Altham
- Thread starter rtbarton
- Start date
Cheers, Has that always been called Altham West, just wondering why it appeared as just "Altham" in the phone book.
Its not far from me , i know exactly where you mean Margaret
My dad was in the AFS (auxillary Fire Service) and I recall him saying that it was the only house that was bombed round here - all other bombs fell on the moors, which just shows that 'the blackout' was effective. The germans were trying to bomb Howard and Bulloughs and ROF
My mother used to work for Riley's Chemicals and Colours in Clayton-le-Moors just before and during the war and her boss Conly Riley lived at number 32. I'm trying to find out about this firm (archives, members of the Riley family &c).
From what I can find out Conly lived there in 1936 and a Mrs C. Riley (presumably his widow) was there in 1954.
This is the place where the bomb dropped - looks like the gap has been partly built on now
Altham West Accrington UK - Google Maps
Altham West Accrington UK - Google Maps
I know where it is too...about 5 mins from my house...
Go to Observer website, there is an article with photo of the bombing, in the history section.
I struggled to find it too - but found via the Community section - then 'Looking Back'
Two die in first air raid on World War Two - News - Accrington Observer
The article says 'Clayton' - dont let that put you off - we are used to bad reporting in our local rag
Two die in first air raid on World War Two - News - Accrington Observer
The article says 'Clayton' - dont let that put you off - we are used to bad reporting in our local rag
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There was never any bombing raids on Howard & Bulloughs. The nearest Royal Ordnance Factory was at Chorley.
It was the Germans on the way back from bombing Manchester, clearing the bomb racks, two incendiaries dropped on those houses, I saw them the day after. Chief Officer Crabtree was in charge at the fire.
I used to see and hear the Jerry planes flying over during night, then a few minutes later the sky would be lit up by the search lights around Manchester and all the ack ack guns would start up. A lot of those shells went up to 20,000 feet before they burst, and the fragments from some landed in Accrington, I still have some of those bits of shells.
Retlaw.
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