Casualties of the bombing of Exmouth

CASUALTIES OF THE BOMBING OF EXMOUTH

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Eric R. Delderfield took an interest in all things to do with Exmouth. He was a local councillor and wrote several books about the town. We gratefully acknowledge the careful notes he made about the air raids on Exmouth. He wrote: "Who will ever forget the air raids of 1940 - 1943. For a town of its size, Exmouth suffered very severely, both in lives and in property, during those years."

This is a summary of the raids which caused the greatest loss of life:

18 January 1941: In the early hours of the morning, three high explosive bombs hit the built-up area around The Cross and Chapel Street. Nine adults and three children lost their lives.

25 February 1941: Three high explosive bombs fell in the St. Andrew's and Victoria Road areas. A visitor to the town (Arthur John Harding Hill) was killed by a direct hit.

1 March 1941: Five bombs were dropped at 8.0 in the evening, only two of which exploded - the one in the Parade caused four fatalities but the one at the back of Phear Park Lodge caused damage but no casualties.

28 May 1941: Bombs were dropped in the Woodville Road area, demolishing three houses and killing six adults and three children. A further 8 people were hospitalised.

12 June 1941: During the evening, a British plane returning from patrol was attacked by a Messerschmitt over the town. The British plane crashed in flames on a house in Cranford Avenue which was destroyed by fire. The inhabitants of the house escaped but the two crew members were killed.

12 February 1942: Just after 8.0am , three bombs were dropped in the area of the Beacon. One exploded in Bicton Place where there were five fatal casualties and seven were injured.

26 February 1943: Around mid-day, eight enemy planes attacked with high explosive bombs, cannon and machine gun fire. Eight bombs were dropped and all exploded. One demolished a row of shops in the Strand killing people who were working or shopping in them as well as a queue of people waiting at an adjacent bus stop. A total of 25 people were died on this occasion and a further 40 were injured, some seriously. During the same raid, a man working in his allotment on Albion Hill (Thomas Maxwell) was killed by cannon fire.

There were many other air raids which caused damage to property and we may never know why Exmouth was targeted so consistently. The following list has been compiled from a number of sources:

