On 22nd September 1944 a V1 rocket destroyed two houses (Nos.2 & 4) in Selwyn Crescent, Hatfield, Herts. There were four deaths Ruth Knight, 41 and her 8 year old daughter Irene also Ernest Woodcock,62 and his wife Minnie,52. Is it possible that anyone would know of any non fatal casualties? Grateful for any info. Tony
You've got a job on there, Tony: 22 September 1944 – Selwyn Crescent bomb. Destroyed No.2 and No.4 Selwyn Crescent (near the airfield). 4 people killed and around 60 injured. As well as local newspapers of the time the following may be useful: Brian G Lawrence has written a detailed account Hatfield at War, which gives a fascinating insight of the impact of a global conflict on life in a small town.
Hello Tony link here you might be able to email for more info 22 September 1944 – Selwyn Crescent bomb. Destroyed No.2 and No.4 Selwyn Crescent (near the airfield). 4 people killed and around 60 injured. Hatfield in World War II KNIGHT, IRENE MAUD Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 22/09/1944 Age: 8 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority HATFIELD, RURAL DISTRICT Additional Information: of 2 Selwyn Crescent, Hatfield. Daughter of L.A.C. Ronald Ernest George Knight, R.A.F., and of Ruth Knight. Died at 2 Selwyn Crescent. KNIGHT, RUTH Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 22/09/1944 Age: 41 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority HATFIELD, RURAL DISTRICT Additional Information: of 2 Selwyn Crescent, Hatfield. Wife of L.A.C. Ronald Ernest George Knight, R.A.F. Died at 2 Selwyn Crescent. WOODCOCK, ERNEST WILLIAM Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 22/09/1944 Age: 62 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority HATFIELD, RURAL DISTRICT Additional Information: of 4 Selwyn Crescent, Hatfield. Husband of Minnie Matilda Woodcock. Died at 4 Selwyn Crescent. WOODCOCK, MINNIE MATILDA Rank: Civilian Date of Death: 22/09/1944 Age: 52 Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead Reporting Authority HATFIELD, RURAL DISTRICT Additional Information: of 4 Selwyn Crescent, Hatfield. Wife of Ernest William Woodcock. Died at 4 Selwyn Crescent. regards Clive
grimmy Are you familiar with 'HATFIELD AT WAR' ? Does it name the 60 injured or just the number as I am looking for one specific name - Margaret Amelia Knight - possibly a relative of Ruth Knight. Clive Thanks for the thought but not much use. Tony
There is a Death Registration in Islington in the Jul-Sep Qtr recorded in Islington of a new born Margaret A Knight, but hopefully not the person you are seeking, if you know it wasn't a new born baby under 12 months old.... There is a Marriage Registration same Qtr 1954 in Bristol, for a Margaret A Knight marrying a Royston J Pearce. That could indicate a birth sometime in the early 1930's and there are several, one though was registered in the Bristol area 1st Qtr 1934. That could be the parental address, the family being posted to Hatfield for his work at the nearby airfield.... Just a guess, as no specific mention of "Amelia" in the records to help!
:redface: Sorry, Tony! I won't point you to a Margaret Amelia Malacrida, wife of Vincent Frederick Malacrida, b about 1924 d 2004, just in case I'm wrong again.....
Strike Two! OK then, I did what I should have done first and searched t'web and found your thread on RAFCommands! 473052 Acw 1, Margaret Amelia Knight I now understand more fully your enquiry, it would be logical to wonder if she was visiting and sustained some injury which unexpectedly killed her 6 weeks later. Hopefully you'll find an answer either way. The burial in Tottenham bugs me, could she have been taken ill at Rushton Tarrant sometime after the V1 explosion and been in a specialist (concussion/crush injuries?) Tottenham hospital when she died? But then I'd expect the family to have her home..... I was born in Rochford, maybe that's what subconsciously pulled me into this thread - and Rootschat and CL1's earlier post!!
Hello Tony possibly a copy of her death certificate would help. I know it is expensive regards Clive Clive I bought that after I discovered Ruth Knight's death but that only deepened the mystery. The DC quotes where died 'RAF Station, Rushton' - cause of death ' Due to war operations' - Informant 'Commanding Officer'. My further research discovered that there had been no enemy attack on the RAF Station or reference to an accident at the station in November 1944. So my conclusion was that she died, at the RAF Station from an undidentified cause. That's when my detective instinct took over. 1. Was she related to Ruth by way of her husband - Ronald Knight an RAF LAC? Also the fact that both families lived in Hatfield, Herts. 2. Was Ronald Knight, RAF her elder brother or an uncle and the reason she joined the WAAF? 3. Was she visiting Ruth when the V1 struck and, on the surface, suffered minor injuries and able to return to her station? 4. Having died from no obvious reason did a post mortem discover an unidentified internal bomb-blast injury that had taken some 5 1/2 weeks to take effect? This would explain the 'Due to war operations' diagnosis. I have been unable to find a definite family connection between Margaret Knight and Ronald Knight that is why I am looking for a Margaret Knight as one of the 60 non-fatal casualties. If there was one then my detection may well be right. So my next step is now to contact Hatfield District Council to ascertain if there is a list of the names of the 60 non-fatal casualties. Be back later, Cheers, Tony
hello Tony it might be worth you contacting phone number and email address is on the link below hertsdirect.org Hatfield Local History Society I purchased a book from them about the de Havilland bombing in Oct 1940 regards Clive
Tony, thank you so much for the above information. Now I know a date. I can't help you much about the casualties except that my parents and sister lived at no. 20 Selwyn Crescent. The windows in their house all burst and the ceilings came down over the bedrooms, so they might have had minor injuries including shock and be on the casualty list. Regarding the Knights at no. 2: Ron Knight remarried and he and his family (2 daughters) lived there, so I was very friendly with them. Mrs Dorrie Knight told me about the bombing but did not mention anyone else in the house at that time. I do know that Dorrie's eldest daughter lives in a nearby town and I believe that her son now occupies no. 2 Selwyn Crescent. Hope this helps.
hello Christine unfortunately Tony is no longer with us. thank you for the extra information regards Clive
1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION Knight Household (3 People) 2 Selwyn Crescent , Hatfield R.D., Hertfordshire NAME - DOB - OCCUPATION Ronald E C Knight - 23 Aug 1908 - Cost & Wages Clerk Ruth Knight - 16 Jun 1903 - Unpaid Domestic Duties Sorry, this record is officially closed. No 4 was vacant in 1939.
