Barrow Blitz
Encyclopedia
The Barrow Blitz is the name given to the Luftwaffe
bombings of Barrow-in-Furness
, England
during World War II
. It took place primarily during April and May 1941, although the earliest Luftwaffe bombing occurred in September 1940.
Zeppelin
flew very low and slowly over Barrow, which locals and government officials alike believed was spying on the shipyard, although it claimed to be simply carrying passengers on a luxury trip. The town, with a population of around 75,000 in 1941, was targeted by the Luftwaffe mainly for its shipbuilding industry (similar to the Clydebank Blitz
) which was one of the most sophisticated in the world and built many submarines and ships for the Royal Navy
.
was home to two of the country's many coastal artillery installations (Hilpsord Fort and Fort Walney), numerous pillboxes
can to this day be found littered across the Walney coastline. They were used as lookouts and contained rifles and light machine guns that could be used to defend Barrow against the Luftwaffe. The entrance to a large underground air-raid shelter
that was used by shipyard workers can be found in the car park of the Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness development
. A large unit of the Royal Air Force
was based at Barrow/Walney Island Airport which was expanded during the war in an effort to aid Britain's air defences.
were even forced to seek refuge in hedgerows on the outskirts of Barrow. This shortage of shelters was believed to have led to excessively high casualties. Two fire watchers were killed in May 1941 when the hammer head crane they were stationed in at Vickers Shipyard was bombed by the Luftwaffe.
The headquarters of Barrow's anti-aircraft defences was in the Furness Abbey Hotel. A sandstone building next to the former railway station by the ruins of the abbey
, in a valley screened by trees, it would seem to have been an unlikely target. In May 1941 it was attacked and badly damaged by the Luftwaffe. Barrow Central Station
was heavily damaged on 7 May 1941; a First World War memorial located within it still bears the holes and gashes caused by the bombings.
wrote a diary of her everyday experiences on the home front during the war for the Mass-Observation
project. Her memoirs were later adapted for television. Barrow's main war memorial is a cenotaph
located in Barrow Park. It bears the names of hundreds of Barrovians who died in combat during various wars, including 616 in the First World War, 268 in the Second World War, and 6 in the Korean War
. The Dock Museum
in Hindpool
contains an exhibit about the Barrow Blitz.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
bombings of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It took place primarily during April and May 1941, although the earliest Luftwaffe bombing occurred in September 1940.
Prelude
Many Barrovians believe the first sign of German interest of the town was in May 1936, when the HindenburgLZ 129 Hindenburg
LZ 129 Hindenburg was a large German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, the lead ship of the Hindenburg class, the longest class of flying machine and the largest airship by envelope volume...
Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
flew very low and slowly over Barrow, which locals and government officials alike believed was spying on the shipyard, although it claimed to be simply carrying passengers on a luxury trip. The town, with a population of around 75,000 in 1941, was targeted by the Luftwaffe mainly for its shipbuilding industry (similar to the Clydebank Blitz
Clydebank Blitz
The Clydebank Blitz refers to two devastating Luftwaffe air raids on the shipbuilding town of Clydebank in Scotland which took place in March 1941.-The air raids:...
) which was one of the most sophisticated in the world and built many submarines and ships for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Artillery and defences
During the Second World War, Walney IslandWalney Island
The Isle of Walney, also known as Walney Island, is an island in the United Kingdom which lies off the west coast of England, at the northern tip of Morecambe Bay. It forms part of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, and it is separated from the mainland at Barrow by Walney Channel, a narrow channel...
was home to two of the country's many coastal artillery installations (Hilpsord Fort and Fort Walney), numerous pillboxes
British hardened field defences of World War II
British hardened field defences of World War II were small fortified structures constructed as a part of British anti-invasion preparations. They were popularly known as pillboxes by reference to their shape.-Design and development:...
can to this day be found littered across the Walney coastline. They were used as lookouts and contained rifles and light machine guns that could be used to defend Barrow against the Luftwaffe. The entrance to a large underground air-raid shelter
Air-raid shelter
Air-raid shelters, also known as bomb shelters, are structures for the protection of the civil population as well as military personnel against enemy attacks from the air...
that was used by shipyard workers can be found in the car park of the Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness development
The Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness
The Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness is a £200 million development currently under construction in and around the Port of Barrow, North West England. The site covers an area of some and is due for completion in 2020...
. A large unit of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
was based at Barrow/Walney Island Airport which was expanded during the war in an effort to aid Britain's air defences.
1941 raids
The difficulty of solely targeting Barrow's shipyard meant that many residential neighbourhoods were bombed instead. 83 civilians were killed, 330 injured, and over 10,000 houses were damaged or destroyed during the Blitz, about 25 percent of the town's housing stock. Surrounding towns and villages were often mistaken for Barrow and were attacked instead, while many streets in Barrow were severely damaged. Hawcoat Lane is a street that is most noted for taking a direct destructive hit in early May 1941. Barrow has been described as somewhat unprepared for the Blitz, as there were only enough public shelters for 5 percent of the town's population; some people who lived in the town centreCentral Barrow
Central Barrow refers to the town centre of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, North West England, UK. Central Barrow is also the name of the electoral ward that covers roughly the Eastern part of Barrow Town Centre. In 2001 5,584 lived in the Central ward, with the majority of people being White...
were even forced to seek refuge in hedgerows on the outskirts of Barrow. This shortage of shelters was believed to have led to excessively high casualties. Two fire watchers were killed in May 1941 when the hammer head crane they were stationed in at Vickers Shipyard was bombed by the Luftwaffe.
