Our Fallen
People of Lowestoft 1914-45
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191042 Raid

Monday 19 October 1942

We had eighteen 'Alerts' and 'cuckoos' between 7.30am and 1.30pm and two more after dark. They bombed Kessingland very badly we hear, and Mutford, Beccles, Haddiscoe Marshes (probably for the bridge), Norwich, and Yarmouth. One plane was shot down over St. Margaret's Church. A mother and a girl were killed and there were four other casualties with about sixty houses destroyed or damaged.

The Blitz: The plane shot down was 4/KG6 Junkers Ju88A-4 (144319). There was poor visibility and low cloud over Lowestoft at about 8.30am but aero engines had been heard several times. The junkers appeared over the harbour flying north at about 500 feet and was engaged by anti-aircraft fire from ships in the harbour and local batteries. It crashed amongst anti-landing obstacles at College Farm off Oulton Road. The crew of three: Lt. Dr. W. Blackert, Fw. M. Smit, Uffz. H. Mollenhauer were all killed. The aircraft 3E+CM struck the ground and disintegrated and their was no hope of survival of the crew. The crash site was about one hundred yards from the Heavy AA gun site L2 and their CO, Major Frederick Cooper, of 478 (Mixed) Heavy AA battery, 161 HAA Regiment ran across and was slightly injured when one of the bombs exploded. There was little trace of the four airmen and their charred remains were interred in a single coffin at Lowestoft Cemetery. (The Blitz Then and Now, Vol3: p180 and 183).

One bomb fell in the school playground but the children had all gone to the shelters. They had just finished dinner at a canteen, we are told, and also that there were four hundred of them.

Poor old Perredes had all his windows blown out and the roof damaged again. I don't know what damage was done anywhere else as I have not been out.

Editor's note: Perredes: as well as his 129 London Road North premises being damaged on several occasions his shop in High Street Kessingland has now also been damaged.

CREDIT: http://www.oldlowestoft.co.uk/ajt/?The_letters_-_1942 

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Margaret Patricia Bird

A Civilian, Margaret died on 19th of October 1942 at the age of 13. Margaret was born at Kessingland on 13 January 1929, the daughter of George Thomas and Stella Mabel Bird. In 1939 her family lived at Church Road, Kessingland, but the 1939 Register shows Margaret with her grandparents, George and Margaret Bird, at the Baker's Shop, London Road, Kessingland. Margaret, and her mother Stella, died at their home, Acouver, Church Road, Kessingland, during an air raid. 191042 Raid

Stella Mabel Bird

A Civilian, Stella died on 19th of October 1942 at the age of 39. Stella was born at Kessingland on 5 September 1903, a daughter of Thomas Edward and Mabel Ethel Blowers. She was baptised at Saint Edmund's Church, Kessingland, on 18 October 1903. In 1911 her family lived at The Beach, Kessingland. In 1921 they lived at 4 Geneva Cottages, Kessingland. In 1928 Stella married George Thomas Bird. In 1939 they lived at Church Road, Kessingland. Stella, and her daughter Margaret, died at their home, Acouver, Church Road, Kessingland, during an air raid. 191042 Raid