Home Front - Raid on Rosehearty
Rosehearty was no stranger to the attention of enemy aircraft. Before 1942, German bombers and fighters often flew over the town on the way to or back from nearby Fraserburgh.
The night of 29 January 1942 was different. This time a German raider circled the town and then dropped bombs in Pitsligo Street and the Harbour, demolishing 2 houses and damaging 2 fishing boats. 11 people were killed in the attack, including 7 children, one of whom was an evacuee from Glasgow.
The following extracts give more details of that night and its aftermath.
Incident Register Record of the Attack on Rosehearty, 29 January 1942
"Bombs: High Explosive – 5
Where Dropped: 25/27 Pitsligo Street, Rosehearty (3 HE [High Explosive]). Harbour (2HE)
Rosehearty On village and outside harbour. 2 houses demolished others badly damaged – 2 small fishing boats damaged. Harbour walls slightly damaged - Lighting and telephone system broken - Large number of houses damaged - Foodstuffs damaged.
Casualties: Deaths - 0 Male, 4 Female, 7 children. Injured – [SCORED OUT 2] 1 Male, 2 Females, 3 Children."
Rosehearty Council Minutes 10 February 1942
The Burgh Council minutes record all those that were involved in helping on the night of the bombing.
It was further agreed to instruct the clerk to write to the County Clerk and the Chief Constable to say how much the Council appreciated their visit on the night of the incident.
Clear-up after the attack
In the aftermath it was necessary to clear away debris, repair houses, fill in bomb craters and find semi-permanent accommodation for those that had been displaced by the bombing.
Many of these matters were dealt with at the Council's meetings of 3 March and 7 April 1942
An application was submitted on behalf of Mr A Duthie for permission to carry out repairs on his property at 21 Pitsligo Street which had been damaged in the Air Raid on 29 January 1942. The Council agreed that the lack of housing accommodation made it necessary that the building should be rendered habitable and the application was granted.
Future Protection of the Town
The events of 29 January 1942 had proven that the town was not immune from attack and the Council attempted to provide better protection for the inhabitants by getting new Air Raid Shelters, and a new siren to replace the existing system of whistles to warn against attack.
The following extracts from 7 April and 1 September 1942 show the results of the Council’s efforts.
7 April 1942
...The clerk reported that an allocation of Morrison table shelters had been made for Rosehearty. It was expected that 40 such shelters would be available but in addition to that permission would be granted to erect outdoor surface shelters...
1 September 1942
...A letter was submitted by the County Clerk stating that an official decision had been given by the Ministry of Home Security that they cannot allow a siren to be installed in Rosehearty. He also pointed out difficulties of installing a siren unofficially and advised the Council to rely on the existing system of giving warning.
[Originally part of the Home Front online exhibition, 2010]
The night of 29 January 1942 was different. This time a German raider circled the town and then dropped bombs in Pitsligo Street and the Harbour, demolishing 2 houses and damaging 2 fishing boats. 11 people were killed in the attack, including 7 children, one of whom was an evacuee from Glasgow.
The following extracts give more details of that night and its aftermath.
Incident Register Record of the Attack on Rosehearty, 29 January 1942"Bombs: High Explosive – 5
Where Dropped: 25/27 Pitsligo Street, Rosehearty (3 HE [High Explosive]). Harbour (2HE)
Rosehearty On village and outside harbour. 2 houses demolished others badly damaged – 2 small fishing boats damaged. Harbour walls slightly damaged - Lighting and telephone system broken - Large number of houses damaged - Foodstuffs damaged.
Casualties: Deaths - 0 Male, 4 Female, 7 children. Injured – [SCORED OUT 2] 1 Male, 2 Females, 3 Children."
The Burgh Council minutes record all those that were involved in helping on the night of the bombing.
It was further agreed to instruct the clerk to write to the County Clerk and the Chief Constable to say how much the Council appreciated their visit on the night of the incident.
Many of these matters were dealt with at the Council's meetings of 3 March and 7 April 1942
An application was submitted on behalf of Mr A Duthie for permission to carry out repairs on his property at 21 Pitsligo Street which had been damaged in the Air Raid on 29 January 1942. The Council agreed that the lack of housing accommodation made it necessary that the building should be rendered habitable and the application was granted.
Future Protection of the Town
The events of 29 January 1942 had proven that the town was not immune from attack and the Council attempted to provide better protection for the inhabitants by getting new Air Raid Shelters, and a new siren to replace the existing system of whistles to warn against attack.
The following extracts from 7 April and 1 September 1942 show the results of the Council’s efforts.
7 April 1942
...The clerk reported that an allocation of Morrison table shelters had been made for Rosehearty. It was expected that 40 such shelters would be available but in addition to that permission would be granted to erect outdoor surface shelters...
1 September 1942
...A letter was submitted by the County Clerk stating that an official decision had been given by the Ministry of Home Security that they cannot allow a siren to be installed in Rosehearty. He also pointed out difficulties of installing a siren unofficially and advised the Council to rely on the existing system of giving warning.
[Originally part of the Home Front online exhibition, 2010]
Comments
Post a Comment