1940 Monday November 25th
'The enemy's main attack last night was aimed at a town in the West of England.'It began shortly after dark and continued until shortly before midnight. 'High explosives and many incendiary bombs were dropped and houses and commercial buildings were damaged by fire and explosions. Some persons were killed and others injured.
'A home for the elderly, at least half a dozen places of worship, a school, a theatre, cinemas, shops, houses and commercial buildings suffered damage by fire and blast. 'A grammar school, a warehouse and some coal yards were also affected.
'Fortunately the people from the home for old people, which was set alight, had been evacuated to a hospital early in the raid. 'At least 50 fires were burning at one time.'The raiders, flying singly, arrived almost continuously and were fiercely challenged by anti-aircraft batteries.
'Townspeople remained calm through-out the raid and afterwards toured the main streets to see the damage.'In the early hours of the morning,when men and women and girls streamed to their places of business and work,the same calm courageous spirit was to be seen.''I'm tough' declared one girl and certainly that was the quality shown by everyone.'Shopping streets suffered severely, as did some perfect specimens of ancient and modern architecture and places of historic interest.
'Bombs fell on several thoroughfares,damaging gas mains and setting two alight. 'Having regard to the scale of the attack, the casualties were remarkably light.'The call on the firemen, regular and auxiliary, was responded to with the greatest quality and assistance was rushed in from neighbouring areas.
'While it would be better to say that not only the fire fighting services but all the air raid defence services worked heroically.'Working coolly and without pause,unstinted admiration was granted them everywhere.
'A milk bar opened during the height of the attack and although buildings on each side were in flames, the employees handed out hot soup to the firemen and ARP wardens.' The town in the West was Bristol, this was the first great Bristol Blitz and the Post was barred from mentioning its name by the censors.
No pictures of the raid were published until the day afterwards following the censors' decrees and although they showed familiar sights of Bristol reduced to smoking ruins, the captions still described the damage as having happened in 'a town in the West Country'. The damage had been severe and casualties were heavy, but the full information was not released until much later.
The raid on the night of Sunday November 24th, 1940 cost 207 lives. Another 187 were seriously injured and a further 703 slightly hurt. Black-Out time was published nightly in the Post. That Monday the front page blackout panel reminded Bristolians: Blackout starts 5.38 p.m., Ends 8.16 p.m.
'The Prime Minister with the American Ambassador and President Roosevelt's direct representative in connection with the Lease-and-Lend Act, today toured some of Bristol's blitzed areas. 'Mr Churchill, complete with familiar hat and inevitable cigar, left his hotel early today and met the Lord Mayor and Town Clerk at the Council House. 'When the distinguished visitors and civic officials began their tour, the news ; spread quickly and cheering crowds soon gathered. , 'Smiling broadly and standing in an open car, the Prime Minister waved his hat; and cigar in acknowledgement. ( 'He looked very fit and discussed Bristol's ordeal with members of the official party. 'Just as his car turned out of sight, a large crowd of men and women came 1 running towards the Council House i waving and cheering breathlessly as accompanying cars started off in its wake.
'In the blitzed areas he was also heartily cheered by people who endured a severe ordeal last night. He replied: 'God bless ', you'. 'To a man working on repairs to a bombed building, Mr Churchill said - 'Don't worry. We will give it them back'. 'At a place where shelter building was in progress, he told the bricklayers, 'I've done a bit of that', a reference to the time when he made bricklaying a hobby. 'Among those with whom he talked in a residential area was a woman whose house suffered last night. 'Mr Churchill held out his hand but she demurred because her hand was dirty from 'cleaning up'. But the Prime Minister insisted on shaking hands.
'Mr Churchill bought from a sailor one of the emblems—a Union Jack—on sale in aid of Bristol's Own Fund for providing comfort for men in the Services and Civil Defence. 'One of the objects of Mr Churchill's visit was to attend the congregation for the Conferment of Degrees at Bristol University, of which he is Chancellor. 'The congregation was a special one for the conferment of an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on Mr Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia.
'With Mr Churchill was his wife and their daughter Mary. 'The party arrived in the early hours after the blitz and breakfasted at the Grand Hotel.' The front page footnote gave Black-Out times for ensuring that no lights of any kind were shown from households.
1942 Friday August 28th
The great air raids on Bristol were a thing of the past... the last had been at Easter, 1941. The Yanks were arriving. The tide was turning. And then, out of an August morning sky, terror returned to Bristol. Censorship had been largely lifted and the Post's story that day was one of the most vivid accounts of Bristol's war. 'Two raiders came in high and one dropped a bomb on Bristol this morning.
