Samuel Tomlinson | Rank: | Civilian | Died: | 12/04/1918 | Age: | 49 | Incident Date: | 12/04/1918 | Incident Address. | Harper Street, Wigan | Died Address: | Harper Street, Wigan | |
Grave Photo: | No | Cemetery or Memorial: | Not Known | Town Memorial: | Not Listed | Extra Information: | Samuel & Jane Tomlinson were asleep in bed when a
bomb blast hurled them through the window and into
a clay pit, killing them both instantly.
During the night of the 12th/13th April 1918,
Zeppelin L61 came across from the east passing
south of Sheffield and headed towards Cheshire.
It was reported over Northwich where Anti-aircraft
guns protecting Brummer Mond Works opened fire on
it. The airship then turned north passing over
the River Mersey at Runcorn. Their first bomb
that night landed beside the 5th milestone along
the Warrington to Prescot Road at Bold. Spotting
the glare from the Wigan Coal & Iron Company's six
blast furnaces he headed towards them. Still
heading in a northerly direction, the airship
crossed the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in the centre
of Wigan dropping bombs on Darlington Street East,
Clarington Grove and Harper Street where its bombs
killed Samuel & Jane Tomlinson. Continuing
northwards, bombs were dropped on Schofield Lane,
Cecil Street and Platt Lane, the latter being
where Margaret Ashurst was killed. It next
struck at Whelley Brow at the rear of 187 Whelley
Road on a row of 12 cottages known as Morson's Row
where Walter Harris and his infant son was killed.
It then headed north-east over Little Hulton,
then on an easterly route, south of Bolton and
Rochdale before heading back to the North Sea.
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District: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | WW 1 Zeppelin Raids | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wigan Zeppelin Raids | | |
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