The grave of Primrose Brooks in Topsham Cemetery

IVY MAY BATTEN	Civilian. Ivy May Batten of 7 The Cross, Exmouth. Daughter of Prudence and Charles Batten. Born in Exmouth in the December Quarter of 1909. Injured 18 January 1941 at 7, The Cross; died 7 Feb 1941 at the Hospital, Littleham aged 31.
PERCY BRADFORD	Civilian. Percy Bradford of 20 Woodville Road, Withycombe Raleigh. Husband of D. V. A. Bradford. Born in Exmouth in the March Quarter of 1897. Died at 20 Woodville Road 28 May 1941 aged 45.
PRIMROSE MAY BROOKS	Civilian. Primrose May Brooks of Seaway, Carlton Hill, Exmouth. Wife of Ronald Edward Brooks. Died 18 January 1941 at Chapel Street, Littleham aged 37. Buried in the cemetery at Topsham.
JANIE BRYANT	Civilian. Janie Louise Bryant ( née Bampfylde) of 22 Woodville Road, Withycombe Raleigh. Daughter of Robert and Prudence Bampfylde and widow of Sidney Bryant who she married in 1905. Died 28 May 1941 at the Hospital, Littleham aged 69.
JOHN H. CLARK	A man of mystery. This was the name adopted by Herbert Henry Niebour (see below) during the time he lived in Exmouth.
SIDNEY CLARK	Civilian. Sidney Clark of 33 Rough Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham. Died at Tregenna, Louisa Terrace, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 54. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
DOROTHY ETHEL COLES	Civilian. Dorothy Ethel Coles of 9 Chapel Street, Exmouth. Daughter of the late James and Edith Coles. Born in Topsham in the September Quarter of 1890. Died at 9 Chapel Street on 18 January 1941 aged 50.
VICTOR JOHN DAVIE	Civilian. Victor John Davie, an A.R.P. Messenger of 31 Chapel Street, Budleigh Salterton. Son of Mrs. M. E. Davie. Injured at Exmouth 1 March 1941 and died the same day at the Hospital, Littleham aged 21. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
ELIZABETH ANN DENMEAD	Civilian. Elizabeth Ann Denmead of Uplands, Back Street, Bradninch. Daughter of Robert and Rhoda Hartland and wife of Samuel Denmead. Born in Somerset. Died at 1 Bicton Place, Littleham 12 February 1942 aged 73. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
EMMA MARY DOMMETT	Civilian. Emma Mary Dommett of 4 Frederick Place, the Cross, Exmouth. Daughter of Robert and Mary Ann Axon and widow of Abraham Dommett who she married in May 1886.. Died at 4 Frederick Place 18 January 1941 aged 74.
SARAH DOWN	Civilian. Sarah Down of The White Cottage, Radden Stile Lane, Exmouth. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Brimblecombe, of Teigngrace Newton Abbot; widow of William Down. Died at The White Cottage on 26 February 1943 aged 70.
HAZEL ANN EVANS	Child. Hazel Ann Evans of The Hedges, Budleigh Salterton. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 15.
RONALD R. FEAGAN	Child. Ronald Feagan of 46 Pakeman House, Pocock Street, London. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Joseph Feagan. Died at Woodville Road, Withycombe, Raleigh 28 May 1941 aged 7.
MADGE WALKDEN GOODALL	Civilian. Madge Walkden Goodall of The Cross, Littleham. Daughter of George Alfred and Alice Goodall, (née Walkden) of Moss Side, Manchester. Died at The Cross 18 January 1941 aged 54.
EVELYN WINIFRED GRIFFITHS	Civilian. Evelyn Winifred Griffiths of 20 Woodville Road, Withycombe Raleigh. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Knowlson, of 87 The Village, Withycombe Raleigh; wife of A.C.1. Reginald N. Griffiths, R.A.F. Died at 20 Woodville Road 28 May 1941 aged 26.
MAUREEN ANNE GRIFFITHS	Child. Maureen Anne Griffiths of 20 Woodville Road, Withycombe Raleigh.. Daughter of A.C.1 Reginald N. Griffiths, R.A.F., and of Evelyn Winifred Griffiths (see above). Died at 20 Woodville Road 28 May 1941 aged 3.
FLORENCE ELIZABETH GULLIVER	Civilian. Florence Elizabeth Gulliver of 1 Bicton Place, Exmouth. Daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gulliver, of Reading, Berkshire. Born in Southwark in 1885. Died at 1 Bicton Place 12 February 1942 aged 57.
