Barbara May Raven (1)

The Dakeyne Street Communal Shelter was located under Black’s lace factory at the junction of Dakeyne Street and Carlton Road, Sneinton, Nottingham. During the raid of May 9th 1941, the shelter sustained a direct hit which killed twenty two people, fifteen of them children. May 9th 1941’s raid wiped out all three generations of the Raven family. Thomas and his children Thomas, Beryl and Barbara, were killed in the Dakeyne Street shelter. They share the same grave at Wilford Hill. It is assumed that Thomas’s wife Florence, on whose 30th birthday the attack had commenced, survived. Thomas senior’s parents, Alfred and Jane Raven, normally sheltered at Dakeyne Street but decided to stay home on this occasion. They were both killed when Charnwood Terrace, Meadows was bombed. They are buried elsewhere at Wilford Hill (see below).

Nottingham Evening Post, Deaths, Monday May 12th 1941: RAVEN – In May, Thomas George, son Thomas, daughters Beryl, Barbara, also mother and father by enemy action. In God’s keeping. – Broken hearted wife Dollie, June and Derek. RAVEN – By enemy action, brother Thomas and children Thomas, Beryl, Barbara. Safe in the arms of Jesus. – Sorrowing brother and sisters. Nottingham Evening Post, 9/5/1942, Page 2, In Memoriam: RAVEN – In loving memory of my dear husband, Thomas and three children. Beautiful memories are all we have left of those we loved dearly and shall never forget.- Loving wife and children. RAVEN – In loving memory of mam, dad, killed by enemy action one year today. – Loving daughter May and son in law Bob. Always remembered. RAVEN – In loving memory of father, mother, brother Tom and children, Thomas, Beryl and Barbara, killed May 9th 1941. Some day we will understand. Rest in peace. – Son and daughter. RAVEN – Brother Tom and his three children, killed enemy action May 9th 1941. There’s many a silent heartache, many a silent tear, but always a loving memory of those we hold so dear. – May, Bob. Grave Reference: Wilford Hill: H34/37 Buried 16/5/1941