​Blitz Victims Mass Grave, London Road Cemetery​

​​The Cemetery sustained bomb damage during 1940 to 42 when Luftwaffe (German Air Force) bombing raids hit the city. One of the reasons for this damage was that on Park Side Green, close to the cemetery, was a factory. This was the Armstong Siddeley Whitley Factory that made components for aircraft used by the Royal Air Force.

​Within the cemetery there are a total of 217 burials from both World Wars: 94 First World War burials and 123 Second World War burials.

​Following the city’s bombing by the Luftwaffe on 14 November 1940, which resulted in mass devastation and large loss of life, a mass grave was created due to the sheer number of victims killed by enemy action. In total 808 civilians are buried within the mass graves.

​Following the raid on 14 November, a temporary mortuary was made by the gas works in Gas Street with the bodies of up to 500 victims. However, it was quickly realised that number of victims would exceed that, and this caused a significant strain on local authorities for private burials. After much deliberation the decision was made to hold a mass funeral for the victims buried in a mass grave. This cost was covered by the government and lessened the financial burden on individual families.

​The first service was held on 20 November during which 172 victims were buried. On 23 November a second funeral was held where a further 250 victims were buried. Two services were held because for the first, not all the bodies of those who had been killed had yet been recovered. The service was attended by families, military personnel and local dignitaries. During one of the services a Luftwaffe reconnaissance plane flew over and was chased away by fighter aircraft of the Royal Air Force.

​The names of all those buried here as a result of being killed by enemy action are recorded on the memorial panels.​