It fell at a junction where three buses laden with business people were halted. The casualty list will probably be high. 'The bomb fell among the buses and in a moment two were afire, the occupants being trapped; the other was wrecked. A number of people passing in the street were thrown a considerable distance by the blast. A 16th century timbered building, home of a well established printing firm, partially collapsed while an adjacent building was brought down completely. 'It is feared that a number of people are buried in the debris.
Ambulances were quickly on the scene and those of the injured who could be extricated were removed to hospital. 'It happened that the terminal for the buses had been transferred to allow street alterations. This accounted for there being three of them on the street while, happening at an hour when traffic is heavy, the number of passengers was greater than would have been the case at other than the peak hour of morning travel. 'The bomb came down without warning so that nobody had time to take shelter.
The buses were a mass of flames almost immediately the bomb burst and nothing could be done for the people within. Though the fire brigade were on the spot in force within little more than a minute, they could do little except prevent a spread of the fire to nearby buildings. 'Two had already burst into flames but the fires were quickly got under control. Even as the firemen were playing on the burning debris of the building which had collapsed, others were tearing away beams and bricks in the seemingly vain hope of rescuing workers believed to have been on the premises.
'A press photographer had a lucky escape. He had been on fire watching duties overnight and he was leaving his office to go home when a bus passed him. He ran to catch it but was too late. That bus was involved in the tragedy. 'As the bus passed out of sight round the corner, he heard the sound of the planes overhead followed almost immediately by the unmistakable shriek of a falling bomb. 'It crashed though into a culvert close to the nearest bus while a second bus just ahead of it caught the full blast.
'The third bus, outward bound, was wrecked but did not catch fire. People, seriously injured and some dead, were lying on the road, among them women and children. 'It is believed that the drivers and conductors or conductresses of two of the buses are among the dead. 'Aboard one of the buses, in which a baby was one of the victims, everybody was a casualty with the exception of the conductress who escaped with shock. 'Her first thought was for the driver.
'Is my driver safe?' she asked again and again. 'An eye witness, Mr H. Sheppard, said- There was a girl on the rear platform of one of the buses and with another man I rushed up and caught hold of her—but as her foot was trapped and the flames swept up we had to release our hold. The heat was too intense for anyone to be able to do anything. ' 'Another young woman jumped from the top of one of the buses and, I believe, was uninjured.
'' The 5001b bomb, which fell on Broad Weir, was by far the costliest in lives and injuries of any dropped on Bristol. It killed 45, mostly women and children, and injured 56.
'When the next train to Weston came in those who had been left behind surged forward, women with young babies in arms being among those scrambling to get in. 'One woman with a small baby arrived just as the train was starting to move and willing hands seized her and the child and just managed to get her in. 'A railways spokesman said: 'We are beating all records, even for peacetime'.
'The demand for accommodation in the rural districts around Weston is probably heavier than it has ever been. In the Puxton district, more people are staying on farms than ever before.' Servicemen, many of them GIs based in and around Bristol, quickly got into the swing of the August Bank Holiday mood and they flocked to the busy fairs and fetes. One pretty girl was pictured in the Post 'showing her American friend how to swing it at the Durdham Down carnival' aboard a large fairground swing. And families who couldn't get away from town had plenty to keep them happy.
'Hundreds of people took their'seaside' holiday at Page Park, Staple Hill. Attrac- tions included donkeys, ponies, sand pits and paddling pools. 'On Frenchay Common there were tugs-of-war, children's sports and a cricket match. The profits will go to the men serving in the forces.'
1944 Tuesday June 6th
The great armies of Allied troops which had been encamped in the Bristol region and the rest of the West Country had packed and vanished. Everyone knew where they had gone. To the South Coast and dockside bases somewhere. The night sky had been full of aircraft, streaming southwards.
Great events were imminent. And by the morning of June 6th the news had broken. The Allied invasion of Europe had begun with mass landings of troops on the beaches of Normandy. There was an almost audible sigh of relief that the waiting was over. Now, at last, we were hitting back.
The final chapter of World War II had clearly begun. That day's editorial in the Evening Post expressed the mood perfectly: 'The hour has struck. Never in the world's most dramatic annals have the nations of the Earth faced a more grim or thrilling crisis than now unfolds. 'From our own headquarters the first news came in the form of a warning to the people of France. We promised them this warning and the promise has been redeemed.
