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This data is related to World War 2
Civilian

Willie Naylor (62)

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 Halifx, Yorkshire (22/1/1879)
Employment, Education or Hobbies Willie Naylor worked as a coach painter.
Family History

Willie Naylor was the husband of Hannah Morris (died 1932) and the father of Helen Morris, In 1911, they lived at 68, Glapton Road, Meadows but had moved to 94, Wilford Crescent East, Meadows (both Nottingham) by 1921. In 1939, by then widowed, Willie lived at 10, Rushcliffe Rise, Sherwood, 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).

Extra Information

Nottingham Evening Post, Deaths, Thursday May 15th 1941: NAYLOR – Willie, 10, Rushcliffe Rise, Sherwood, beloved father of Helen, due to enemy action. Grave Reference: Wilford Hill: T31/66B Buried May 13th 1941

Photographs

No Photos