ELLEN MARGARET HAMILTON	Civilian. Ellen Margaret Hamilton of 1 Bicton Place, Exmouth. Twin daughter of the late Venerable Archdeacon James Hamilton and Elizabeth M. Hamilton. Born in Bicester in 1875. Died at Little Bicton Place, Littleham on 12 February 1942 aged 67.
KATHERINE ANNE HAMILTON	Civilian. Katherine Anne Hamilton of 1 Bicton Place, Exmouth. Twin daughter of the late Venerable Archdeacon James Hamilton and Elizabeth M. Hamilton. Born in Bicester in 1875. Died at Beacon School, Littleham on 12 February 1942 aged 67.
MARGARET PATRICIA HANCOCK	Civilian. Margaret Patricia Hancock of 18 The Strand, Littleham. Daughter of Beatrice Catherine Hancock, and of Walter Edward Hancock (see below). Died at 18 The Strand on 26 February 1943 aged 19.
WALTER EDWARD HANCOCK	Civilian. Walter Edward Hancock of 18 The Strand, Littleham. Son of Edward and Joanna Hancock and husband of Beatrice Catherine Hancock; father of Margaret (see above). Born in Exeter in the June Quarter of 1879. Died at 18 The Strand on 26 February 1943 aged 63.
JOYCE HEATH	Child. Joyce Heath of 22 Woodville Road, Withycombe Raleigh. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Heath. Died at 22 Woodville Road on 28 May 1941 aged 4.
ARTHUR JOHN HARDING HILL	Civilian. Arthur John Harding Hill of 19 Westleigh Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Son of Dorothy Mary Hill, and of the late Arthur Hill. Died at 112 St. Andrew Road, Littleham, on 25 February 1941 aged 54. Arthur Hill was His Britannic Majesty's Consul and Chargé d'Affaires in San Salvadore and was home on leave at the time of his death. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
IVA CORDELIA EVELINE HOLME	Civilian. Iva Cordelia Eveline Holme ARP First Aider of Moorlands, Cyprus Road, Exmouth. Daughter of Frederick Gillespie Basden and Eveline Bertha Basden, of Moorlands; widow of Major Harold Leopold Holme, D.S.O. Born in Chertsey in the June Quarter of 1896. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 46.
MARY KATHERINE MOORE HUDSON	Civilian. Mary Katherine Moore Hudson, WVS Fire Guard of The Bungalow, Budleigh Salterton. Daughter of the late Major-General Henry George and Helen Scot Fraser De la Fosse; widow of Henry Ewan Hudson. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 69. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
GLADYS GWENDOLINE JACKMAN	Civilian. Gladys Gwendoline Jackman of Milicano, The Parade, Withycombe Raleigh. Daughter of Evelyn Albertia. Badge, of 35 Roseberry Road, and of the late Alfred W. Badge; wife of H. J. Jackman. Born in Devonport in the December Quarter of 1908. Died at Milicano, The Parade, Withycombe Raleigh on 1 March 1941 aged 32.
JOHN ALBERT JEFFERY	Child. John Albert Jeffery of 4 Frederick Place, The Cross, Littleham. Son of Mr E. J. Jeffery and brother of Patricia (see below). Died at 4 Frederick Place, The Cross, Littleham on 18 January 1941 aged 8.
PATRICIA JEFFERY	Child. Patricia Jeffery of 4 Frederick Place, The Cross, Littleham. Daughter of Mr. E. J. Jeffery and sister of John (see above). Died at 4 Frederick Place, The Cross, Littleham on 18 January 1941 aged 7.
BEATRICE LANG	Civilian. Beatrice Lang (née Towning) of 11 Bicton Street, Exmouth. Daughter of John and Sarah Towning and widow of Horatio John Gay Lang who she married in 1892. Born in 1864 in Exmouth. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 79.
OLIVE JANE LETTEN	Civilian. Olive Jane Letten of Middle Street, East Budleigh. Daughter of Mrs. E. Creedy, of Feniton, Honiton; wife of Frank James Letten. Died at The Strand, Littleham. on 26 February 1943 aged 50. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
ALICE REBECCA LOCKHART	Civilian. Alice Rebecca Lockhart of the Seaforth Hotel, Morton Road, Exmouth. Wife of Archibald Edgar Lockhart. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 44.
BERYL MASON	Child. Beryl Mason of 44 Gatling Road, Abbey Wood, London. Daughter of S. Grant Mason and Edith Mary Mason (see below). Died at The Cross, Littleham on 18 January 1941 aged 3.
