Appeal to remember victims of bombing

Richard Cutcher • Published 24 Sep 2011 09:30 Comments 1 Comment

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A PROUD Tilehurst man has started a campaign to honour the 41 people who died in the worst bombing raid on Reading during World War Two.

Brian Lewendon, 77, has lived in Reading all his life and remembers Wednesday, February 10, 1943 well, when a lone German plane dropped bombs on the town centre and machine-gunned the streets.

More than 100 others were seriously injured but the casualties could have been far higher had it not been half day closing, which meant Welstead's department store, which received a direct hit from the first bomb was completely empty.

While visiting The Chronicle offices in Portman Road to examine the the Reading Mercury archives, Mr Lewendon said: "I was nine-years-old and had just come home from St Mary's School in Hosier Street when I heard the frightening sounds of the three bombs being dropped on the town. It was terrifying."

An active member of the Tilehurst Royal British Legion, Mr Lewendon believes the 70th anniversary in 2013 would be the perfect opportunity to finally honour those who were killed in the blast.

Mr Lewendon added: "Many towns and cities have organised memorials for their civilians who died in air raids so I feel that Reading should not be left out.

"We have a great chance in 2013 to finally pay our respects and if we have that target then it gives us plenty of time. It does not need to be big or expensive, but we need something!"

The Mercury was unable to give full details of the air raid at the time because of strict reporting restrictions imposed on the media during the war but pictures printed in the paper show the substantial damage caused to the town centre.

To support Mr Lewendon's campaign and sign the petition for Reading Borough Council to commission a plaque commemorating the loss of life visit www.petitiononline.co.uk and search 'Reading air raid'.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 22 Sep 11

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roro01
Unregistered User
Nov 11, 18:08
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Although commendable, I do not think we should waste tax payers money to put up a plaque. Financially times are hard and money could be put to better use.

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