A direct hit on a basement air raid shelter in North Shields kills 107 people
The largest loss of life, single bomb disaster, during the provincial blitz in World War 2. A memory of a community and a town in wartime.THE LEMONADE FACTORY DISASTER EXPLORED: MIDNIGHT SATURDAY MAY 3RD 1941
173 NEWS AND UPDATES
Let’s Not Forget…
Today, let's not forget those 107 lost at midnight on May 3/4 1941 at Wilkinson's. As usual, I'll take a walk past the communal graves. May they rest in peace.
Book Stockists and Postage Costs
Following the high levels of interest in North Shields 173 - the book, at the Local History Day event at North Shields Library on Saturday, I'm very pleased to confirm a new stockist. In addition to copies being available from North Shields Library, they are also...
North Shields 173 – The Book
At long last, I've got around to writing up the story and I've self-published it as a "real book". It should be out on Saturday May 11th and should launch at Local History Day at North Shields Library. Following this event, the library will have copies for sale..or...
Wilkinson’s Photo..from Above!
A step nearer the Holy Grail of a photo of the W.A. Wilkinson's factory in North Shields. A timely reminder from site friend Steve Hislop to revisit the Britain from Above website and a 1927 photo of North Shields, Dockwray Square and environs. I'd seen this before...
Harry Rose – Wartime Memories
I met Harry at the 2018 Local History Day event and after a really interesting chat, I asked him to write his memories down. He has. Thanks very much Harry! I was born on March 2nd 1935, so one can say that I was a child of the Depression. I cannot recall much of that...
Local History Day – 12/5/2018 at North Shields Central Library
Come along on Saturday 12th between 10.00 and 4.00 and have a chat about Wilkinson's. We'd love to meet you and hear your stories. And...if you can bring photos etc, so much the better. We have a table at the event...you can look at the Tynemouth Borough Bomb Map,...
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NORTHSHIELDS173.ORG REVIEWED
BOOK REVIEWS
I found this book a gripping read! A strange adjective to use for a children’s book, I know, but Sue Wilkinson very quickly pitches the reader into the lives of ten or so young children and their families as they make their way through the new and frightening landscape of World War 2. This is the territory of almost daily bombings, worsening scarcities of most foodstuffs and the basic necessities of life, the loss of loved ones, separation by evacuation to an unknown of a different kind and miles away from home. If that sounds grim, this book is far from it. The raw humour that personifies a Northern city under siege from German bombers pervades everything. There is the joy of seeing the children conquer all adversity and watching them triumph over tragedy. They cope, they mature, they move on – stronger and more resilient than before. In some cases better than the adults. As the war draws to a close, the Cedar Street VE street party brings all the strands of their wartime lives together. It leaves the reader with hope for their future. It’s funny! It’s sad! It’s inspiring! Well recommended for any child in upper primary or lower secondary, especially those who are studying that period of our history.
PAPERBACK: £5.99 [click book image to go to Amazon page]
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Can you help us tell the story of the Wilkinson shelter disaster? Was your family involved? Did you live nearby? Do you have family memories of the disaster?