Rolls Royce Bombing 27th July 1942

The Rolls Royce factory in Derby manufactured the Merlin engines that powered most of the British military planes in WW2. It became a prime target for an enemy attack. The area around it was classified as an evacuation area, should war break out. Many children were evacuated; Belper was one of the towns which accepted these evacuees.

Ernest Townsend, who is buried at Nottingham Road Cemetery, was commissioned to design camouflage for the site. Those who worked at Royce’s referred to areas by their camouflage. The building next to No 2 shop was known as “The Chapel” for many years after the war.

The only successful attack was on 27th July 1942. A low flying Dornier 217 aircraft dropped a bomb on the Central Stores that then passed through a wall into the Steel Store, where it exploded. Three other bombs landed on nearby houses in Hawthorn Street, Abingdon Street and Handel Street. The bombs were dropped as the main workforce was arriving; the packed streets were sprayed with machine gun fire. The bombing was reported in Derby Evening Telegraph as a sneak raid on a North Midlands town.

Twenty-three people died in the raid, the burial places of 22 of those who died is known to us.

Any information about the remaining grave would be appreciated. Please email or contact us.

Sadly, not all of those who died have a grave stone and little is known of their history. Vera Mabel Doggrell has a private memorial, those with no headstone, such as Arthur Bacon, have a gold marker.

• Arthur Bacon, 37, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Arthur Frederick Base, 54, buried in Chellaston Cemetery

• Olive May Bates, 30, buried in Normanton Cemetery

• Thomas Lee Carlen, 22, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Vera Mabel Doggrell, 23, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Dorothy Lena Farmer, 22, buried at Marlpool Cemetery.

• Sylvia May Farmer, 2, buried at Marlpool Cemetery.

• Margaret Eileen Finan, 21 , buried in Greater Manchester. From Altrincham, Cheshire.

• Elizabeth Helen Franklin, 32, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• George Henry Gratton, 62, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Dora Greatorex, 21, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery. Fiancee of Sydney Higgins.

• Francis Robert Grimmer, 51, buried in Chellaston Cemetery

• Sydney Higgins, 28, buried in St Nicholas’ Churchyard, Lockington, Leics.

• John William Hill, 53, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Charles Levi Horn, 55, buried in Normanton Cemetery

• Frederick Cecil Isaac, 49, buried in Boulton St Marys, Alvaston

• Doreen Cecilia Jenkins, 15, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Ethel Esther Lawrence, 35.

• Cyril Leslie Lowe, 31, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Doris Nield, 19, buried in Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery, Greater Manchester. From Timperley, Cheshire. (see more detail below).

• James Peach, 45, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

• Dennis Regan, 9, buried in Boulton St Marys, Alvaston

• Joseph Taylor, 32, buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery

“My grandmother, Mrs Lily Snook, told me of the raid on R-R, where she worked during the war. She was also an ARP Warden, and said that on that day she went out of her house on Davenport Road, and decided to first sign on at the ARP Post, turning left out of her doorway - had she turned right towards the R-R factory she would have been killed by the bombing.” - Theo Ward.

Doris Neild

Born during the September quarter 1922 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/287, the daughter of Mr. Mrs. Joseph & Dinah Barbara Neild.  Her birth was registered as NEILD.
Died in the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby, as a result of injuries sustained on the 27/07/42 at 101 Hawthorn Street,Derby.   

Recorded as NIELD on the CWGC's web-site.   Also listed as NIELD in the newspaper report.

Death first reported in the Sale Guardian dated 7th August 1941 - as NIELD.

The report in the local  Sale & Stretford Guardian newspaper dated 14th August 1941, states that she had visited "a west Midlands town" to  spend a holiday with her fiancé.   During a breakfast raid on the town (Derby), Doris was severely injured and was operated on, but died 6 days later. Doris was fond of dancing and was employed in the Turning Department at the Linotype & Machinery Works, Broadheath. Her 21 year
old girlfriend - Margaret Eillen Finan, was also a victim. 

CWGC records her as Doris NIELD and her father's name as John NIELD.

The 1938 Voters' list states that a Joseph and Dinah Barbara NEILD lived at 16 Deansgate Road, Timperley.

1939 National Registration - 16 Deansgate Lane, Altrincham. 
Joseph Neild - Born on the 12 March 1878 - Married - occ: Labourer on Filter Beds.  
Dinah Barbara Neild - Married - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties. 
Doris Neild - Born on the 20th September 1922 - Single - occ: Wallpaper Factory Hand. 
Arthur Neild - Born on the 12th June 1928 - Single - occ: At School.

Buried on Wednesday 5th August 1941.     Plot 2/245 (unmarked) Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery.
Died during a breakfast raid on Derby where she was on holiday.   Doris was severely injured and was operated on, but died 6 days later.

Margaret Eileen Finan

Born - 21st June 1921  in the Bucklow Registration District. - ref 8a/327, the daughter of William & Ada Finan (nee Booth).

1939 National Registration - 28 Tithebarn Road, Hale.   
William Finan - Married - born: 18th February 1894 - occupation: Blacksmith (Heavy Worker). 
Ada Finan - Married - born: 24th June 1895 - occupation: Unpaid Domestic Duties.   There are file "Closed" records at this address, presumably one of those being Margaret Eileen Finan?

Killed in an early morning air raid at 101 Hawthorn Street, off Osmaston Road, Derby.   
She was on holiday with her friend - Doris Neild aged: 19.   Doris actually survived the bombing but died on the 2nd August in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary from her injuries. 

Margaret was buried on the 31st July 1942. Plot A/759 Altrincham (Hale) Cemetery.
She left behind a daughter - Patricia Eileen Finan - born: 16th November 1941.

Ethel Esther Lawrence (nee Allen)

We have not yet been able to find the final resting place of Ethel but we did find this newspaper clipping of her wedding,

Details of the civilians who died are recorded on the Civilian Roll of Honour in Westminster Abbey.

Dorothy Farmer and her daughter were buried at Marlpool cemetery

The Bombing was reported in the Derby Telegraph.