- Contributed by听
- English_Drew
- People in story:听
- Ernest Renyard, Albert Lowe
- Location of story:听
- Holbury, Near Southampton
- Background to story:听
- Civilian Force
- Article ID:听
- A3827045
- Contributed on:听
- 24 March 2005
I write this on behalf of my Grandmother and her brother and sister:
Ernest Renyard was a 44 year old blacksmith and auxiliary policeman. He lived with his family at The Forge, Hardley.
On the 17th November 1940 Luftwaffe aircraft mounted a raid on the city of Southampton, across the water from Holbury. An anti-aircraft gun was sited in fields nearby. A stick of bombs was dropped on it that night, causing much damage to the Methodist Church and school house. Many other bombs fell across the Waterside area.
Upon hearing of the attack Mr Renyard and a fellow auxiliary constable, Alfred Lowe, set out to see if assistance was required. Their families hid in their air raid shelters and waited.
Whilst gathered at their assembly point Mr Renyard was killed by a bomb that fell on the main road outside Mr Lowe's house. He was the first casualty of the war from the local community.
He was survived by a wife and three children; Beryl, Shiela and Dennis.
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