The headquarters of Barrow's anti-aircraft defences was in the Furness Abbey Hotel. A sandstone building next to the former railway station by the ruins of the abbey
Furness Abbey
Furness Abbey, or St. Mary of Furness is a former monastery situated on the outskirts of the English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The abbey dates back to 1123 and was once the second wealthiest and most powerful Cistercian monastery in the country, behind only Fountains Abbey in North...
, in a valley screened by trees, it would seem to have been an unlikely target. In May 1941 it was attacked and badly damaged by the Luftwaffe. Barrow Central Station
Barrow-in-Furness railway station
Barrow-in-Furness railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England. It is located on the Furness Line to Lancaster and the Cumbrian Coast Line to Workington and Carlisle...
was heavily damaged on 7 May 1941; a First World War memorial located within it still bears the holes and gashes caused by the bombings.
Aftermath
A local housewife, Nella LastNella Last
Nella Last was a housewife who lived in Barrow-in-Furness, England. She wrote a diary for the Mass Observation Archive from 1939 until 1965 making it one of the most substantial diaries held by M-O...
wrote a diary of her everyday experiences on the home front during the war for the Mass-Observation
Mass-Observation
Mass Observation was a United Kingdom social research organisation founded in 1937. Their work ended in the mid 1960s but was revived in 1981. The Archive is housed at the University of Sussex....
project. Her memoirs were later adapted for television. Barrow's main war memorial is a cenotaph
Barrow Park Cenotaph
The Barrow Park Cenotaph is the main war memorial in the UK town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, North West England. Located in Barrow's main central public park, the structure is grade II listed and is made from limestone and is pillar like in appearance...
located in Barrow Park. It bears the names of hundreds of Barrovians who died in combat during various wars, including 616 in the First World War, 268 in the Second World War, and 6 in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The Dock Museum
Dock Museum
The Dock Museum is situated in the town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. Its exhibits are largely based around the history of the town, heavily focusing on the shipbuilding industry at VSEL , the steelworks industry — of which Barrow once had the world's largest and the World War II bombings...
in Hindpool
Hindpool
Hindpool is an area and electoral ward of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It is bordered by Barrow Island, Central Barrow, Ormsgill, Parkside and the Walney Channel, the local population stood at 5,515 in 2001. The ward covers the entire western half of the town centre and includes Barrow's...
contains an exhibit about the Barrow Blitz.
Timeline
Timeline of events during the Barrow Blitz.- September 1940
- The first compulsory blackoutBlackout (wartime)A blackout during war, or apprehended war, is the practice of collectively minimizing outdoor light, including upwardly directed light. This was done in the 20th century to prevent crews of enemy aircraft from being able to navigate to their targets simply by sight, for example during the London...
in Barrow. - 300 incendiaries are dropped on SalthouseSalthouse, Barrow-in-FurnessSalthouse is an area of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It is heavily focused around Salthouse Road which runs through the wards of Risedale and Central Barrow. The area is most noted for being home to the now derelict Salthouse Mills which have been targeted by numerous arsonists over recent...
, and a 5 year old child becomes the first victim of the Barrow Blitz.
- The first compulsory blackout
- May 1941
- Bombing intensifies as the Luftwaffe drops land-mines, incendiaries, and high explosives.
- Barrow Central railway stationBarrow-in-Furness railway stationBarrow-in-Furness railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, England. It is located on the Furness Line to Lancaster and the Cumbrian Coast Line to Workington and Carlisle...
is completely destroyed by bombing. - Some 2,250 children are evacuated from the town.
- June 1941
- A further 4,000 children are evacuated as the death toll from bombing exceeds 80.
- January 1942
- The last bombs of the Blitz are dropped on Barrow, with no recorded casualties.
- March 1942
- The last air-raid sirenCivil defense sirenA civil defense siren is a mechanical or electronic device for generating sound to...
in Barrow was recorded on 25 March.
- The last air-raid siren
See also
- The BlitzThe BlitzThe Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
- Barrow Park CenotaphBarrow Park CenotaphThe Barrow Park Cenotaph is the main war memorial in the UK town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, North West England. Located in Barrow's main central public park, the structure is grade II listed and is made from limestone and is pillar like in appearance...
- History of Barrow-in-Furness
- Housewife, 49Housewife, 49Housewife, 49 was a 2006 television drama based on the wartime diaries of Nella Last. Written by and starring English actress and comedian Victoria Wood, it follows the experiences of an ordinary housewife and mother in the Northern English town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria during the Second World...
- Vickers Ltd. Shipbuilding
- Barrow/Walney Island Airport