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Newport's War Dead

formerly Newport, Monmouthshire, UK

 

Newport Air Raid

1st July 1941

Additional information below from the Commonwealth War graves Commission website

and also

The Armed Forces Memorial Web site

 

Newport's Roll of Honour

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Newport Air Raid

1st July 1941

 

 

In the early hours of Monday, 1st July 1941, enemy German aircraft circled in the sky above Newport looking for a target to unload their cargo of high explosive bombs on.

Whatever they thought their target might be, they dropped their deadly cargo on the homes of Newport citizens in the Maindee area of Newport. Besides massive destruction of property, 35 individuals were to lose their lives and these included many women and children. Some families were wiped out or virtually wiped out and some visitors to family or friends were also killed as a tragic act of fate.

The Thomas family, father, mother and the two children killed at 16, Eveswell Street, the Gimlett family lost seven members with two injured at 13, Eveswell Street and so many friends and neighbours died together with others from nearby Archibald Street. The Gimletts are buried together at St Woolos cemetery.

A well known Newport solicitor named Alfred Searle aged 80 lost his life as well as his housekeeper Daisy Frances Pouncy, aged 61 when his home "Gaerwood" in Kensington Place received a direct hit. A plaque is now in place in Woodland Park where the house used to stand. Alfred's body as well as his house keepers were unidentifiable and their remains are buried in a grave containing the remains of six individuals who could not be identified at Christchurch cemetery

 

Gaerwood House Memorial and Plaque

Gaerwood house memorial                                         Plaque

 

 

How the South Wales Argus reported it

 

 

It should be noted that in this article Newport is referred to as "a Welsh town" and there is only reference to one casualty, Alfred Searle. Other names were only published in the following days obituary column in the South Wales Argus.

 

Story - first part                                        Story - second part

 

© Shaun McGuire 2008