THE victims of a bombing raid, which hit Worcester in 1940, will be remembered over the coming weeks.

On Sunday, October 3, it will be 70 years to the day since two bombs fell on a factory in St Johns killing seven people and injuring 60 others. Although many bombs were dropped in the fields on the outskirts of Worcester, the tragedy was the city’s only fatal bombing raid of the Second World War.

Local re-enactment group Discover History is organising a remembrance service to be held on that day and would particularly like anyone who remembers the bombing, or who worked at the factory, to attend.

The group’s Paul Harding said German planes began to attack civilian targets in September 1940 as part of the Battle of Britain.

As well as London, industrial cities like Birmingham and Coventry were targeted and unused bombs were often jettisoned in the fields outside Worcester on return journeys to allow planes to rise above anti-aircraft along the south coast.

Mr Harding said: “On October 3, 1940, a German plane was spotted over Worcester. It was nothing unusual and many carried on as they did previously.

“The plane was seen to circle and look as if it was lost or searching for something.”

The plane found the Mining Engineering Co Ltd (Meco), a large factory with railway sidings to the rear in Bromyard Road, which is now the home of Joy Mining.

Mr Harding said: “The factory originally made mining equipment and this was supplemented by aircraft parts.

“The first bomb was dropped at an angle. This meant the bomb bounced through the east wall of the machine shop and exploded causing a blow back, which caused a great deal of damage to the building.

“The canteen took most of the blast, blinding canteen lady Mrs Tindall.”

“The second bomb missed the building and bounced on the concrete to explode near houses at Happy Land West.

“The plane then went on to bombard nearby streets with machine gun fire.”

Mr Harding said that research later showed the plane was one of two aircraft sent to bomb industrial targets in Coventry, but was diverted to Worcester bec-ause of cloud cover and fog.

The remembrance service will be held at 1.30pm at St John-in-Bedwardine Parish Church, St Johns.

l Do you remember the bombing or were your relatives involved? Call Alicia Kelly on 01905 742255 or e-mail ak@worcesternews. co.uk