They will understand, for they have not forgotten how they were herded into the roadways by the ruthless Huns in order to impede all military movement when France was attacked and struck down. 'Following swiftly upon this warning came details of where our first blows had struck. Let it not be imagined, however, that the whole story, or anything like the whole story, has yet been unfolded. 'It will be impossible in the early stages to distinguish between operations that are feints and operations that are an integral part of what we all hope will be a victorious march on Berlin.
'Of one thing, however, we may be certain—the offensive commenced in the West will be followed swiftly by a resumed Russian offensive in the East. 'The opening of the campaign has been postponed longer than most of us expected. The reason will be divulged in due course. 'But although there may have been unavoidable delays, nearly six months of fair campaigning weather should still lie ahead of us. We have the right to look forward to those six months with confidence as well as hope. 'No nation has put forward a more supreme effort in preparations for this, the momentous day in the history of the world.'
1945 Tusday May 8th
'Earlier the momentous news that Germany had completely surrendered had been received without any great outward display of emotion. 'Even after it was known that today would be officially regarded as VE-Day there were few immediate signs of excitement.
All seemed to have decided that VE- Day celebrations could not come until the Prime Minister had made his broadcast. 'Almost as soon as the first news of surrender had been received, however, flags began to sprout from many houses and business premises. 'Queen's Road had ropes of them from one side of the thoroughfare to the other, and bunting and pennants festooned the fronts of shops in the windows of many of which were colourful patriotic displays.
'Another area to make a bright show was Mary-le-Port Street where the gay array had as a background many grim reminders of the war in the form of blitz debris. 'The Council House, too, was well beflagged. 'During the evening Bristol became a city of flags. From the business houses, the public buildings and pre-eminently from the homes of the people, decorations were hung. '' Bedminster seemed to set the pace, and although many other districts probably equalled their achievements in the end, nowhere can have excelled them.
Ere the evening was out, every Bedminster street had to be entered beneath many arches of flags of all the Allied nations and all the time residents continued to bring out more decorations to add to the grand array. 'In other parts of the city it was largely the same story, if to a lesser degree. 'Children, of course, were everywhere in high spirits. Most of them—and many of their elders too—began wearing red, white and blue favours, some produced hats of similar hue and not a few appeared in fancy-dress summer costume. 'Hawkers at the Centre did a brisk trade in favours and numerous girls, having bought colourful paper hats at a shop in nearby Denmark Street, strolled at The Centre wearing them at jaunty angles.
'At theatres and cinemas when the official news of VE-Day was announced, there were outbursts of cheering and applause. 'At the Theatre Royal, where Mr T. Hickson said he was proud to make the historic announcement from the most historic stage in the country, the audience rose from their seats to applaud. 'Mr Gerald Hornby told the Empire audience at the close of the second house and then led them and the company in the singing of 'Abide With Me', 'Land Of Hope And Glory' and the National Anthem.
'There were scenes of great excitement at the Orpheus Cinema when Mr A.T. Miller interrupted the main feature to give the news while statements by the managers of the King's (Mr R. Cowgill) and the New Palace (Mr R.G.H. Blackburn) were also greeted with tremendous applause. 'There were similar scenes at other cinemas where the announcement was made. 'At the Embassy, Mr J.E. Williams had previously announced surrender news, going on the stage accompanied by two members of the RAF, an American soldier, a British Tommy and a naval officer. Here the audience stood and waved handkerchiefs and papers as they cheered.
'At some cinemas the special Victory trailer film was put on during the last performance; in many others it was screened today. 'After 10 o'clock, with dusk falling, the entirely unlighted Centre (for the full street lighting was not to be used until VE- night) began to show scenes of greater animation. 'Young men—many in uniform—and girls formed small groups singing popular songs; others with arms linked strolled along the pavement in high spirits; an American soldier and a British girl entertained with a 'jitterbug' dance in the car park and a party formed a circle and danced light-heartedly for some minutes. 'In public-houses all over the city, most of them not unduly full, there was singing.
'Those who, since the dim-out was lifted, have continued to pull their curtains at night, left them undrawn on this occasion so that when darkness descended the hilly part of the city, viewed from the Ashton district, showed dozens of twinkling jewels of light. At least one building had some flood-lighting. 'Houses in Ashton appeared to specialise in fairy lights, several streets being made bright with strings of them on buildings.
