The first bomb was on St Thomas, a street in Exeter, and it took place on 7th August 1940. Two days later, the Express and Echo printed this in the newspaper:
"Five bombs fell on a south west town on Wednesday night. Little damage was done to property, and the only casualties were a middle aged man who was able to walk to a first aid post, a canary which died from shock and a few chickens."
This would be the first of many attacks. Little did Exonians know, that within less than two years, they would be hit by a raid, that would take the heart out of their city.
"Five bombs fell on a south west town on Wednesday night. Little damage was done to property, and the only casualties were a middle aged man who was able to walk to a first aid post, a canary which died from shock and a few chickens."
This would be the first of many attacks. Little did Exonians know, that within less than two years, they would be hit by a raid, that would take the heart out of their city.
On 4 May 1942 an early-morning air raid took place over Exeter. The cathedral sustained a direct hit by a large high-explosive bomb on the chapel of St James, completely demolishing it. Thankfully, the cathedral has managed to rebuild the chapel but residents say they will never forget the time it was destroyed.
This was what was said via a German radio report on 4th May 1942
"Exeter was the jewel of the West.... We have destroyed that jewel, and the Luftwaffe will return to finish the job"