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December - Issue 16
Telephone: 01723 355 797
Bombardment myths laid to rest by new book We Love Buying Houses!
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MYTHS surrounding the German bombardment of Scarborough have been blown apart by new research. 18 people were killed when destroyers rained shells down on the town. An estimated 100 fishermen and other mariners were subsequently killed by the massive minefield laid the same day, just south of Scarborough. The former Sandybed Lane wireless station was not a target, states a Maritime Heritage Centre volunteer who has been investigating the devastating attack for two years. Michael Knaggs says: “For the centenary, we thought it was about time we set the record straight on how many shells the Germans fired and what calibre they were. “Many people still say the raid was aimed at the wireless station on Sandybed Lane but this wasn’t hit and when you examine the spread of shelling it is clear it wasn’t a target,” Mr Knaggs says. “We must not forget that not only did 18 civilians lose their lives but 100 mariners were killed in the following months by sea mines laid during the raid”. Numerous false assumptions are corrected in a new book marking the centenary. Remember Scarborough forms part of a new exhibition at the centre. It features “never-seen-before images and information,” according to Mark Vesey, who chairs the centre. “Of particular significance were some glass-plate negatives held by Les Day of Scarborough,” says Mark.
In a forward, historian Dr Jann Witt of the German Naval Association states: “Today, we bow our heads before the dead of Scarborough. The bitter lessons of two world wars must not be forgotten”. Dr Witt will take part in Scarborough’s centenary commemoration at the town hall at 8am on 16 December. It will be followed by a church service at St Mary’s and a laying of wreaths at the new centenary cairn in Dean Road cemetery. The book has been produced in partnership with Scarborough Museums Trust and funded by the Arts Council. The centre, which opened at 36 Eastborough five years ago, has won five awards for its community involvement and website, and has delivered over 100 talks to schools and community groups. Vice-chair Lindy Rowley says: “We are so proud of what we have achieved with two dozen volunteers and run on a shoestring. Unfortunately our future is uncertain as we still do not have premises of our own and have great difficulty in getting any grants from organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund”.
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Words and photo by Dave Barry.
Mark Vesey, right, and Phil Mackie with the Maritime Heritage Centre map showing the 213 places in Scarborough hit by German shells. (To order, please ring 353597).
It's the Wembley Way for mascot Isobel - see Pg. 4 Little Stars… Interviews, puzzles and a special Christmas story…all in our 10 page supplement supporting the Children’s Ward at Scarborough Hospital.