Kenneth Michael Eggleston
- Family History
- Extra information
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Aged 18 months, Kenneth was the son of Leslie, an aluminium fettler, and Mabel Eggleston and the brother of Garry and Patricia Eggleston. In 1939, they lived at 11, Curtis Street, Meadows, Nottingham. By 1941, they had moved to 37, Hutton Street, Sneinton where the three children died during January 15th's air raid.
At 37 Hutton Street, the three children of Leslie and Mabel Eggleston were killed although their parents had fortunate escapes. ‘The blast,’ Mabel told Martin Stevenson in 1973, ‘picked me up like a shuttlecock and threw me across the room. Then Leslie picked me up and threw me out of the window… The top two bedrooms had been sliced off and the blast had swept away the front of the house. But the kitchen remained standing.’
Garry Eggleston aged 3, one year old Kenneth and Patricia aged 7 months were all buried under the wreckage of the front room where they had been put to bed as a safer option than remaining upstairs when the siren sounded. ‘The rescue team deemed it too dangerous to tunnel under the debris but,’ Mrs Eggleston recalled, ‘a miner appeared as from nowhere and began to burrow down towards the children… But the children were beyond help.’
Nottingham Evening Post January 22nd 1941:
The funeral of the three children (killed in a recent air raid) was conducted by the curate at ('a parish church in the East Midlands') yesterday. As the three coffins, one so small that it was carried in the arms of a bearer, were borne up the aisle, there was an affecting scene…
The members of the family… were the parents; Mr and Mrs Thornton (grandparents), Messrs HH Thornton, J Thornton, Mr P Wootton (uncles).
Buried Carlton Cemetery 22/1/1941, Grave Reference: CB4 180
Nottingham Evening Post, In Memoriam, Saturday May 15th 1942:
EGGLESTON – To the beautiful memory of our darling children, Garry, Kenneth, Patricia, died through enemy action one year today. We know not why death’s frosty fingers touched your souls so sweet, the little story of your lives was brief and incomplete, and yet God cut the strong green stem, that held youth’s opening flowers, and left us only memories to fill each aching hour. – Broken hearted mam, dad.
EGGLESTON – In loving memory of my beloved grandchildren, Garry, Kenneth, Patricia, died one year today. – Grandma Lee.
EGGLESTON – Treasured memories of Garry, Kenneth, Patricia, died through enemy action one year today. Loved and remembered. Auntie Elsie, Uncle Philip. Cousins Philip and Marlene.
EGGLESTON – Sweetes memories of Garry, Kenneth, Patricia, died through enemy action January 15th 1941. Sorrowing Uncle Jim, Auntie Irene.
EGGLESTON – Dearest memories of Garry, Kenneth, Patricia, one year today. – Auntie Flo.
Mabel Eggleston, mother of Garry, Kenneth and Patricia aged 58. Mrs Eggleston died in 2005 aged 89.
Photo: Guardian Journal 7/6/1973
All that remained of 27-37 Hutton Street the day after January 15th 1941's air raid.
Photo: Nottingham Evening Post published 12/10/1998.
A modern row of housing replaced homes destroyed by the bombing of Hutton Street.
Photo: David Nunn