The evening the Nazi war machine flew into Newton

I have reposted this post I made on another thread some time ago, just after I found out after all these years a family member was killed at the railway station when it was bombed


One thing about the Internet is you can find out so much you do not know, having done the post above I was just searching around for information on my family and I have made a discovery that has chilled me and it was something I never knew about.


Below are parts of the census's I put in my last post


The 1891 cenus shows that my great grandfather Albert Best was living at 2 Court 10 East Street and was a mason, at the time of the census he was 34 years old, he lived there with his wife Elizabeth(30) son Henry(9) George(7)Frank(5) Albert(3) and William(1)


The 1901 census shows that Albert had moved with his family into 2 East Street Court no 2, the eldest son Henry at just 19 was married and working as a plasterer and lived at 3 Sun Court.

The rest of his family still lived at home but one is missing from the census and two more children are listed. William who was only one years old in the 1891 census, is the one who is missing on the 1901 census, I wonder if he died, the new additions were Alise(7) and Mary(5)

Albert must have moved to Newton as the 1861 census shows that Albert was four years old and lived in Denbury, his father was Henry(44) mother Mary(36) he lived with his brother Henry(9) and sister who had the same name as the woman he later married Elizabeth(7) also listed is Susanna Best(63) she is listed as a boarder and her profession just says she is a pauper.

The 1901 census also shows that Alberts brother Henry also had moved to Newton Abbot, aged now 49 he was living at 6 Court Wolborough Street with his wife Elizabeth(39) son Arthur(17) daughters Alice(15) and Emma(10)


I have highlighted Henry who married a lady called Elizabeth.


The article belows reports the death of their son.





There were at least 65 air raids on Newton Abbot. In all, the town was hit by some 50 high explosive bombs and some 8000 incendiary devices. Nearly 90 people were severely injured and the death toll was 22. This is a summary of some of the early raids:
20 August 1940:
The raid took place in the evening with three planes targeting the Railway Station. Of the surrounding streets, Station Cottages and Forde Road suffered direct hits. In this raid, fifteen people were killed and Forde Park was badly damaged by blast. As well as the attack on the station with high explosive bombs, the area was strafed with machine gun fire. Just before the attack a crowded train for Plymouth had pulled out of the station but another Plymouth train was standing at the down platform and this was attacked. Severe damage was caused to the station with 15 locomotives, 52 passenger carriages and 22 goods wagons being also damaged. 60 people were seriously injured.
16 October 1940:
A single plane flew over and dropped four high explosive bombs and a batch of incendiaries near Wolborough Church.
21 October 1940:
Five bombs were dropped at Lindridge, near Bishopsteignton, destroying stables and greenhouses.
18 November 1940:
A mine was dropped on Bovey Tracey near the Devon House of Mercy. Only five people were injured but the Parish Church was badly damaged from blast. This explosion was strong enough to shake a large area of Newton Abbot, causing structural damage.
12 December 1940:
A hit and run raid on nearby Kingsteignton in which high explosive bombs and hundreds of incendiaries were dropped
.
10 January 1941:
Another hit and run raid on Kingsteignton but this time, little damage was reported.
14 January 1941:
Two high explosive bombs landed on Bradley Lane but resulted in minor damage only.
17 May 1941:
An enormous 2,500 lbs bomb fell onto the the swimming pool area at the Penn Inn together with 9 smaller bombs. The large bomb measured 9 feet long by two feet wide and was so heavy that it disappeared down into a swampy area and actually exploded below ground. The resulting crater was just 50 feet from the main Newton Abbot to Torquay Road close to Addison Road. Glass in a nearby commercial greenhouse was shattered but otherwise there was little damage and, amazingly, no injuries.
7 July 1941:
A Heinkel bomber was shot down over Newton Abbot, ultimately crashing near Haldon. Three of the crew were killed but the pilot baled out and was captured in the village of Kenton. The plane had been carrying three 250 lb bombs and these were jettisoned in the vicinity of Newton Abbot. One exploded without causing damage or injury and the other two were defused.
25 April 1942:
A major raid on Newton Abbot took place during the night of this particular Saturday. Mount Pleasant, Devon Square and the road to Torquay were hit and severely damaged. Five people were killed and the nearby shops in Queen Street were badly damaged by blast.
20 December 1942:
Ipplepen was machine gunned and the church tower was badly damaged by cannon fire.
There were many other air raids which caused damage to property.


The names of those killed by the bombings

DILYS ADAMS Child. Dilys Adams of 30, Quarry Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth. Daughter of William Gilbert Adams and Winifred Adams (see below). Died 20 August 1940 at the G.W.R Station, Newton Abbot aged 6.

WINIFRED ADAMS (See Maud Heath below)
Civilian. Winifred Adams of 30 Quarry Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth. Wife of William Gilbert Adams and mother of Dilys (see above.) Died 20 August 1940 at the G.W.R Station, Newton Abbot aged 20.

JOHN H. m . BAKER Civilian. John Henry Matthews Baker of "Tresco", Venn Way, Plymouth. Son of Henry Orsini Baker of 138, Shrewsbury Road, New Southgate, London and the late Bessie Baker; husband of Bertha Broadhead Baker. Died 20 August 1940 at the G.W.R Station, Newton Abbot aged 49.

