I was in Coventry on Thursday and, having a couple of hours to kill, visited the old cathedral. I also bought a book, Coventry at War, by David McGrory.
The story of the bombing of Coventry is probably-well known in general terms. David McGrory, writing about the night of the 14th November 1940, fills in the detail:
"The destruction continued for eleven long hours and blazing Coventry could be seen by bomber crews 150 miles away. The all-clear finally came at 6.15am the following morning. The Luftwaffe had unloaded 500 tons of high explosive bombs, 30,000 incendiaries and 50 land mines on the city. Slowly, the people emerged from their shelters to view the destruction... The Germans created a new word to describe the destruction - Coventrated."
But of course, not everyone emerged from shelters. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website records the names of 674 civilians who died between the 14th and 15th November 1940 and of those, 461 died in Coventry. More still would die from their injuries in the days that followed.
The names below are taken from the CWGC website and I have organised them in alphabetical order by date of death. They range in age from 2-month old Robert Danes, killed at 73 Stratford Street along with his 23-month old brother Gordon, his grandmother, Edith Parr, and his aunt Nancy Parr, to 85-year old Elizabeth Tanner, killed at 19 Springfield Road. Eight people died at Stratford Street in the Coventry raid, six of these children.
A memorial to Coventry's Blitz victims was later erected in the London Road Cemetery, Coventry.
Died on 14th November 1940
Mary Adams aged 64, born circa 1876
William Adams aged 60, born circa 1880
Ann Marie Ager aged 59, born circa 1881
Kathleen Alice Ager aged 21, born circa 1919
James Ahessy aged 32 born circa 1908
Jane Allitt aged 68 born circa 1872
Clara Allport aged 60 born circa 1880
Phyllis Marguerite Allport aged 22 born circa 1918
Norman Allton aged 24 born circa 1916
Charles Archer aged 42 born circa 1898
David Ashby aged 28 born circa 1912
Frederick Atkins aged 43 born circa 1897
Ada Lilian Ball aged 9 born circa 1931
Clara Beatrice Ball aged 37 born circa 1903
Florence May Ball aged 12 born circa 1928
Raymond Ball aged 3 born circa 1937
Thomas Edward Ball aged 10 born circa 1930
William Henry Ball aged 6 born circa 1934
William Joseph Banyard aged 33 born circa 1907
Edith Mary Barker aged 57 born circa 1883
George Fox Barker aged 38 born circa 1902
James Barker aged 58 born circa 1882
Joan Barker aged 16 born circa 1924
Mary Grace Barker aged 14 months born 1939
Frederick Barratt aged 50 born circa 1890
Bertram Barrell aged 47 born circa 1893
Catherine Barritt aged 68 born circa 1872
Alfred Barron aged 61 born circa 1879
Herbert Bausor aged 39 born circa 1901
Albert Ernest Bawden aged 38 born circa 1902
John Baxter aged 44 born circa 1896
Irene May Edith Beadle aged 33 born circa 1907
Agnes Beasley aged 73 born circa 1867
Arthur Leonard Beasley aged 3 born circa 1937
Barbara Beasley aged 4 born circa 1936
Dorothy Beasley aged 26 born circa 1914
Betty Bell aged 14 born circa 1926
Malvina Bell aged 6 born circa 1934
Raymond Henry Bell aged 20 born circa 1920
Christopher Bennett aged 47 born circa 1893
Elsie Bennett aged 25 born circa 1915
Florence May Bennett aged 40 born circa 1900
Walter Bennett aged 60 born circa 1880
Harry Berry aged 34 born circa 1906
Aubrey John Billings aged 9 born circa 1931
Eva Billings aged 26 born circa 1914
Lennard John Billings aged 29 born circa 1911
Marion Grace Billings aged 5 months born circa 1940
