Mourners gathered at Shanklin Cemetery last Friday to commemorate the tragic events of 80 years ago when enemy bombing raids wrecked families forever and destroy the homes of residents, who thought they were nowhere near the front line.
Royal British Legion Chaplain Rev Tony Richards, with Royal British Legion President Ian Ward BEM, led a graveside service dedicated to the memories of those that perished, with Bugler Stuart Kent playing the last post.
It was at 17:00 on 3rd January 1943, days after travel restrictions to the Island were relaxed to allow firefighters caught in the London blitz to get some rest and recuperation in Shanklin, that a flight of Focke Wolf 190s darkened the skies over the town.
Minutes later bombs were dropped on the Roman Catholic Church, destroying the Atherley Road place of worship and killing several of those at the service. Moments later firefighters of the National Fire Service fell victim when bombs dropped on their Landguard Road Depot and Gloster Hotel.
6 weeks later, on 17th February 1943, at 11:30, bombs were dropped on St Paul’s Church in Regent Street, killing the Vicar Rev Irons and his family, with houses in Landguard Road also suffering tragic consequences.
June Watt (nee Kingswell) lost both her parents in the raids, as well as her baby sister and grandmother. Other residents, including former Shanklin Mayor John Fleming, vividly remember getting off the bus at the bus station and witnessing the carnage that lay ahead of them.
Shanklin Rowing Club President Pat Glover recalls being up in Rylstone with his mother and sister, near where the caged birds were, and all of a sudden seeing German planes in the sky above them. The fighters swept in and hit Shanklin Fire station and were away in minutes.
A special film tribute has been produced by Shanklin VYCC and IW Film Club, with help from Sandown and Shanklin Historical Associations, and part-funded by CCIF.
The film, which can be viewed below, includes interviews with a Fireman, the late Henry Appel, who recounts rescuing children from the rubble of the church; rare government pictures from the time; and other eyewitness accounts.
