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This data is related to World War 2
Civilian

John Sanford Robinson (42)

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 Radford, Nottingham (30/6/1898)
Employment, Education or Hobbies He was a slaughterman before working at the Co-op bakery.
Family History

He was the son of Frederick Charles and Sarah Robinson and the brother of Mary Elizabeth, Ada, Hilda May, Joseph and Constance Robinson. Early in the 20th Century they lived on Deligne Street, New Radford, Nottingham – in 1901 at number 3 and by 1911 at number 12. 1921 found the family at 11, Gamble Street, Nottingham. In 1923, John Robinson married Grace Olner at Nottingham in 1923 and they had four children – John, William, Eric and Beryl. Frederick and Sarah lived at 252, Alfreton Road, Radford , Nottingham at the time of the 1939 Register.

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, 9/5/1942, Page 2, In Memoriam: ROBINSON. – May 9th 1941. Treasured memories of John. Loving wife and children Jack, Eric and Beryl. ROBINSON. – John S (jack), killed by enemy action May 9th 1941. Duty nobly done. From loving mother and John S, brother Joe and sisters. Grave Reference: Wilford Hill: G30/4 Buried May 26th 1941

Photographs

No Photos