Wigan Album

Been told of this bombing by mi mam,she saw the damage the next day as a seven year old.Good to see the photo but sad it had to be a Church,thankfully no one was in there.

I think my grandad was on duty the night this happened.

I heard it whistle down, It shook our house in Howard st .We where in the living room at the time. Spent the rest of the night in the shelter. Lucky it didn't hit next door to the church ,the Top-long-pull-pub was full of people.

Small World Ron D,mi Mam heard the bomb in next street to you Longshoot.you may know her May Blan maiden name.

My nan used to tell me about this when I was young. She lived in Jackson Square just off scholes and the bomb blew her newly installed back windows out. She never forgave the gremans for that.
Wasn't it ironic that it hit the church whose congregation where teetotal and yet missed the pub. the lord certainly moves in mysterious ways!

Sorry I ment Never forgave the Germans for that.

Jem Glover. I new of May Blan, but can't say that I new her. I used to knock about with Albert, he was nearer my age. But lost contact with him when I came out the forces. I think he became landlord of the Balcarres. He played for Wigan rugby.

Ron D yes my Uncle Albert had the Balcarres mid 60s he played more for Swinton.Was you a milk man.

Everybody here ,don't forget the other World war 11 bomb that fell in Brock Mill lane when I was a small child in Sicklefield House a few hundred yards away.
Lots of house damage that being windows,doors and chimneys but no one hurt.The depression is still there in the field.
I just wonder why this is never recorded in memories !!

My mum and dad were in the church an hour before the bomb hit.
As I was born in 1943,I wouldn't be writing this if had hit sooner !

There was another bombing in Wigan during WW2, this blew the roof off the Chippy in Bell Lane!
That didn't please the locals.
The area is Green Hey (still there) off Bell Lane In Kitt Green. The bomb landed in Darbyshire's field and hardly damaged the bungalows nearby but took all the slates off the roof of the Chippy. We don't recall any casualties. The happy ending is that the Chippy re-opened

That forgotten bomb near Sicklefield House was down Brock Mill Lane.....I was in my cot in the house and even so young remember the disruption.