#Other
Triumph Works
Triumph Motorcycles during the wartime period are estimated to have produced over 50,000 motorbikes for the war office during the wartime period. The works were based within the city centre of Coventry and were targeted by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) during the Blitz in the Second World War.
Triumph was formed by Siegfried Bettmann from Nuremberg, Germany. He emigrated to Coventry in 1883 and 1886 his motorcycle company became Triumph Cycle Company.
During the First World War it produced over 30,000 motorcycles that were used by the military. In 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War, production for the war office began once again.
Two models, Triumph 3SW and Triumph 3HW, were mass produced for military purposes. The models were regarded as a very reliable motorcycles which were easy to maintain.
During the Blitz period in Coventry, from August to November 1940, the works were targeted by the Luftwaffe as they tried to destroy the British industrial infrastructure.
On 14 October 1940, the works were bombed during one of the raids over the city. A 550lb unexploded bomb (UXB) hit the works and needed to be safely removed. This task was completed by Royal Engineers, including Second Lieutenant Alexander ‘Sandy’ Campbell, over four days. On 17 October he repeated the same recovery procedure of a UXB but this time the bomb exploded. He was killed alongside six other Royal engineers at Whitley Common.
On 14 November, the works were once again targeted by the Luftwaffe. They suffered heavy damage which saw the end of production at the Priory Road works.
A new location in Meriden was found for a new works, and usable tools and machines were relocated. By 1942, Triumph were once again able to continue production of motorcycles for the war effort.