GILL BAGULEY AND PAULINE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE IN CONVERSATION
NORWICH IN WORLD WAR 2
Pauline and Gill lived in Norwich throughout World War 2. In November 2022 they were recorded discussing their memories of air raid shelters, bomb damage, food rationing and what it was like to live through such terrible experiences including the Baedeker Raids.
The Baedeker Raids in Norwich
The historic cities of Exeter, Bath, Norwich, York and Canterbury were targets of a wave of bombing raids between April and June 1942. These were launched on Hitler’s orders in retaliation for a Royal Air Force raid on the medieval German city of Lübeck in March 1942. The aim was to damage historic buildings of cultural importance and spread fear among the population. They were known as the ‘Baedeker raids’ after a popular German guide book. The most devastating of these attacks occurred on the evenings of 27th April 1942 and 29th April. There were further attacks in May and a heavy bombardment on 26th and 27th June in which Norwich Cathedral was damaged. Norwich Castle, the City Hall and the Guildhall escaped but many residential streets were destroyed.
April 1942
In Norwich, the raid that began on the evening of 27th April 1942 was the most severe to hit the city during the war. Two nights later on 29th April, another raid took place, destroying many buildings in the city centre.
June 1942
Known as "The Hell Fire Raid", three enemy aircraft which were later destroyed, dropped incendiaries and high explosives, causing several large fires. The thatched department store, Bonds, on All Saint's Green as well as the historic Old Boar's Head Inn, were both gutted by fire. St Julian's Church in King Street was hit, as well as the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Theatre Street. The Star and Crown public house on Timberhill was destroyed, as was 72 St Giles Street and Heigham Grove. Many 17th century buildings were obliterated.
Casualties
229 citizens were killed in the two Baedeker raids and 1000 others were injured
340 citizens in total were killed in the war
Norwich had the highest air raid casualties in Eastern England.
Out of 35,000 domestic dwellings in Norwich, 2,000 were destroyed, and another 27,000 suffered some damage.
Fewer than 5,000 houses escaped without any damage at all.
LISTEN TO PAULINE AND GILL
The bombing of Caley's chocolate factory LISTEN HERE
Walking everywhere, bomb damage and the cattle market LISTEN HERE
Shopping and living with the threat of bombing raids LISTEN HERE
Living in a shop, coping with shortages LISTEN HERE
Pauline recalls the result of a bombing raid on her house LISTEN HERE
Eggs arrive from the Orkneys and a discussion about the reality of living in a war zone LISTEN HERE
Pauline remembers VE day LISTEN HERE
Caley's chocolate factory after the first Baedeker raid
The Boar's Head public house after the Baedeker raids
Bomb damage.
On the left St. Benedict's Church
On the right City Road Norwich after the Baedeker Raids
Pauline, pictured above, was 10 years old when war broke out and was living in Newmarket Street with her parents
Gill, pictured on the right, lived in Sprowston throughout the war with her mother, brother and sister.
She was 6 years old when the war began.
