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This data is related to World War 2
Civilian

Harold Percy Davis (45)

Service Number N/A
Military Unit Co-op Bakery Meadow Lane Nottingham 9/5/1941
Date of birth Unknown
Date of Death Unknown (Age Unknown)
Place of Birth Nottinghamshire 4/7/1895
Employment, Education or Hobbies Harold Percy Davis was a journeyman baker in 1939.
Family History

He was the husband of Lilian R Davis and the father of Harold, Grace and Horace Davis. They lived at 1, Stanley Street , Blue Bell Hill, Nottingham.

Military History

Nottingham’s heaviest loss of life at a single location during May 9th 1941’s air raid occurred within the Co-op Bakery on Meadow Lane where 49 night shift workers perished. The bakery was hit twice; one bomb caused tons of flour stored on upper floors to crash down to ground level. A second device penetrated the bakery’s air raid shelter roof before exploding amongst the assembled work force. Rescue efforts were impeded by blazing fat. For an excellent account of this incident, see David Needham, Battle of the Flames, Nottingham’s Fight for Survival in WWII (2nd Ed. Chesterfield: Banister Publications Ltd, 2020 p.p. 141-142. First Ed. Horizon Press, 2009).In 1986, Tom Matthews recalled ‘My uncle – Harold Davis – was at the bakery on Meadow Lane. He should have finished for the night but he went back to talk to his mates and the raid started so he decided to hang on. He was buried in the rubble.’ Pulled out alive, Harold Davis died at Nottingham City Hospital. (Nottingham Evening Post, Letters 20/2/1986)

Extra Information

Grave Reference: Wilford Hill: H33/7 Buried May 19th 1941

Photographs

No Photos