'In Hotwells, a bonfire was built and a great crowd, scores of them standing on the no-longer-needed air raid shelters— stayed around it until well past midnight, singing to the strains of a piano accordion. 'There were other bonfires in the same vicinity, and at one the exuberant crowd dragged bunks from air-raid shelters to feed the flames. 'A piece of furniture which had been standing outside a second-hand shop elsewhere was whisked away to be used as fuel. 'Not far away, on a street comer, another big assembly made the night air ring with community singing, lustily rendered, and there was some dancing in the streets.
'In the nearby Trinity Church (damaged in an air raid) someone found a bell-rope and the clangour of a single bell echoed across the streets. Everywhere, in outskirts as well as city, lights blazed into the early hours. Bright flashes on the horizon also lit the sky well into the night. No one knew the cause—but for the first time since September 1939 everyone knew the origin was peaceful.'
'Mr Jackson's wife was at his bedside with police on hand when he died at Bristol Royal Infirmary at 3.35 a.m. today. It is understood he was unable to describe what had happened. 'Mr Jackson, who lived with his wife and four-year-old son at Zetland Road, was appointed manager of the Odeon in March 1940. He resumed his duties only seven weeks ago after 6 years in the Royal Navy. 'In true showman like fashion 'the show went on' after Mr Jackson had been shot. But for a notice flashed on to the screen to appeal for a doctor, patrons watching a presentation of 'The Light That Failed' had no inkling of the drama which was being enacted in another part of the building.' It was, and still is, one of Bristol's most sensational murders.
The film playing at the moment when the dashing, dinner-jacketed manager who had acted in the movies, driven across America by car in just five days and worked as a radio announcer was shot, was a thriller. Six shots rang out. Five of them were on the soundtrack of The Light That Failed. The sixth was for real. Forty-eight hours later, the police were no wiser, as the Evening Post revealed. Friday's Post reported: 'While a watch was being maintained at Temple Meads and other West-country stations and at Avonmouth and other docks, police officers were taking statement after statement.
'All likely places, including blitzed ruins, have been combed for the weapon, but so far without result. There is strong reason to believe it was a .45 Service revolver. 'Police Have Two Theories. 'Several lines of inquiry are being pursued, following a day of methodical search, conferences, interviews and at- tempts to reconstruct the shooting, with officers impersonating Mr Jackson and his assailant. 'Police worked all night in the office where the shooting took place. 'Silhouetted against the curtains could occasionally be seen the figures of C.I.D. men who, with finger-print experts and photographers, were still scrutinising every inch of the room for possible clues.
'The possibility of suicide has been ruled out, leaving the theories of: 1 —Mr Jackson returning to his office to surprise an intruder intent on robbery who shot his way out. It is known that Mr Jackson had taken the takings from the box-office to the safe in his private office. He then visited the operating box and was shot on returning to his office. 2—Mr Jackson being shot in a private quarrel with the intruder.' No money had been taken. The key to the safe was found in the dying man's pocket. The mystery remains unsolved.
The Bristol Post's Royal Wedding Special was headlined simply: The Whole World Wishes Her Happiness. And, of course, the Post had its staff up in London to get the Bristol angle on the event of the year. 'Five Bristolians, members of the 6th Navy Platoon, lined up in Whitehall, were right in the front row. They were PO E.J. Higgs, ABS Ogden, Hudson and Sweetman and Elec. Mech. Templar, all of them RNVR.
'All saw active service in the Navy during the war. ' 'I stared when I saw the Life Guards' PO Higgs told the Evening Post in London this afternoon. ' 'I couldn't have imagined anything so grand. ''But my biggest thrill was at the Retire. The Marine band formed up, the 6th Platoon fell in immediately behind and at the order, 'Royal Navy - Quick March!' we led the Naval contingent.
''The crowd gave us a shout that brought a lump into my throat. ' 'Before then we were standing at the 'present' and daren't stir a muscle. A kid at a window opposite was sucking a lemon watching us. She was laughing like anything. ' 'It seemed funny to her but it wasn't to us. Our throats were parched. We hadn't had a drink for four hours. But it was worth it. ' 'At a third storey window opposite us was Gracie Fields. After the return procession she burst out singing 'Sally' 'Now Is The Hour', 'Oh What A Wonderful Day'. She was singing her head off and the crowd joined in and gave her a big hand. '
'Then there were Bob Hope, Robert Montgomery and Alexis Smith close by. Bob was doing his funny stuff. I could tell from the way everybody was laughing but I couldn't turn my head. ' 'And now I am off to buy the baby a present. Then I want to catch The Bristolian at 4.15 and tell the wife what a wonderful day it has been. She will want to know about the Princess's dress. I don't know much about dresses but Elizabeth looked beautiful, whatever she was wearing'.
