ODIHAM REMEMBERS THE BOMBING

Church bells rang out over Odiham on Sunday afternoon, 18 October 2015, prior to the unveiling of a ‘blue plaque’ on Odiham High Street to remember WW2 bombing that brought death and destruction there, exactly 75 years previously. The ‘Daylight Raid on a small country Town’ was reported in the 25 October 1940 edition of the Hants and Berks Gazette, extracts of which are detailed in the following article. The plaque was unveiled by Muriel Crowder whose mother, Mrs Helen Hamilton, died when her shop was destroyed by the bombing. Her memories of that day can be found on the website. 

Four ladies of Odiham (Mrs Bloomfield, Mrs Carter, Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Stokes) were killed when one bomb destroyed Hamilton’s and Maybank’s shops and Mr Vellacott was evacuated to Basingstoke hospital where he later died of his injuries. The names of all five are remembered on Odiham War Memorial and are recalled each year on Remembrance Sunday. 

Mrs Crowder, who now lives in Hook, was joined by her husband Gordon, her daughter, Julie, and a small crowd of about 50 others as the plaque was unveiled.

John Champion, said “The smart new buildings on the site hide the devastation inflicted by enemy action on 18 October 1940 and it is right to identify this spot for residents and relatives and friends of those who died that day. Many soldiers, sailors and airmen from Odiham were fighting in the armed forces by 1940, yet the attack on Odiham, when the Battle of Britain seemed to have been won, brought the destructive power of war into the heart of the community.”

The unveiling of the plaque was preceded by an open day at the Cross  Barn where relatives, residents and visitors were able to view displays of photographs taken before and immediately after the bombing. A steady stream of visitors, approaching 300 in total, progressed through,  talking to Odiham Society archivists and sharing photographs, memories and stories of   WW2.  These included Bill (William) Duffin and his wife Gwen, who were at school and remember the siren going off and all the pupils going down to the cellar, which was the air raid shelter. Gwen also has vivid memories of the ‘bangs’ and the bomb crater. Brian Carter was also at school that day and remembers seeing the Junkers 88 and the bombs dropping. All who witnessed the unveiling were invited to return for tea to complete a worthwhile and fascinating event.