Fore Street & Commercial Place, Saltash
28 April 1941 · Plymouth, Devon
View this record on the map →- Date
- 28 April 1941
- Record type
- Historic bombing site
- Bomb type
- HE
- Casualties
- 6
- Location
- Plymouth, Devon
- Position accuracy
- Street located from historic sources
What happened
As German bombers turned for home after raiding Plymouth, they released their remaining bombs over Saltash to lighten their load. In a 25-minute spell from 11.45pm, bombs fell street after street: Charles and Emma Allen were killed at 71 Fore Street, Dorothy Goad and her daughter Joan at 105 Fore Street two minutes later, and Aaron Brooking behind Fore Street at Commercial Place. ARP Warden Alfred William Olver was injured in Fore Street and died later at St Barnabas Hospital.
Also worth knowing
Nine Saltash civilians were killed across the town that night — just six days after six Saltash firemen had been killed in the King Street tragedy in Devonport (see that record). Because an unexploded bomb lay near St Stephen's churchyard, victims were first buried at Landrake for safety before some were later reinterred in Saltash; others remain at Landrake and Botus Fleming.