ARTHUR R. BEST Civilian. Arthur Robert Best of 42 Tudor Road, Newton Abbot. Son of the late Henry and Elizabeth Best of 31 Tudor Road and husband of Selina Best (née Field) of 31 Tudor Road. Born in the March Quarter of 1884 in Newton Abbot. Died 20 August 1940 at the G.W.R Station, Newton Abbot aged 57.

CHARLES H. BUCKINGHAM Civilian. Charles Henry Buckingham of 3 Courtenay Place, East Street, Newton Abbot. Son of Benjamin and Ann Buckingham and husband of Ethel Kate Buckingham (née Sampson). Born in Somerset in 1885. Died 20 August 1940 at the G.W.R Station, Newton Abbot aged 54.

SAMUEL F. C. CHETHAM Civilian Special Constable. Samuel Fisher Copeland Chetham of "St. Bernards", Wolborough Hill, Newton Abbot. Husband of Dorothy Kate Chetham. Born in India. Injured at Berwyn Hotel 25 April 1942; died same day at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 63.

ANDRE P. K. CLAY See Elsie Yates Clay below:
Civilian. Andre Percy Kenneth Clay of 2 Holyrood Place, The Hoe, Plymouth. Son of William Henry Clay, and of Elsie Yates-Clay. Injured 20 August 1940, at G.W.R. Station; died at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 19.

ROBERT CRUTE See Thomas Monaghan below:
Civilian. Robert Crute of 4 Salisbury Road, Newton Abbot. Son of John and Ann Crute of Newton Abbot, husband of Maria Crute and stepfather of Thomas Monaghan below. Born in the March Quarter of 1872 in Newton Abbot. Died at Devon Square, Newton Abbot 25 April 1942 aged 70.

JAMES D. m. GAVIGAN Civilian. James D. m. Gavigan of 2 Holyrood Place, The Hoe, Plymouth. Son of Mary and Thomas Gavigan of Batley, Yorks. Born in 1900. Injured on 20 August 1940 at the G.W.R. Station; died same day on way to Newton Abbot Hospital aged 40.

MAUD HEATH See also Winifred and Dilys Adams above:
Civilian. Maud Annie A. Heath of 30 Quarry Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth. Daughter of William and Sarah Duke and wife of Richard William Henry Heath. Born in Plymouth in the June Quarter of 1880. Died 21 August 1940 at the G.W.R. Station aged 60.

DOROTHY LETHBRIDGE Civilian. Dorothy Mary Lethbridge of 5 Buller Road, Newton Abbot. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cook, of 19 Park Road, Fowey, Cornwall; wife of *Engine Room Artificer Frank H. Lethbridge, R.N. Injured 20 August 1940, at the G.W.R. Station; died at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 24.
*Engine Room Artificer Frank Herbert Lethbridge of the Royal Navy, HMS Stanley. Died 19 December 1941 aged 34. Mentioned in Despatches.

KENNETH MAUNDER Child. Kenneth Alfred John Maunder of 97 Stone Barton, Plympton. Died 20 August 1940 at the G.W.R. Station aged 9.

THOMAS MONAGHAN See Robert Crute above:
Civilian. Thomas Wilfred K. Monaghan of 4 Salisbury Road, Newton Abbot. Son of Maria Crute (formerly Monaghan),and stepson of Robert Crute (see above). Born in Newton Abbot in the March Quarter of 1900. Died 25 April 1942 at Devon Square aged 42.

FREDERIC G. PEARSE Civilian Special Constable. Frederic George Pearse of 46 Keyberry Park, Newton Abbot. Son of John and Mary Pearse of The Dairy, Decoy, Newton Abbot and husband of E. A. Pearse. Born in the March Quarter of 1893 in Newton Abbot. Died 25 April 1942 at Torquay Road, Newton Abbot aged 49.

ANNIE. L. PICKARD Civilian. Annie Louisa Pickard of 14 Devon Square, Newton Abbot. Daughter of Job Pickard, of Lea Hurst, Torquay. Born in the March Quarter of 1870 in Torquay. Injured in May 1942; died at Melvin Nursing Home, Seymour Road aged 72.

WILLIAM C. ROWE Civilian Home Guard. William Charles Rowe of 3 South Devon Terrace, Newton Abbot. Son of Mary Rowe of 22 Burns Avenue, Burnthouse Lane, Exeter, and the late Edward Rowe and husband of Primrose Anne Rowe. Injured 20 August 1940 at 3 South Devon Terrace; died same day at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 31.

CHARLES E. SANDERSON* Civilian Fireman in the National Fire Service. Charles Edward Sanderson of 154 Greenhill Road, Handsworth, Birmingham. Son of Charles and Caroline Sanderson, of 77 Yateley Avenue, Great Barr, Staffordshire and husband of Gertrude Sanderson. Injured 15 July 1944, at Buckfastleigh; died at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 38.

