PRESSURE is being mounted on council leaders in Worcester to mark the 75th anniversary of the city’s only fatal bombing raid of World War Two with a special memorial.
A total of seven people were killed and 60 were left injury when a Luftwaffe bomber attacked and hit the Meco Works on Bromyard Road on October 3 1940.
These were the only civilian casualties in Worcester during the war and Coun Richard Udall, councillor for St John’s, believed it was important to honour the victims.
The Labour councillor has now written to Coun Simon Geraghty, leader of Worcester City Council, calling on him to support his campaign to get a public memorial put in place.
“Over the years I have spoken to a large number of St John’s residents who can still remember the tragic events of this terrible day and it is still a very real memory for many local people,” Coun Udall said.
“They have told me it was an attack in broad daylight, without warning. It was random, terrifying and very destructive.
“Worcester did not suffer the bombing raids like many other cities, but in its own way this event was just as tragic and just as terrifying, we have a duty to remember those who died on that terrible day and to recognise the sacrifice they and their families made to the war effort on the home front.”
Coun Udall said a memorial did exist within Joy Mining, but it was not on public display and he felt the council should commission a ‘small memorial’ to remember the victims of the bombing raid on the Meco.
“Worcester needs to show its recognition and gratitude to those who gave their lives,” he added. “The 75th anniversary of the event is an ideal time to commission a memorial to be housed within the Guildhall which will serve as a permanent reminder to future generations of Worcester people of the workers who gave their lives for their country at the Meco.”
Coun Geraghty, who received Coun Udall’s letter last Friday (March 6) told The Observer they would look into it, but he insisted they were in the early stages.
“I have received Coun Udall’s letter and we would be taking up this offer with appropriate officers and other groups leader to seek their views,” he said.
“It is not a political issue, but it is not a simple matter because anything which is to do with plaques in the Guildhall or things that recognise people who have sacrificed their lives being involved in those type of events is something we would have to look into it and discuss it.”
