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IJClarke

Brummie babby
Hi everyone, I am looking for a little guidance or direct help in finding out some information regarding WW2 bomb site in Birmingham.

My Father died a couple of years ago and I recently took possession of documents he had gathered on our family genealogy. Amongst the documentation I found a handwritten note from him to myself, relaying a family rumor passed on by his aunt many years ago that my father (a babe in arms then) and his mother had survived the bombing of their then home during one of the air raids on Birmingham. His note went on to explain that he hadn't found any evidence to collaborate this tale.

I am hoping to follow this up and investigate further, hoping that records may be more readily accessible nowadays. With this in mind I joined your site in the hope that one of my fellow members might be able to point me in the right direction to find such information.

Many thanks in advance

Ian
 
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IJClarke said:
Hi everyone, I am looking for a little guidance or direct help in finding out some information regarding WW2 bomb site in Birmingham.

My Father died a couple of years ago and I recently took possession of documents he had gathered on our family genealogy. Amongst the documentation I found a handwritten note from him to myself, relaying a family rumor passed on by his aunt many years ago that my father (a babe in arms then) and his mother had survived the bombing of their then home during one of the air raids on Birmingham. His note went on to explain that he hadn't found any evidence to collaborate this tale.

I am hoping to follow this up and investigate further, hoping that records may be more readily accessible nowadays. With this in mind I joined your site in the hope that one of my fellow members might be able to point me in the right direction to find such information.

Many thanks in advance

Ian
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Hi Ian, welcome to the forum, have you tried this website? may be of some help but generally only lists addresses where a person has been injured or killed.

BARRA - Online Database

BARRA Online Database
database.birminghamairraids.co.uk
 
Perhaps if you give us his and his mother's names we could investigate. Or an address
 
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pjmburns said:
Perhaps if you give us his and his mother's names we could investigate. Or an address
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These are a good starting points in this forum---

stars

Thread 'Birmingham air raids'

Hi

I thought this map of where the bombs fell on Birmingham might be of interest.
Birmingham's 50th air raid was one of the heaviest so far came on 19th November 1940.
The map shows the vast area of devastation. The black spots show where the german bombs fell.
The unexploded or delayed are marked with an X





Image2.jpg


Regards Stars

L

Thread 'Map Of W W2 Bombing'

I wonder if anyone can help with providing me with a copy of a map I had once which showed the site of all bombs which fell on Birmingham. Cannot remember if it was over a particular period or through the whole time of the war. It showed the street names and extended out as far as Kings Heath in the south and Yardley to the east.

If anyone has this map perhaps they could also tell me where it was found in case the resolution allowed on this site makes it difficult to read ?

Many thanks for any help

Peter
 
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pjmburns said:
Perhaps if you give us his and his mother's names we could investigate. Or an address
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Hi Janice, that would be great. His name was John Henry Clarke, his moms name was Violet Clarke. At the time of the believed incident they lived at 13 Back of 41 Sampson Road North, Sparkbrook. The note went on to say that both he and his mom were buried under a table when the house was bombed. Dad was only born in July 1939 so would have been very young, his Mother died in November of 1941. I would really appreciate any help or guidance you could give. Thank you.
 
I haven't found an answer but Jenner's Factory based at 12 to 18 Sampson Road North gets a reference on the BARRA site as being the site of death of an employee in a raid on 11th/12th December 1940
From a map it looks as if the printing works were almost opposite 41. So there could be a connection here.
1759236850439.png
 
pjmburns said:
I haven't found an answer but Jenner's Factory based at 12 to 18 Sampson Road North gets a reference on the BARRA site as being the site of death of an employee in a raid on 11th/12th December 1940
From a map it looks as if the printing works were almost opposite 41. So there could be a connection here.
View attachment 210399
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Hi Janice

Thats fantastic, thank you so much. It does make sense that over the years, what was probably some superficial (relatively) bomb damage to their home whilst they sheltered under the kitchen table, would have grown into a tale of being buried under debris and being dug out!

I did notice the entries regarding Sampson Road on the BARRA site, but I was struggling to find a street map of the area that showed the individual house numbers. May I ask where you got this Map from?

Also, this has thrown up another interesting point, the information passed on from my father clearly states the address as 13 back of 41 where it's obviously number 12 back of 41 on the map?

Thank you again for taking the time to research into this, you wouldn't realise what peace this brings to me, knowing progress is being made and information can be passed down to his Grandchildren on an event (possible event) that happened when he was just a babe in arms, so much more poignant that we only knew of the event, a couple of years after his passing, he however had first heard of this some 50 odd years ago!
 
Back houses sometimes varied in numbering. I noticed there was a 13 back of 39 and suspect that if entry was by 41 it sometimes got called 13 back of 41 not 39. (Someone else might correct me on this).
The map is from here - free to use. Put in a modern road or place and you will get a choice of maps on the right.


I then click on "browse OS maps". The home page will reveal other things you can use.
 
pjmburns said:
Back houses sometimes varied in numbering. I noticed there was a 13 back of 39 and suspect that if entry was by 41 it sometimes got called 13 back of 41 not 39. (Someone else might correct me on this).
The map is from here - free to use. Put in a modern road or place and you will get a choice of maps on the right.


I then click on "browse OS maps". The home page will reveal other things you can use.
Click to expand...
Thanks again Janice, really is good of you to take the time, really appreciate it, and really enjoying the searching!
 
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