When was the last WW2 Air Raid Siren sounded in Brum?

[bixanorak]

Please, does anyone know when the last WWII Air Raid Siren was sounded in Birmingham? Just the Siren being sounded - not when bombs were last dropped. Many thanks, Norman.

 

[Ian McLachlan]

Please, does anyone know when the last WWII Air Raid Siren was sounded in Birmingham? Just the Siren being sounded - not when bombs were last dropped. Many thanks, Norman.

I understand it to have been April 1943.

 

[Donbogen]

Some time in May 1944
Last ordnance dropped on Brum was in April 1943
Im thinking on my feet here

 

[pjmburns]

A Google search suggest May 15th 1944.
Last significant air raid was July 27th 1942 and, as Donbogen said, last ordnance to fall was April 23rd 1943 in Bordesley Green causing minor damage.

 

[bixanorak]

Thank you, Ian, for such a quick reply! Actually, I'm rather 'chasing rainbows' - albeit sinister ones! I was born on 7th January 1944 in Wolverhampton. But I have always has a vivid memory of being in a small Air Raid shelter in the garden of the house. My grandfather rolled two clay balls into a tiny cottage loaf shape and laughed. Did I make this up? As we all know, the War in Europe ended in May 1945. Did the family go down into the shelter 'one last time' to celebrate the end of the War? Can a baby remember that far back? I guess it will remain one of those inexplicable things. But again thanks for your courtesy! Best regards, Norman.

 

[bixanorak]

And thanks for the other comments too! Cheers, Norman.

 

[John L]

I seem to remember that sirens were occasionally tested locally in the 60s & 70s, to make sure they were still operational. I'm thinking at the town hall, in police/fire stations and in some larger factories/offices until the Cold War cooled down. I'm sure I have heard and seen them, I think I have in any case.

 

[Donbogen]

I seem to remember that sirens were occasionally tested locally in the 60s & 70s, to make sure they were still operational. I'm thinking at the town hall, in police/fire stations and in some larger factories/offices until the Cold War cooled down. I'm sure I have heard and seen them, I think I have in any case.

Yes there was one on roof of Police Station by Cannon Hill Park i recall hearing it in the late 60s

 

[Vivienne14]

Looks like it was at 1.48 am on 4 March 1945 according to this article.


Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Donbogen]

As Luftwaffe bases in Europe and the Reich fell to the Allies
Jerry planes over the UK were from bases in Holland

 

[bixanorak]

Gosh! As late as March 45! So they probably sounded the sirens in Wolverhampton too? Still, at only 14 months old, I doubt if I could have remembered it... Thanks for all info. Cheers, Norman.

 

[Eric Gibson]

I seem to remember that sirens were occasionally tested locally in the 60s & 70s, to make sure they were still operational. I'm thinking at the town hall, in police/fire stations and in some larger factories/offices until the Cold War cooled down. I'm sure I have heard and seen them, I think I have in any case.

I had a siren in my shop for the cold war, 60s/70s never tested it though it was in a crate at the back of my workshop.

 

[Eric Gibson]

Gosh! As late as March 45! So they probably sounded the sirens in Wolverhampton too? Still, at only 14 months old, I doubt if I could have remembered it... Thanks for all info. Cheers, Norman.

I think that's 1943, it's an old fashioned 3

 

[Dinger]

I think that's 1943, it's an old fashioned 3View attachment 207367

It does look like that - But later on in the newspaper clipping it mentions "Dim out" starting on 17th Sept 1944 - so its got to be 1945.