Today marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and we take this moment to remember the devastating bombings that struck Bootle in May 1941. During what became known as the Bootle Blitz, the full scale of the destruction was largely hidden from the national news—suppressed out of fear it would shatter public morale. Over the course of eight harrowing nights, Bootle endured some of the heaviest bombing in England. Few families were left untouched. More than 20,000 people were left homeless, and over 1,000 were killed or injured. As we commemorate victory in Europe, we also honour the resilience and sacrifice of the people of Bootle.
The list below is taken from contemporary record of the time;
07/08 May 1941
• 2nd worst night of the blitz, Merseyside the main target of Air Raid Red
• Bryant & Mays match factory in Litherland, the largest in Europe destroyed
• Bootle General hospital, Linacre La (in the old isolation hospital) A fleet of 10 stretcher ambulances (converted buses) arrived at 0300 to evacuate the patients
• Bootle ARP HQ Knowsley Rd wrecked
• Marsh La mortuary, in the old baths destroyed with 180 bodies
• Marsh La station
• Stanley Rd bridge
• Johnson’s dye factory
• Langdale Mills, Stanley Rd destroyed
• Merseyside Food Products margarine works severely damaged
• Stanley Rd Metropole Theatre, destroyed
• ARP shelter under the Co-Op hit and a side wall blown out causing the roof to collapse 30+killed inc some fighting a nearby fire
• Bootle Town Hall and environs hit
• Bootle Boys Secondary School
• Lambeth Rd School
• Harland & Wolff
• Knowsley Rd Scott’s Bakery
• St Alexander’s church finished off
You can learn more about the devastating Bootle Blitz in The Atkinson’s local history museum, Between Land & Sea.