James Cecil Blagburn aged 39 born circa 1901
Mary Jane (Polly) Blockley aged 72 born circa 1868
Arthur William Bown aged 23 born circa 1917
George Walter Boyles aged 15 born circa 1925
Bert Bradford aged 43 born circa 1897
Alan Briers aged 6 born circa 1934
Doris Jean Briers aged 10 born circa 1930
Jessie Briers aged 39 born circa 1901
Sheila Lilian Briers aged 12 born circa 1928
Alfred Eli Britt aged 46 born circa 1894
Dennis Brown aged 19 born circa 1921
Edward George Brown aged 16 born circa 1924
John Edwin Brown aged 34 born circa 1906
Joseph Palmer Brown aged 70 born circa 1870
Walter Henry Edwin Brown aged 58 born circa 1882
George Buckenham aged 70 born circa 1870
Lizzie Lewis Buckley aged 40 born circa 1900
Richard Buckley aged 41 born circa 1899
Harold Bullock aged 40 born circa 1900
Dennis Patrick Burns aged 14 born circa 1926
Annie Louisa Burton aged 72 born circa 1868
Alfred Butterfield aged 55 born circa 1885
Dorothy Elizabeth Butterfield aged 59 born circa 1881
Harold Cain aged 52 born circa 1888
Emily Carn aged 72 born circa 1868
Rosina Carvell aged 68 born circa 1872
Agnes Maud Chinn aged 43 born circa 1897
Eric Chinn aged 17 born circa 1923
Vera Maud Chinn aged 18 born circa 1922
Harry Clarke aged 39 born circa 1901
Philip Henry Clarke aged 53 born circa 1887
William Thomas Clarke aged 42 born circa 1898
Frank Clutterbuck aged 54 born circa 1886
Agnes Elizabeth Collett aged 50 born circa 1890
Cyril Ernest Collett aged 17 born circa 1923
Hugh Wilfred Collett aged 51 born circa 1889
Sidney Albert Collett aged 19 born circa 1921
Harry John Collier MM aged 43 born circa 1897
Elizabeth Collingridge aged 64 born circa 1876
Edith Congrave aged 42 born circa 1898
Frederick Arthur Cooke aged 48 born circa 1892
George Edmund Cooke aged 59 born circa 1881
George Frederick Cooke aged 27 born circa 1913
Louisa Cooke aged 57 born circa 1883
Florence Lilian Cooper aged 50 born circa 1890
Henry Cooper aged 13 born circa 1927
Joseph Cooper aged 54 born circa 1886
Norah Cooper aged 33 born circa 1907
Albert Earl Courts aged 56 born circa 1884
Robert John Crawford aged 47 born circa 1893
James Cronan aged 50 born circa 1890
Sarah Lavinia Cronan aged 46 born circa 1894
Michael Joseph Cronin aged 48 born circa 1892
George Cuthbertson aged 32 born circa 1908
Joyce Cuthbertson aged 6 born circa 1934
Mabel Cuthbertson aged 26 born circa 1914
Ada Daines aged 41 born circa 1899
Walter Daines aged 68 born circa 1872
Louis James Daly aged 72 born circa 1868
Gordon David Danes aged 23 months born 1938
Robert John Danes aged 2 months born 1940
John Matthew Davis aged 27 born circa 1913
Mary Ann Davis aged 39 born circa 1901
Christopher Patrick Dawson aged 11 born circa 1929
Kate Dawson aged 40 born circa 1900
Ida Henrietta Deacon aged 53 born circa 1887
Walter Alfred Deacon aged 81 born circa 1859
William James Albert Dennis aged 44 born circa 1896
Edna May Doyle aged 21 born circa 1919
Joan Marjorie Eaves aged 7 born circa 1933
Wesley Allen Edmunds aged 15 born circa 1925
William Frederick Edmunds aged 60 born circa 1880
Gordon Edwards aged 16 born circa 1924
Corbett Egginton aged 46 born circa 1894
Annie Elliott aged 38 born circa 1902
Greta Edwina Elliott aged 14 born circa 1926
Margaret Rose Elliott aged 9 born circa 1931
Ronald Elliott aged 15 born circa 1925
Stanley David Endersby aged 30 born circa 1910
Edna May Evans aged 16 born circa 1924
George Sidney James Evans aged 29 born circa 1911
Joan Margaret Millward Farr aged 17 born circa 1923
Elizabeth Faulkner aged 65 born circa 1875
William Joseph Faulkner aged 67 born circa 1873
Reginald Felgate aged 49 born circa 1891
Wilfred Harold Fern aged 18 born circa 1922
Martin Florence aged 82 born circa 1858
Patrick Foley aged 26 born circa 1914
Thomas Muscott Freeman aged 62 born circa 1878
Eliza Garside aged 41 born circa 1899
Harry Gaskine aged 45 born circa 1895
Frederic Golby aged 48 born circa 1892
Leonard Golby aged 28 born circa 1912
Harold Goodwin aged 35 born circa 1905
Walter Gough aged 72 born circa 1868
Mary Graham aged 26 born circa 1914
Dolly Grinham aged 53 born circa 1887
William Henry Guest aged 80 born circa 1860
Arthur Edward Hadingham aged 16 months born 1939
Winifred Blanche Hadingham aged 21 born circa 1919
Bernard Harbourne aged 15 born circa 1925
William Henry Harris aged 36 born circa 1904
David Harrison aged 57 born circa 1883
Harold Frederick Harrison aged 56 born circa 1884
William Edward Hartell aged 35 born circa 1905
Catherine Elizabeth Haynes aged 12 born circa 1928
John Heath aged 65 born circa 1875
Ada Elizabeth Henley aged 17 born circa 1923
Simon William Heynes aged 3 born circa 1937
Douglas Hill aged 13 born circa 1927
May Hill aged 49 born circa 1891
Alan Hiscocks aged 19 born circa 1921
Hilda May Hoare aged 43 born circa 1897
John Denham Hoare aged 7 born circa 1933
Margaret Hoare aged 3 months born circa 1940
Walter James Denham Hoare aged 35 born circa 1905
Albert Hobbs aged 70 born circa 1870
Daisy Hobday aged 21 born circa 1919
Eliza Hobday aged 64 born circa 1876
George William Hobday aged 64 born circa 1876
May Hobday aged 32 born circa 1908
Almina Holland aged 15 born circa 1925
Raymond Holland aged 23 born circa 1917
Harold Benjamin Hughes aged 53 born circa 1887
William James Hughes aged 47 born circa 1893
Violet Humphreys aged 16 born circa 1924
Ernest William Hydon aged 27 born circa 1913
Agnes Harriett Ince aged 46 born circa 1894
Mary Hannah Isitt aged 27 born circa 1913
Charles Edward Jackson aged 72 born circa 1868
William Alfred Edward Jackson aged 57 born circa 1883
Constance Mary Jeffery aged 18 born circa 1922
Reginald Johnstone aged 47 born circa 1893
Beatrice Ada Mansfield Jones aged 56 born circa 1884
Edward Jones aged 26 born circa 1914
John Osborne Jones aged 56 born circa 1884
William Arthur Jones aged 26 born circa 1914
William Henry Jones aged 38 born circa 1902
Frederick Jowett aged 74 born circa 1866
Cyril Wyatt Stockton Judd aged 42 born circa 1898
William Thomas Keay aged 46 born circa 1894
Robert Kemble aged 78 born circa 1862
Mary Ann Kendrick aged 59 born circa 1881
James Kenney aged 29 born circa 1911
Frederick Kilbuern aged 32 born circa 1908
William Henry Kimberley aged 41 born circa 1899
Agnes Laing aged 51 born circa 1889
Elizabeth Margaret Laing aged 31 born circa 1909
William Robert Lambe aged 26 born circa 1914
Doris Lampitt aged 45 born circa 1895
Dennis Lapworth aged 17 born circa 1923
Jeremiah Law aged 62 born circa 1878
George Layton aged 16 born circa 1924
John Harry Wood Leedham aged 15 born circa 1925
Jane Leeson aged 24 born circa 1916
Raymond Leeson aged 25 born circa 1915
Gwen Ivy Letford aged 15 born circa 1925
Alec Edward Lewin aged 42 born circa 1898
Gertrude Emily Lewin aged 44 born circa 1896
David Geoffrey Harwood Leworthy aged 8 born circa 1932
John Herbert Leworthy aged 44 born circa 1896
Christina Mary Liggins aged 23 born circa 1917
Pamela Mary Littlehales aged 7 born circa 1933
Bertha Livesey aged 30 born circa 1910
Ethel Mary Lovell aged 26 born circa 1914
Maurice William Lovell aged 24 born circa 1916
Arthur Henry Lowe aged 29 born circa 1911
Thomas Roland Lowry aged 16 born circa 1924
William Mallard aged 67 born circa 1873
Herbert Marley aged 56 born circa 1884
Iris Marley aged 15 born circa 1925
Olive Lily Marley aged 13 born circa 1927
Frederic Thomas Marsden aged 50 born circa 1890
Violet Mason aged 16 born circa 1924
Clifford David Masser aged 17 born circa 1923
Henrietta Masters aged 26 born circa 1914
Horace William Miles aged 30 born circa 1910
Lilian Olive Miles aged 39 born circa 1901
Marjorie Elaine Miller aged 17 born circa 1923
William Mills aged 38 born circa 1902
Ethel Moody aged 39 born circa 1901
Percival Clement Moody aged 43 born circa 1897
Maureen Morrell aged 7 born circa 1933
Frederick Arthur Morris aged 20 born circa 1920
Raymond Moss aged 41 born circa 1899
Edith Murphy aged 42 born circa 1898
John Irvine Murphy aged 42 born circa 1898
Alexander Thomas Mcarthur aged 22 born circa 1918
Arthur Mccormack aged 51 born circa 1889
Michael Mcgarrity aged 40 born circa 1900
John George Needle aged 18 born circa 1922
Fred Neville aged 45 born circa 1895
Richard Arthur Newall aged 39 born circa 1901
Mavis Evelyn Newson aged 25 born circa 1915
William Newson aged 62 born circa 1878
Susannah Nightingale aged 84 born circa 1856
Timothy Nolan aged 39 born circa 1901
John Cooper Norman aged 38 born circa 1902
Lavinia Norman aged 65 born circa 1875
Edith Evelyn Oliver aged 30 born circa 1910
Jack Oliver aged 32 born circa 1908
Colin Orton aged 8 months born 1940
Olive Ida Orton aged 36 born circa 1904
Percy Lionel Orton aged 38 born circa 1902
Thelma Orton aged 10 born circa 1930
Emily Osborne aged 53 born circa 1887
Arthur Overbury aged 69 born circa 1871
Ernest Pargetor aged 42 born circa 1898
George Thomas Parncutt aged 38 born circa 1902
Annie Parr aged 54 born circa 1886
Nancy May Parr aged 16 born circa 1924
Alfred Harry Edward Parsons aged 38 born circa 1902
Hilda May Partington aged 27 born circa 1913
George Francis Payne aged 38 born circa 1902
Walter Phillips aged 43 born circa 1897
Reschotti Podesta aged 60 born circa 1880
Edith Emily Pointon aged 47 born circa 1893
Mary Porter aged 76 born circa 1864
Albert Preston aged 52 born circa 1888
Florence Annie Preston aged 55 born circa 1885
Delise Price aged 39 born circa 1901
Graham Charles Price aged 6 months born 1940
Harold Price aged 41 born circa 1899
June Patricia Price aged 5 born circa 1935
Ruth Ann Price aged 3 born circa 1937
Arthur Print aged 55 born circa 1885
Doris Kate Proctor aged 31 born circa 1909
Reginald Proctor aged 37 born circa 1903
Henry Prosser aged 36 born circa 1904
Sarah Pugh aged 56 born circa 1884
William Thomas Pugh aged 58 born circa 1882
Thomas John Purchase aged 49 born circa 1891
Percy William Pyett aged 31 born circa 1909
Charles William Randall aged 60 born circa 1880
Elsie Marjorie Randall aged 23 born circa 1917
Harriet Redgate aged 68 born circa 1872
Hilda May Redgate aged 29 born circa 1911
Eveline Rees aged 35 born circa 1905
Frank Richardson aged 19 born circa 1921
Gordon John Richardson aged 23 born circa 1917
Richard John Richardson aged 40 born circa 1900
Ethel Riley aged 37 born circa 1903
Daisy Millicent Ring aged 55 born circa 1885
John Thomas Ring aged 64 born circa 1876
Audrey Annie Roberts aged 36 born circa 1904
Audrey Patricia Roberts aged 9 born circa 1931
Christina May Roberts aged 37 born circa 1903
Ernest David Roberts aged 14 born circa 1926
Ernest Eric Roberts aged 13 born circa 1927
Frederick Roberts aged 50 born circa 1890
Herbert William Roberts aged 27 born circa 1913
John Roberts aged 38 born circa 1902
Leslie Arthur Roberts aged 11 born circa 1929
Rose May Roberts aged 48 born circa 1892
Frances Nelly Robinson aged 63 born circa 1877
Frederick Robinson aged 55 born circa 1885
Peter Robinson aged 63 born circa 1877
James Robson aged 31 born circa 1909
Dorothy May Rogers aged 29 born circa 1911
Ernest Rogers aged 31 born circa 1909
Agnes Rollason aged 49 born circa 1891
John Donald Rollins aged 26 born circa 1914
Kenneth Charles Rollins aged 30 born circa 1910
Marion Rollins aged 59 born circa 1881
Alice Elizabeth Rooke aged 77 born circa 1863
Charles Arthur Rooms aged 20 born circa 1920
William Robert Loudon Roper aged 18 born circa 1922
Ann Rose aged 73 born circa 1867
Alfred Ernest Roughton aged 41 born circa 1899
Ernest John Roughton aged 14 born circa 1926
Emma Amelia Rowson aged 31 born circa 1909
Florence Lavinia Ruddick aged 37 born circa 1903
Malcolm George Ruddick aged 4 born circa 1936
James Rutter aged 73 born circa 1867
Victor Alexander Satchell aged 38 born circa 1902
Doris Scott aged 17 born circa 1923
Stanley Arthur Sear aged 25 born circa 1915
Eveline Sharrocks aged 29 born circa 1911
Harriet Mary Shillcock aged 36 born circa 1904
Garnet Shore aged 32 born circa 1908
Albert Simpson
Joseph Samuel Simpson aged 3 born circa 1937
Muriel Gwendoline Gladys Simpson aged 11 born circa 1929
Owen Francis Sims aged 71 born circa 1869
Ada Sinclair aged 20 born circa 1920
William Malcolm George Sinclair aged 21 born circa 1919
Arthur Smith aged 36 born circa 1904
Arthur Edward Smith aged 58 born circa 1882
Dennis John Smith aged 14 born circa 1926
James William Smith aged 34 born circa 1906
Josephine Ann Smith aged 3 born circa 1937
Margaret Ettie Smith aged 30 born circa 1910
Phyllis Cicily Smith aged 30 born circa 1910
Rose Smith aged 26 born circa 1914
Walter Smith aged 30 born circa 1910
Joan Margaret Smyth aged 6 born circa 1934
Elsie Rebecca Spalding aged 49 born circa 1891
Isabella Steel aged 52 born circa 1888
Stephen Steel aged 52 born circa 1888
Gertrude Annie Stephens aged 61 born circa 1879
Horace Stephens aged 44 born circa 1896
William Joseph Stephens aged 63 born circa 1877
Minnie Stokes aged 71 born circa 1869
Alice Marjorie Storer aged 35 born circa 1905
Walter Charles Storer aged 69 born circa 1871
Arthur John Stubbs aged 61 born circa 1879
Dorothy Stubbs aged 23 born circa 1917
Irene Stubbs aged 19 born circa 1921
Marjorie Stubbs aged 24 born circa 1916
Edith Mary Sutton aged 35 born circa 1905
Kenneth Sutton aged 10 born circa 1930
Edward Tallis aged 64 born circa 1876
Elizabeth Tanner aged 85 born circa 1855
John Tansey aged 39 born circa 1901
Doris Tarver aged 29 born circa 1911
Harold Asa Tarver aged 57 born circa 1883
Harry Taylor aged 30 born circa 1910
Florence Thompson aged 54 born circa 1886
Walter Thompson aged 54 born circa 1886
Winifred Joan Thorpe aged 18 born circa 1922
William Alfred Henry Timms aged 23 born circa 1917
Alan Tipson aged 3 born circa 1937
Ellen Tipson aged 39 born circa 1901
Joan Tipson aged 13 born circa 1927
Pamela Tipson aged 6 born circa 1934
Patricia Tipson aged 9 months born 1940
Daisy Dot Tovey aged 33 born circa 1907
Doris Tovey aged 15 born circa 1925
Esther Villiers aged 67 born circa 1873
Harry Villiers aged 39 born circa 1901
Edwin Walford aged 32 born circa 1908
Edwin Walford aged 10 born circa 1930
Esther Walford aged 32 born circa 1908
Esther Walford aged 4 born circa 1936
Norman Walford aged 12 born circa 1928
Elsie Walsh aged 45 born circa 1895
Ethel May Walters aged 41 born circa 1899
Richard Walters aged 42 born circa 1898
Richard Derrick Walters aged 12 born circa 1928
Clara Ward aged 66 born circa 1874
Patricia Ward aged 3 born circa 1937
Margaret Warren aged 9 born circa 1931
Bertha Ellen Watkins aged 41 born circa 1899
Alice Watson aged 42 born circa 1898
George Henry Watson aged 44 born circa 1896
Elizabeth White aged 71 born circa 1869
Thomas White aged 67 born circa 1873
Christine Mary Whitehouse aged 13 born circa 1927
Herbert Alec Whitehouse aged 45 born circa 1895
Olive Annie Whitehouse aged 41 born circa 1899
Catherine Nora Williams aged 31 born circa 1909
John Emlyn Williams aged 32 born circa 1908
Mary Ann Williams aged 58 born circa 1882
Mary Alice Wilson aged 72 born circa 1868
Joan Winterburn aged 2 born circa 1938
Annie Wiseman aged 25 born circa 1915
Christine Witcomb aged 7 born circa 1933
Ethel Witcomb aged 38 born circa 1902
Joan Witcomb aged 11 born circa 1929
John Gregory Witcomb aged 47 born circa 1893
Sylvia Witcomb aged 17 born circa 1923
Kenneth John Wood aged 23 born circa 1917
Robert Wilton Wood aged 30 born circa 1910
Francis John Wright aged 41 born circa 1899
Ann Yardley aged 56 born circa 1884
James Harold Yarrow aged 60 born circa 1880
Elizabeth Yates aged 18 born circa 1922
Florence Yates aged 59 born circa 1881
Frederick Samuel Yeomans aged 70 born circa 1870
Died on 15th November 1940
Annie Elizabeth Bass aged 53 born circa 1887
Clement Alfred Gordon Bass aged 12 born circa 1928
Doris Hilda Bass aged 21 born circa 1919
George Arthur Bass aged 14 born circa 1926
Joan Mary Bass aged 18 born circa 1922
Leonard James Bass aged 16 born circa 1924
Thomas William Bass aged 65 born circa 1875
William Charles Baylis aged 36 born circa 1904
Alfred Bird aged 44 born circa 1896
Edna Elsie May Bird aged 16 born circa 1924
Ernest Leslie Claypole aged 20 born circa 1920
Nellie Cramp aged 14 born circa 1926
Colin Arthur Dingley aged 18 born circa 1922
John Eaves aged 38 born circa 1902
Thomas Richard Elson aged 55 born circa 1885
Ethel Frost aged 48 born circa 1892
Leonard Frost aged 13 born circa 1927
James Henry Gould aged 33 born circa 1907
Brenda Alice Green aged 18 born circa 1922
Anthony Peter Hands aged 4 months born 1940
Barbara Harrison aged 8 born circa 1932
John Henry Hipkiss aged 52 born circa 1888
Brenda Holder aged 22 born circa 1918
Dennis Howard Holland aged 29 born circa 1911
Edgar Inman aged 33 born circa 1907
John Alfred James aged 27 born circa 1913
Clement Horace Jones aged 35 born circa 1905
Stephanie Kinzett aged 20 born circa 1920
Doris May Lenton aged 33 born circa 1907
Albert Victor Lockett aged 57 born circa 1883
Leonard Lucien Matthews aged 19 born circa 1921
Peter Edgar Arthur Robbins aged 16 born circa 1924
John Ronan aged 64 born circa 1876
Donald Albert Scarrott aged 8 born circa 1932
Phyllis Thomas aged 23 born circa 1917
Roger William Thompsell aged 39 born circa 1901
Sarah Toney aged 75 born circa 1865
Wilfred Henry Tong aged 29 born circa 1911
Oliver Twamley aged 49 born circa 1891, died at Little Park Steet, below
Walter William Watson aged 72 born circa 1868
Bertram Whyatt West aged 17 born circa 1923
Albert Thomas Woodfield aged 33 born circa 1907
Frances Zena Woodfield aged 35 born circa 1905
Dorothy Wright aged 69 born circa 1871
Each of the individuals listed above was a life cut-short. Local researcher Jane Hewitt has researched many of these individuals in greater detail and their stories can be read on Jane's family tree research site. Also have a look at the Coventry's Blitz website. A number of the photos that I have used on this post also appear on this website.
