Recalling wartime raids on South Tyneside
Last week I told you how reader Barrie Downey had found an old cartoon whilst rummaging in his loft.
Drawn by Dodge for the Shields Gazette, it featured Marsden Juniors when they were playing in the Jarrow JOC League.
The article prompted a number of people to get in touch and, all being well, I should have more news about it soon.
In the meantime, just like buses (when one follows the other), after featuring Barrie’s loft discovery story, along comes another, this time detailing a find made by Andy Burrell.
The discovery includes a number of cuttings from the Gazette, showing scenes from the war years.
One features air raid casualties, youngsters and adults alike, being fed after a bombing raid during the Second World War. Another shows a grounded barrage balloon in Mile End Road.
Mr Burrell doesn’t know any of the air raid survivors, but thought readers would be interested in the image.
“My mother-in-law Dorothy had the pictures and came to live with me after her partner died in 2007,” he explained.
“She had lots of boxes which I put in the loft when she went into care. She died in 2016, aged 96.
“I’ve just got round to going through the boxes and found the cut-off pictures and thought I would send them in to you.”
What memories do the two pictures evoke?
Sadly, many people here on South Tyneside were victims of the German bombing raids up and down the North East coast.
As well as the loss of life and injuries caused by the attacks, a great many homes and business premises were damaged and destroyed.
Barrage balloons, put up to defend against enemy aircraft, must have been a common sight. What do you remember about them?