THE full horror of the wartime bombing of Reading on the 10th February 1943, in which 41 people were killed, could not be revealed until hostilities ceased in May 1945.

According to German ‘Luftwaffe’ records on that day, 29 aircraft of 11/KG40 took off from Utrecht in the Netherlands at 3pm, with 16 targets on their list, ranging from Sussex to West Berkshire.

Two Dornier 217E-4 bombers flew at tree top height across Southern England, attempting to evade radar detection, whilst following the unmistakeable GWR railway line westwards.

These aircraft were designed for the job of ‘nuisance raiding’, with six machine guns and barrage balloon cable cutters installed in their wings, plus an altimeter designed to automatically fly the plane as low as 40 metres.

As the two ‘intruders’ broke formation over South Reading, one plane headed off in a westerly direction, down the railway line to Newbury, where it also bombed the area around its station, killing 15 people.

A total of four 1100lb bombs hit the middle of Reading on this Wednesday afternoon, which was half day closing in local shops and stores, which may have reduced casualties.

The first hit Simmonds Brewery yard (roughly where the Oracle is today) then Minster Street (Wellsteads Department store), another hit the People’s Pantry (Bristol & West Arcade area) the Town Hall, Blandy & Blandy’s Solicitors and St Laurence Church.

The largest loss of life was in the ‘Pantry’ as the evening teatime rush was on with the cafe open as a feeding station, 17 people lost their lives in the ‘British Restaurant,’ as the building collapsed into the basement.

The Berkshire Chronicle offices were in nearby Valpy Street, so reporters and photographers were able to gather the news quickly, but much of this was censored, and the location was described as a ‘Home Counties Town’.

Casualty numbers were mentioned in the newsroom copy, but along with this, and the names of the dead and injured, they were deleted, with corrections made of a more ‘bland nature’.

Uncensored words, that can still be read on the ‘wafer thin’ notepaper, include a graphic description of one young victim, Clarence Brown aged 10, being pulled from the rubble yelling: “I’m all right!”, whilst directing rescue workers to help three women and girls buried nearby.

Leaving at high speed, the German bomber targeted an area from Albert Road, Caversham, to Norcot Hill, Tilehurst, spraying deadly machine gun bullets at terrified residents, including one elderly lady who was hit in the leg.

At the large funeral arranged by the Town Council two of the three young children were buried along with the ‘remains’ of people of all ages (some still unidentified), the centre piece was a huge floral tribute in the shape of a cross made from lilies, daffodils and carnations.

The message attached stated:” From the Corporation, to express the sympathy of the townspeople”.