIARY