ISLE-OF-WIGHT-L Archives

Archiver > ISLE-OF-WIGHT > 2003-10 > 1067451854


From: "Richard Parsons" <>
Subject: RE: [IoW] Re - Air Raid 1942?
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 18:30:21 -0000
In-Reply-To: <001901c39e15$87c14d00$67d7ff50@AUser>


Hello Sue,
Thank you for the extra information it is very much appreciated.
But no, I did not know that there was a raid on the 2nd of May, but imagine
that there were many raids on the area/Island.
The information that I have is that it is during the raids on the night of
the 4th & 5th of May that J H G STURMEY was injured.
The information comes from a couple of sites online, whilst the latter comes
from the Com. War Graves Commission site, with JHG being included as a
civilian casualty of war. It may well be that living so close to the docks
area that he was actually employed there perhaps.
I did not know about Osborne House being for military casualties, but
assume, that like others at that terrible time, he was given 'military
status' because of the fact, as you say, the Frank James Hospital was unable
to accommodate the amounts of people injured.

The ORP Blyskawica (means "Lightning") - which sank the first U-boat of the
war in 1939 - is preserved in Gydnia as Poland's proudest museum ship. She
was built at J.S. White's Cowes yard in 1935.
Along with her sister ship, Grom (meaning "Thunder"), they were the fastest
destroyers afloat (41.5 knots), although Grom was sunk by a U-boat off
Norway in 1940.
Richard Parsons


As you know, the big air raid was on 2nd May 1942. Arctic road (which is in
West Cowes near to the river and the shipyard) properties were hit badly in
that raid and it could be that Mr STURMEY was a victim of the raid. You
speak of Osborne House Hospital and that does not seem to fit since Osborne
House was used for military personnel only. It could be that due to the
severity of that particular raid, there were so many casualties that the
local Frank James Hospital could not cope and use was exceptionally made of
military facilities.

Two polish destroyers were in port, the Grom and the Blyskawica, ther put up
a continuous barrage against the German bombers and are renowned for saving
the town from a far worst fate. You may find details of the raid by
searching against those names.

Roger Crew



> Hello Listers,
> I am new to the List and my interests are with the STURMY Family of GB
etc.
> There were a few members of this Family on the Island from the 1860s, with
a
> George STURMEY being born in 1869.
> But what sparked this E-mail is the reference to a "big air raid in 1942"
by
> Diane Harding, because a John Henry George STURMEY died of wounds in
Osborne
> House Hospital on the 8th May 1942; a few days afterwards. He was living
in
> 34 Artic Road , Isle of Wight at the time of the raid and I think this was
> in Cowes(?)
> Is this about the time of that raid? If so is there anything online about
> the raid, or has anyone a little information about what happened?
> John married a Barbara RICHARDSON in 1903, but she died in 1924.
> Other names connected with the STURMEY Family are -
> THOMPSON, Dorothy - married Frederick C STURMEY 1939
> CRUIKSHANKS, Thomas - married Barbara M 1920, St John Northwood
> PRESSEY, Reginald F - married Emily Elizabeth 1937
> BRETT, Charles W - married Ena B L 1942.
> There is also a connection to the ORCHARD Family with Walter C marrying an
> Edith J STURMEY in All Sts Newchurch, 1931, but she has another possible
> surname RIDETT.
> There are also a few much later connections.
> Richard Parsons


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.530 / Virus Database: 325 - Release Date: 22/10/2003


This thread: