CANDLES were lit for the 21 people who died in a Nazi bombing raid on Newport 80 years ago, at special church service on the Isle of Wight. 

St John's Church hosted the service of remembrance, organised by Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, on Friday morning (June 9).

Among the dignitaries who attended were the Isle of Wight's Lord Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, the Isle of Wight High Sheriff, Dawn Haig-Thomas, and the Isle of Wight Royal British Legion (RBL) branch president, Ian Ward.

Isle of Wight County Press: RBL and other service standards were sloped to salute those who died in the bombing raid of April 7, 1943.RBL and other service standards were sloped to salute those who died in the bombing raid of April 7, 1943. (Image: Jon Moreno)

On the morning of April 7, 1943, the Luftwaffe indiscriminately rained bombs and cannon fire on Newport as they began a day like any other during the Second World War.

The raid may only have lasted about a minute, but the 21 deaths, scores of injuries and huge damage it caused then, is still felt today, 80 years on.

The memorial service, led by the Rev Emma Cooksey, featured candles lit for each of the 21 victims of the Newport bombing, by relatives, friends and representatives of the families affected.

The victims ranged from as young as Valerie Dudley, aged five, up to Julia Flux, aged 90.

Rev Cooksey told the poignant story of the disaster, the children of Barton Primary School sang the anthem, Eighty Years, and Mrs Sheldon gave a reading from the book of Luke.

Afterwards, in the church hall, there was an exhibition of photographs showing the destruction the bombing caused, with fascinating background information. It was put together by Lucinda Bradley, of Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, and PCSO Ashley Webb. 

  • For the full story, see this Friday's County Press