On 7 Sep 2010 at 1:38pm Leveller wrote:
Does anyone have any memories of Lewes during the war and particularly the Blitz ? Any websites, photos or anything else around about this ? I do get little snippets from the Sussex Depress occasionally but just wondered if anyone had any personal recolections.
On 7 Sep 2010 at 2:32pm stan wrote:
bbc peoples war is a good resource for that sort of thing. I am keen to know more about the Canadians who took part in Dieppe raid and D.Day who were camped in the hills along the Ouse valley.
On 7 Sep 2010 at 3:29pm Commuter wrote:
There is a book in Lewes library, in the local history section which is about memories of Lewes in WW2, it is basically transcripts of audio histories taken by the Local history society. The book is quite interesting but is thematic not chronological which can get quite frustrating. Good bit about tanks on the high street though (apparently the damage to the curbs along the high street was due to tanks, though I guess they must have been replaced by now!). Also good bits about soldiers training in the local area and evacuees.
On 7 Sep 2010 at 7:18pm John Stockdale wrote:
Colin Thompsett (George Justice) has some good photos and a very good memory of the bomb that hit the Naval Prison, bounced over the road and demolished the pub where the Little East Street car park is now. John Geering knows where the other bomb sites were - many still car parks. There was a very nice bloke who exercised his dog on Malling Down who recalled seeing anti-aircraft guns up there. John Eccles who writes the Rouser columns can be found in the Gardeners Arms or the Brewers in the evenings. But I think most of what happened here was haphazard rather than 1000 bomber raid stuff.
On 7 Sep 2010 at 8:42pm jrsussex wrote:
Many coastal towns that were bombed was due to enemy bombers unloading due to their having been hit by the RAF lads or simply not particularly fancying their chances so turning round and heading for home. Few coastal towns were actually targeted because they did not have munition factories etc., producing for the war effort. That of course excludes large ports and naval dockyards which were targeted
On 7 Sep 2010 at 8:43pm Theydontlikeitupem wrote:
Roy Fuller, the retired brickie will have many stories from that time.
On 8 Sep 2010 at 5:26am Leveller wrote:
Seem to remember a bit in the Rouser recently about a bomb going off around the needle makers area and killing someone (possibly a military policeman ?)
Does anyone know the history of the pil boxes as mentioned above. There's one by the river as you head from Wiley's bridge to Hamsey, not far from the bottom of landport. I presume there must've been German boats coming up the Ouse ?
On 8 Sep 2010 at 1:06pm Decent Citizen wrote:
There is a large bomb in the Grange.It is buried so deeply and covered in cement that it is deemed to be safe. This is in the grassed area to the side of the slope from Garden Street. For a long time it was used as a footie area ,but ,I notice it is now planted in middle to deter!
On 8 Sep 2010 at 2:15pm Down and Out wrote:
I'm sure someone told me, though I'm not sure if it's correct, that the bombs that 'cleared' the Needlemakers car park, the Little East St car park and the North Street car park were from one raid; and they were trying to hit Phoenix Works because they were casting some sort of military components at the time.
On 9 Sep 2010 at 1:45am Extra wrote:
All the police documents relating to bombs dropped on Lewes in WW2
are available to view at the County Record Office - times, days, dates and places, on cards with copperplate writing.
On 9 Sep 2010 at 3:01am Victoria wrote:
I was told that recently there was an article written in a local paper about the bombing at the Needlemakers, in Lewes. I dont know which paper but I understand there was a photo with it. I was also told a young lady was blasted in the event but I think she survived. If any one knows or has the article I would really appreciate the help! Kind Regards.
On 9 Sep 2010 at 4:36pm Down and Out wrote:
Think I remember that the Needlemakers bomb damage photo and story was on the inside back page of Viva Lewes a few months ago? They often seem to have old photos there?
On 10 Sep 2010 at 7:32pm Wilhelm wrote:
Cliffe Bridge was apparently loaded with explosives ready to be blown up in case of a German invasion. I've also been made to belief that the strange 'cones' at the corner of Cliffe / South Street car park is a anti tank defence. There is a good bookcalled 'Coastal WWII Defences in Sussex' (or similar) which has a lot of detail by each village and tells about all the pillboxes. My grandfather has some superb aerial photographs of that time.