Comments on: On 7th September 1940

By: Rebecca Walker

Rebecca Walker — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:49:54 +0000

Very interesting to read this account of the bombing. I am researching City of London Police officers who were killed during the war and one of the force’s War Reserve constables, Frederick Davis, lost his life while he was sheltering in the shelter that night. His wife who was also there was killed (Maureen Brown’s aunt and uncle).

By: Stephen Clark

Stephen Clark — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 17:01:31 +0000

My mother Irene Clark and 2 eldest sister’s were in the shelter along with Tom, all had shrapnel injuries my 2 sisters were only toddlers, mum was 27years old all survived,my sisters are still alive today,a great story Tom Betts,you are my cousin.

By: Richard Thorpe

Richard Thorpe — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 10:27:18 +0000

A very moving story. The Axholme Academy is recording a lockdown project at the moment about the weekend of 7/8 September and will be including parts of this.

By: Maureen Brown

Maureen Brown — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 17:54:30 +0000

My aunt and uncle, Joan and Fred Davis, were two of those killed in this shelter. I am very grateful to Tom for letting us know his story.

By: Martin Sambrook

Martin Sambrook — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 13:38:31 +0000

I understand what you went through, our aunt MARIE HARRIS was killed in that
7 sept 1940. SHE WAS ONLY 18 YEARS OF AGE. SHE DIED SHIELDING MY
SISTER.

By: Carrie Kitkat

Carrie Kitkat — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 05:35:09 +0000

What a tender and poignant insight …. thank you

By: Matt S

Matt S — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 20:19:26 +0000

An amazing story to share

By: Irene L Pugh

Irene L Pugh — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 11:15:01 +0000

Fascinating history of Tom Betts. To repeat… a moving account. Plus the follow-up by June Nash. Although the last bomb fell upon Valance Road (where I lived until October 1940). V1 and V2 Rockets followed. Unfortunately my cousins Eileen and Jean and their parents Rupert and Vera Watts, were killed in their home (near Victoria Park) by a V2 rocket 7th December 1944.
Residents of Valance Road and surrounding areas owe our lives to the brave bomb disposal unit who dismantled a landmine on the railway lines running above Valance Road and beyond.

By: June Nash

June Nash — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 06:50:23 +0000

It was my parents wedding reception that was being held in the shelter, and some of my family members were killed and several injured. They never ever received an anniversary card in the years that followed.
Peter Cowan mentions Nell, I believe she is the one that was a family friend, and in fact lost 4 siblings on that day.
It was a lovely day on 7th September, with many people attending the unveiling of the memorial, my dad’s cousin attended with us, as she is a survivor, and will be 98 this week, she lost two brothers and a sister in law.

By: Peter Cowan

Peter Cowan — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 22:11:49 +0000

I used to volunteer and help a lady called Ellen or Nell as she was known. She lost 2 younger siblings that day in the raid. I remember her saying that before all was light and laughter and afterwards just silence. So sad.