FREDERICK H. STARR Civilian. Frederick Harold Starr of 29 Manor Road, Broadlands Avenue, Newton Abbot. Son of Frederick and Amy Starr, of 29 Spencer Road, Newton Abbot and husband of Gladys Starr. Born in Somerset in the March Quarter of 1905. Injured at the G.W.R. Station 20 August 1940; died same day at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 35.

KATHLEEN L. WEATHERDON Civilian. Kathleen Louisa Weatherdon of 4 Mary Place, Blockhouse Road, Devonport Daughter of J. H. and B. Symons, of Solland Cottage, Exbourne and wife of F. S. Weatherdon. Born in Devonport in the June Quarter of 1901.Injured at the G.W.R. Station 20 August 1940; died same day at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 39.

WILLIAM A. WHITEHORN Civilian. William Arthur Whitehorn of 28 Torquay Road, Wolborough (Newton Abbot). Died 25 April 1942 at 28 Torquay Road aged 66.

AGNES WOODERS Civilian. Agnes Wooders of 5 Mount Bennett Terrace, Tywardreath, Par, Cornwall. Daughter of the late William and Agnes Eddy and wife of William George Wooders. Born in Ludgvan, Cornwall in the March Quarter of 1878 Injured 20 August 1940, at the G.W.R. Station; died at Newton Abbot Hospital aged 62.

ELSIE YATES-CLAY See Andre Clay above:
Civilian. Elsie Yates Clay of 2 Holyrood Place, The Hoe,

I can just about remember the Queens fish & chip shop and its demise. The Jones family (Chris&Heather) ran the park cafe for years and only sold up last year. Debra Jane, the hair dressers next door is still going strong and employs a very attractive stylist (my wife).
Around the time of Teds garage, the Pink penny amusement arcade appeared alongside nikkis fish and chip shop. I think this was where milky way cafe used to be? Heading back toward the war memorial was there not a bike shop,laundrette and DIY store (Hodgesons, opposite the army&navy store) and something where the Double Luck and KFC are now? Its a blur to me on the other side apart from the shops that have already been mentioned unless ladbrokes and the car mart were there. I'm not sure if the Hoi Shan was the first Chinese to appear in town or was that the Red bird in Market street.

Wow you've started something really bad here Dave

The Milky Way cafe was the second to last before the church by the Avenue and on the same side, it was run by a husband and wife, he may have been called Roy.

nikkis fish and chip shop, well what a man and did you fancy his daughter like I did, he is alive and well and has a fish and chip shop in Paignton opposite the main post office. I do pop in from time to time just to say hello as he remembers me well from his time in Newton and yes his daughter still works with him

I do not like Chinese food, but would have thought one of the very first Chinese restaurants would have been the one in Sherbourne House( I believe thats what it is called) Long before this building was built the river Lemon was just walled as it was on the bus station side of the bridge.

Between The Parcona coffee house( opposite the old bus station) and the cattle market( before the multi story car park) were a row of houses and at the end was a cafe( not sure what it was called) and a singer sowing machine shop.

My auntie lived in one of those houses and they had very big cellars that were full of rats. Cats were kept to keep the numbers down and when they had kittens as they did, as soon as they were born they were put in a sack and tossed over the wall into the river.

Today you would face a charge for doing such a thing, one thing about those houses they did not have any baths in them, people would go to the public baths that were a part of the toilets in the market ( those by what was called the new market hall and had the chicken cafe in it) once a week to get clean.

They then may well had stopped and talked to the very well known fish seller in the hut across the road, he was a well known local ref and my grandfather, the only and only George Best.

Sherborne Road was where BOTH the Red Bird and The Hoi Shan first set up before decamping down to Queen Street.

The cafe opposite was run by Roy Hawkins who son's Kevin and Peter went to NAGS with me. In the early days an illegal bookie operated in there, but once the law changed and betting shops became legalised he operated legitimately upstairs.

My ex father in law acted as a sort of "agent" for him in his Bus Staion Cafe (not that it was really Kosha) and once won so much money off him he ended up taking the betting shop as payment!

The Chicken Cafe was owned by my father's cousin Ann, who ran it for a Polish guy before he sold it to her and she later moved it into the Butter Market on the mezanine floor......................is it still there?

I used to love eating in the "Chick" great food, properly cooked and lashings of it being one of the family!

My brother in law Shadrack who you know, was a very good friend of the shop owner. One day I turned up at my sisters house and saw a new five foot tank set up. As I walked closer I could see that half the tank was land( a big sandy bank) the other half just water.

Then I saw who was living in there and the shop had supplied the monster, it was a stubbed nose broad headed pygmy crocodile. As It could only be feed live food, many deformed fish from the shop were supplied as his dinner. along with live baby rats etc.

My sister hated the thing and could not watch it kill his dinner and the bloody thing barked like a dog. It became almost impossible to clean his tank out and crocks can grow one inch in a year of two feet.

It was impossible to get the vitamin's he required into him and in the end I believe he was given to the zoo, but he was never put in the bath with my sister, but I bet Shad wished he could have some times ;D

No that came a bit latter, it may have been in the same premises, but I do believe it may have been the shop next door. I will have a look sometime next week and try and wok it out.