EDITH MARY MASON	Civilian. Edith Mary Mason of 44 Gatling Road, Abbey Wood, London. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood, of 94 Hawthorn Crescent, Corsham, Portsmouth, Hampshire; wife of S. Grant Mason, Died at The Cross, Littleham on 18 January 1941 aged 35. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
EDWIN DAVID MASON	Child. Edwin David Mason of 44 Gatling Road, Abbey Wood, London. Son of S. Grant Mason and of Edith Mary Mason (see above). Died at The Cross, Littleham on 18 January 1941 aged 4.
NORMAN MASON	Child. Norman Mason of 44 Gatling Road, Abbey Wood, London. Son of S. Grant Mason, and of Edith Mary Mason (see above) and twin of Raymond (see below). Died at The Cross, Littleham on 18 January 1941 aged 10 Months.
RAYMOND MASON	Child. Raymond Mason of 44 Gatling Road, Abbey Wood, London. Son of S. Grant Mason, and of Edith Mary Mason (see above) and twin of Norman (see above). Died at The Cross, Littleham on 18 January 1941 aged 10 months.
THOMAS MAXWELL	Civilian. Thomas Maxwell of the Clarence Inn, Exmouth. Husband of E. J. I. Maxwell. Died at Albion Hill while working on his allotment on 26 February 1943 aged 57.
MARY JANE MILLER	Civilian. Mary Jane Miller of 91 Victoria Road Exmouth. Daughter of the late Charles Keith and Ellen Laird Miller, of Cromarty Avenue, Newlands, Glasgow. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 70.
CHARLES HENRY MORTIMER	Civilian. Charles Henry Mortimer of 7 Carter Avenue, Withycombe Raleigh. Son of John and Lucy Mortimer, New Buildings, Sandford, Crediton; husband of Alice Mortimer. Born in the March Quarter of 1884. Died at 7 Carter Avenue on 28 May 1941 aged 57.
EDITH LOUISA NICKOLS	Civilian. Edith Louise Nickols of 1 Bicton Place, Littleham. Daughter of the late John Nickols. Born in Huddersfield in the June Quarter of 1867. Died at Little Bicton Place on 12 February 1942 aged 74.
HERBERT HENRY NIEBOUR	Civilian. Herbert Henry Niebour of Cartref, Drakes Avenue, Exmouth where he seems to have lived under the name of John H Clarke. Son of Louis Carsten and Rosina Matilda Niebour and husband of Ada Mary Niebour (née Williams), who he married in the December Quarter of 1902, and subsequently of Holly Bush, Forest Ridge, Keston Park, Kent. Born in Eastbourne in 1874. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 67. (Listed on Exmouth War memorial as J. H. Clark)
NORA DOROTHY NIGHTINGALE	Civilian. Nora Dorothy Nightingale of 112 Antrobus Road, Sutton Coldfield, Warks. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. Weaver, of 112 Antrobus Road, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire; wife of Capt. Robert Joseph Nightingale, H.M. Forces (killed in same incident). Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 27. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
ROBERT JOSEPH NIGHTINGALE	Captain Robert Joseph Nightingale of 183 Battery, the Royal Artillery. Son of Walter Joseph and Alice Nightingale, of Exmouth; husband of Nora Dorothy Nightingale, of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, who was killed in the same incident. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 30. Buried in the churchyard of St. John in the Wilderness, Withycombe Raleigh.
DORIS MAY PANNELL	Civilian. Doris May Pannell of 18 Woodville Road, Exmouth. Daughter of Percy and Florence Thompson, of 126 Egremont Road, Exmouth; wife of Phillip W. G. Pannell. Died at 18 Woodville Road on 28 May 1941 aged 34.
JOHN PATCH	Civilian. John Patch of Budleigh Hill, East Budleigh. Son of the late John and Elizabeth Patch and husband of Margaret Louisa Patch. Born in the June Quarter of 1893. Injured 1 March 1941, at The Parade; died at the Hospital, Littleham on 4 March 1941 aged 47.
ANNE PEMBERTHY	Civilian. Anne Pemberthy of 22 Woodville Road, Exmouth. Widow of Richard Pemberthy. Died at 22 Woodville Road. 28 May 1941 aged 78. Believed to have been the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths for Lelant at one time.
