IN JUNE last year James Bagnall asked for further information about the site of a World War II bombing raid on Hedon in May 1941 in which it was thought an entire family was wiped out.
Two properties, Ashley Villas and Daisy Villas on Magdalen Lane, Hedon, were destroyed in the bombing raid on 8th May 1941 and 11 people were killed – including six members of the Spicer family Mr Ernest Spicer, his wife Vida and four children, John (aged 22), Delma (14), Geoffrey (10) and Edward (6).
This horrific tragedy has taken another macabre turn with the discovery that another member of the Spicer family, son Jack (22), also died during the war two years later on February 6th 1943.
And another mystery has arisen during the Hedon Blog discussion on these tragic events. The photos on this page were taken and sent in by Mr Peter Batty in Scunthorpe: The entire Spicer family are commemorated/buried in the Crosby Cemetery in Scunthorpe?
It is believed that the bombing raid left eleven casualties, the Spicer family of Ashley Villas, and Lucy Lear also of Ashley Villas, and Ellen and Josephine Ellerton and John and Muriel French of Daisy Villas.
We are appealing to readers who might have any further information about the families involved to get in touch. Did the victims all live in Hedon? What is the Spicer family’s link with Scunthorpe? What fate befell Jack Spicer?
And also James Bagnall’s original questions: What type of houses were Daisy Villas and Ashley Villas. What happened around the bombing, clearance and rebuild? Are there any photos of the area before or after the bombing?
(Ongoing research)
Another interesting aside to this, is that Geoff was also friendly with Bernard White who lived in the large house at the back of Daisy Villas. Bernard’s older Brother Gordon went on to build the Hanson Trust conglomerate and became Baron White of Hull!
Mr Geoff Ducker has been in touch with some more information about these events.
Geoff lived in No. 2 Daisy Villas from 1936 – 1940. Numbers 1 and 2 Daisy Villas were a pair of semi-detached houses.
Across the driveway was another pair of semi-detached, numbers 1 and 2 Ashleigh Villas (note that Geoff spells Ashleigh this way – rather than Ashley). The Lears were in No. 1 and the Spicers in No. 2.
Geoff says he used to play with Geoffrey Spicer and younger brother who he knew as Nicky – and also “the beautiful Delma”. He says the family originated from Scunthorpe.
He says that Jack was a lorry driver and was at work when the tragedy happened. Geoff’s family had fortunately moved away from the property in 1940 when his father was transferred.
Geoff remembers the keystone Daisy Villas block fixed between his house and the Ellertons.
Geoff’s Dad was in the police and it’s possible older residents may remember him – PC Leonard Ducker.
Thanks very much to Geoff for sharing this information with us – he did say its made him very nostalgic for his days growing up in Hedon.
Interesting but sad story, hope some more information is found.