After the blitz on the city came the terror of those flying bombs
Much has been written in recent days about the blitz on Portsmouth on the night of January 10/11, 1941. I documented that time in my books Portsmouth – City of Gallant Hearts and Smitten City – Then and Now.
However, in the latter years of the war two V1 ‘flying bombs’ fell on the city, the second being on the night of July 14/15, 1944, when one came down on the back gardens of Winstanley Road and Newcomen Road, Stamshaw. At least 16 people died.
It was thought that the flying bomb, or ’doodlebugs’ as they were nicknamed, was winged by anti-aircraft fire as it passed over Eastney bringing it down on Stamshaw.
An earlier V1 landed on Locksway Road, Milton, on June 25, 1944. With great luck no one was killed. In the previous weeks nine flying bombs had landed within a 20-mile radius of Havant. All fell in open countryside or into water.
In the wartime photo we see a policeman outside the grocer’s shop in case of looters. What looks like two Wrens on bicycles are passing the junction with Meryl Road with the post box standing amid the devastation.