ALICE LOUISA PERHAM	Civilian. Alice Louisa Perham of White Cottage, Radden Stile Lane, Exmouth. Daughter of the late William Charles and Maria Louisa Perham, of Alexandra Road, Axminster. Born in the June Quarter of 1892. Died at White Cottage, Radden Stile Lane on 26 February 1943 aged 50.
FLORENCE BERTHA PIDSLEY	Civilian. Florence Bertha Pidsley (née Smith) WVS member, of 17 The Strand, Littleham. Wife of Walter Pidsley who she married in the December Quarter of 1903. Died at The Strand. on 26 February 1943 aged 68.
JOHN PONSFORD	Civilian. John Ponsford of 7 Windsor Square, Exmouth. Born in the March Quarter of 1877. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 66.
GEORGE DOMINIC PRICE	Civilian. Brigadier General (Ret.) George Dominic Price of Inchcoulter, Douglas Avenue, Exmouth. Injured on 26 February 1943; died next day at the Hospital, Littleham aged 74. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
EDITH MAUD PULFORD	Civilian. Edith Maud Pulford, member of the WVS and the British Red Cross Society, of Louisa Cottage, Exmouth. Daughter of Henry Francis Huntley, and of the late Augusta Huntley; widow of Col. Russell Richard Pulford who she married in the December Quarter of 1902. Born in 1873 in Balham, London. Injured on 12 February 1942, at Louisa Cottage; died at the Hospital, Littleham on 10 March 1942 aged 69. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
FREDERICK SYMONDS	Civilian Home Guard member. Frederick Symonds of 2 Palace Cottages, Exmouth. Son of David and charlotte Symonds and husband of Florence Mary Symonds, of 2 Palace Cottages. Born in the June Quarter of 1876. Injured 7 April 1942, at Budleigh Salterton; died at 2 Palace Cottages on 1 January 1945 aged 68. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)
LILIAN IRENE TAYLOR	Civilian. Lilian Irene Taylor of 9 The Parade, Exmouth. Daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Pinney, of 111 Sandholme Road, Brislington, Bristol; wife of Harold Taylor. Born in the September Quarter of 1907. Died at 9 The Parade 1 March 1941 aged 34.
LETITIA ANNA THORNTON	Civilian. Letitia Anna ("Leta") of White Cottage, Radden Stile Lane. Exmouth. Daughter of R. A. Cordner, M.I.C.E., of India; wife of Col. George Lestock Thornton, C.B.E., M.C., T.D., M.R.C.P who she married in the March Quarter of 1898. Died at White Cottage, Radden Stile Lane on 26 February 1943 aged 68.
ELSIE KATE TINDALL	Civilian. Elsie Kate Tindall WVS of Daneway, Elwyn Road, Exmouth. Daughter of the late John Henry and Kate Toogood, of Paignton; wife of Christian Tindall, Died at The Strand, Littleham, 26 February 1943 aged 61.
FRANCES LOUISA TOTHILL	Civilian. Frances Louisa Tothill (née Williams) of 3 Mamhead View, Exmouth. Widow of Walter Tothill who she married in the March Quarter of 1885. Died at The Strand, Littleham. 26 February 1943 aged 83.
PETER GEORGE TURNER	Civilian. Peter George Turner of 15 Phillips Avenue, Exmouth. Son of Winifred M. Turner. Died at The Strand, Littleham 26 February 1943 aged 18.
ENA GWENDOURA WARD	Civilian. Ena Gwendoura Ward of 42 Halsdon Road Daughter of the late John and Bessie Ward, of 6 Bicton Place. Born in the March Quarter of 1897. Injured on 26 February 1943, at Exmouth; died at the Hospital, Littleham 28 February 1943 aged 46. (listed as "V. Ward" on Exmouth War Memorial.)
ELIZABETH ROSAMUND WILLIAMS	Civilian. Elizabeth Rosamund Williams of 3 Mamhead View, Exmouth. Daughter of the late Frederick Julian Williams. Born in Carmarthen in the December Quarter of 1862. Died at The Strand, Littleham on 26 February 1943 aged 80.
GRESHAM HUGH POWELL WILLIAMS	Civilian. Major (ret.) Gresham Hugh Powell Williams of Oakmead, Phillips Avenue, Exmouth. Son of the late Capt. Edward Evan and Gertrude Louisa Williams, of Greenfield, Rhayader, Radnorshire; husband of Amelia Mary Constance Williams. Born in Rhyader in the September Quarter of 1867. Injured 26 February 1943, at Phillips Avenue; died at the Hospital, Littleham on 9 March 1943 aged 76. (Not listed on Exmouth War Memorial)