'ABS Ogden is an old hand at Royal occasions. He was in the Diadem in the Vanguard escort on Their Majesty's South African trip, in the Rodney in '45 at Forsyth when the King inspected the Home Fleet and at Naval inspections by the King in Italy. ' 'But this beats all,' he said.'
The following day the Post ran special editions to commemorate the great event. 'The news that the Australians had won the toss and would bat spread like wildfire. Hundreds were still pouring in when Australia's captain Lindsay Hassett and Basil Alien went out to inspect the wicket. 'Then the crowd, estimated at 18,000, settled down to enjoy a spate of run- getting on a thoroughly easy wicket. 'Morris, in enterprising mood,took heavy toll of the bowling after Hassett, who led the Australians in place of Bradman, won the toss. 'Cook, however, struck the first blow for Gloucestershire, getting Bames brilliantly caught in the slips by Crapp. 'The Tetbury left-hander was again cheered when he lured Hassett out of his crease and Andy Wilson whipped off his bails in a trice.'
But any dream of Boys Own heroics against the mighty Bradman side were rapidly dispelled—and the crowds who had poured up the Gloucester Road loved every moment of it. Monday's Post carried a composite picture made up from individual pictures across its centre pages which gave a 300 degree view of the gigantic crowd jammed into every available space at the County Ground.
The Aussies went on to score 774 for seven 'their highest in the tour so far' our local cricket correspondent John Coe reported. The greatest Gloucestershire honours went to local hero Jack Crapp. He was not out for 100, but it couldn't stop Australia winning by an innings and 363 runs. Wally Hammond watched . . . and approved, suggesting that the local lad might find a niche in the England side for the next Test. ''I would say it is no certainty that Edrich will play. He may well give way to Crapp.'' Edrich did play, and so did Crapp. And Bristol enjoyed one of its most spectacular weekends of international cricket.
The Brabazon - Britain's bid to re-establish its lead as a top plane maker on the lucrative international routes, was a beauty. She was slim, elegant and looked exactly like the classy lady she was meant to be ... a rich man and woman's magic transport to glamorous destinations.
Her specifications included a double-decker interior with private First Class cabins,a 32-seat cinema, a swish cocktail bar and a luxurious lounge. The silver prototype made its first flight at Filton on Sunday September 5th, 1949 and the Post joined in the fun, reporting Bristol Aeroplane Company joint managing director Reginald Verdon-Smith's delighted comment to test pilot Captain Bill Pegg: 'A splendid run! Well done!' Lord Brabazon, the plane's namesake, commented: 'My faith has been justified.
I have never seen any trial go off so smoothly'. The brief flight meant a leisurely aerial stroll over north Bristol, Chipping Sodbury and then Avonmouth before the return to Filton. The Queen, later to become the Queen Mum, paid a visit to Filton with her young daughter Princess Margaret shortly after- wards. The Post was there to record the Royal inspection of Bristol's best. 'The Queen and Princess Margaret, on a surprise informal visit today, spent 15 minutes inside the Brabazon and were shown how to handle the controls by Captain Bill Pegg.
'They were obviously thrilled by their experiences, so much so that they squeezed their way into the wings behind the powerful engines. The Royal visitors were also greatly impressed by the mammoth hangar which houses the Brabazon. The Queen likened it to the Crystal Palace. 'Mr Pegg found both the Queen and the Princess intensely interested in the actual operation of the plane.
'As the Royal party had approached the Brabazon's 117 ft high hangar, the Queen and the Princess said they were 'staggered' by its enormous size and pleased with the colour scheme and spacious windows. 'Princess Margaret blinked as she looked up into the vast spaciousness of the hangar. 'Speaking to Mr L.D. Atkinson, chief engineer of the Brabazon, the Queen said: 'It must have been a thrill flying in the aircraft for the first time'. He agreed and the Queen added, 'It is a very nice aeroplane.'' Nice the Brab certainly was.
She droned her way around the West Country and along the South Coast and pleased the crowds who watched her stately progress. But she was hopelessly slow and jet airliners lay just around the corner. Three years later with just one Brab built and a second only half completed, the project was cancelled.
The Post's final verdict? A wistful editorial which sighed:
'And so farewell to the great Might-Have-Been.'
