I have walked past this building many times and never realised it had wartime connections. I understand Swanage was quite a target for German planes during hostilities and have read that it had more air raid warnings than London. I do not know if this is true but my father recalled nearly being caught by aircraft fire from a raider approx 1942. The plane was spraying bullets all down the main road and he had to dive for cover. When I tell people about this and show them where he sheltered they think I am storeytelling.!
Re the warnings I went to the Swanage museum and spoke to one of the volunteers.The reason was due to aircraft routing over Swanage thus setting the warnings off. Machine-Gunned on Swanage Beach BBC - WW2 People's War - Machine-Gunned on Swanage Beach
Thanks, CL1. I had not looked for any back for dad's story but the article seems to confirm it. Sadly, he is no longer with us, he would have enjoyed the article.
Air Raids The German Luftwaffe attacked Swanage on several occasions during World War 2 with most of the attacks being carried out in 1942. The bombing was carried out mainly by light bombers such as the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter. In total Swanage had more air raid alerts than London and suffered a total of 20 deaths. The major attacks on the town are listed below. 20th April 1942 An attack on the centre of Swanage damaged houses in Cornwall Road and commercial buildings in Station Road. 13th July 1942 An attack on Park Road injured three people and damaged houses. 14th May 1942 Wesley’s Cottage in the High Street was damaged by a bomb. The cottage was named after John Wesley who founded Methodism. He visited the town in 1774, 1776 and 1787. 17th August 1942 Just before 11am German Focke-Wulf 190s flew in over the headland at Old Harry Rocks and headed across towards the centre of town firing their machine guns at people on the beach. The attack on the town resulted in a direct hit on the Westminster Bank in Institute Road killing the manager and his wife. A photographic studio and café were also badly damaged. Eight people were killed and thirty-nine were wounded in the attack. Bombs were also dropped on Chapel Lane, Church Hill and the Narrows in the High Street, a short distance from the Town Hall. The houses in the High Street were demolished and Swanage Day Centre was built in their place. 23rd August 1942 Five people were killed and nine wounded in an attack on the centre of town. Commercial buildings around the Square including the Ship were damaged. The Isle of Purbeck in World War 2 from Virtual Swanage
These raids were the so called "Tip and Run" a term derived from similar operations in the Great War,probably over the battlefield and also referred to as "Hit and Run".Confined to daylight raids,they occurred on the south coast from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk to Cornwall. Quite a number of civilians were killed from these Luftwaffe operations.Memorials recording the events are evident across the south coast. Off the cuff,these operations ceased when the Luftwaffe group was posted out from France to the Med after assessment of the raids by the Luftwaffe 'Tip and Run' Raid Seaford Sussex 1942
