Middlesbrough at War 1939 45

During World War II, Middlesbrough was a vital industrial town with important industries such as shipbuilding, chemicals, and engineering. It was also the first built-up urban area in mainland Britain to be bombed, with the worst raid occurring on the night of 25/26 July 1942, killing sixteen people and causing extensive property damage. The town's railway station was also bombed, resulting in pictures of the damage being wired around the world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 09 February 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Britain's war effort was significantly aided by Middlesbrough. The town and its surrounding area housed a variety of essential industries, including shipbuilding, chemicals, iron, steel, and other metals, as well as a joinery firm that was crucial to the wartime aviation industry. The nearby Billingham ICI facility was also instrumental in the development of petrochemicals and explosives.

Like many communities, Middlesbrough had to rapidly upgrade its Air Raid Precautions and civil defense services at the outbreak of the war. Given its strategic significance, Middlesbrough was thought to be a prime target for the Luftwaffe. As a result, schoolchildren and other vulnerable individuals were evacuated from the town at the very beginning of the war, in a scheme that was not entirely successful.

Middlesbrough became the first major urban area in mainland Britain to be bombed. In the event, Middlesbrough was periodically raided throughout the war, with the worst incident occurring on the night of July 25-26, 1942. On that night, waves of Luftwaffe bombers dropped nearly 30 tons of bombs on the town, killing sixteen people and causing extensive property damage.

Just days later, bombs fell on the town's railway station as a train was waiting on the platform. The images of the resulting damage were wired around the world.

Weight: 350g
Dimension: 233 x 161 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526704764