• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

hockley bus station devastated

A

Astonian

gone but not forgotten
does anybody recall the hockley bus depot being destroyed in november 1940; dates 22 / 23
19 buses were burt out and four partly burt out and 88 buses damaged
and also at the corner of queens street and highgate rd the morning of the 20 th november 1940
19 buses and 10 trams were damaged at this
at its peak time in brum we had numered fifty three thousand home guards
the organisation stood down on 1st november 1944
have a nice day every body best wishes astonian
 
I was born in 1953 so do not remember the event (!), but my Grandfather was working for BCT at the time and he told me all about it. I understand that even though so many vehicles were destroyed, only six never ran again with the remainder rebuilt and rebodied. He used to tell this story as an example of how the BCT Engineering department were proper engineers and not just fitters. His story seems to be backed up by photos and text in the Keeley-Russell-Gray book "Birmingham City Transport".
 
I knew about this event but only in recent years. I regret not knowing about it when I was a lad as I could have asked my dad about it. He was a bus driver, based there since the twenties and I wasn't born till the year after it happened.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top