| Description | Four letters written by John Saunders, a student at the University College of the South West, and addressed to 'Mother and All'. The letters are undated, but they clearly describe the events of the Exeter Blitz and are thought to date from 25 April 1942 to 07 May 1942. They provide insight into the experience of the Exeter Blitz, the damage caused to the city, and the involvement of College students in the rescue operations. The contents of the letters are as follows:
- the first letter is dated 'Saturday' [presumably 25 April 1942], and describes the air raids on the previous night [24 April 1942] and damage caused by incendiaries and bombs to the area around Mardon Hall, including to Hope Hall, Kilmorie Hall, Reed Hall, the Library, the city centre and Exeter Cathedral. It includes details of craters, unexploded bombs, burnt or damaged buildings, and casualties.
- the second letter is dated 'Friday' [presumably 01 May 1942] and discusses news since the air raid [on 25 April 1942], including sirens; hearing a nightingale sing; bomb damage near St David’s Station, Exe Bridge, The Mint, the Cathedral, the Choir Boys’ School; the number of casualties; the delayed bomb affecting the College Buildings; the cancellation of lectures; and the warm weather.
- the third letter is dated 'Monday' [presumably 04 May 1942], and describes the air raids on the previous night [03 May 1942], including incendiaries and bombs falling on the city; damage to Mardon Hall; not having access to water, gas, or the telephone; attempts to assist with putting out fires in the city centre, including the College Buildings on Gandy Street and the Registry and the Government Munitions Training Centre; the fire reinforcements from Plymouth and the surrounding area; rescue work, including retrieving casualties from buildings; and damage to other buildings in the city, including two churches, the Post Office, the City Library, St Luke’s College, Bobby’s and Deller’s [cafes], Central Station, and St David’s Station.
- the fourth letter is dated 'Thursday' [presumably 07 May 1942], and describes the damage to the city centre, including the High Street, the banks, the Post Office, Wheatons [bookshop and printer], Lyons [tea house], Deller’s [cafe], Bobby’s [cafe], Bude [cafe], The Mint, the Methodist Church on Sidwell Street, St James' Church, the Congregational Church, Exeter Cathedral, cinemas (including the Gaumont), the area around Exe Bridge, the Belmont area, the St Sidwell area, the South Street area, the St David’s area, and the Paris Street area; delayed action bombs and unexploded bombs; contamination of the water supply; acquiring food, water and other provisions; mobile canteens, including those run by the Queen's Messengers; homeless people; fire reinforcements from as far away as Penzance; casualties; a response to an accusation that he had 'enjoyed' the Blitz; being made an official City Fire Guard; telephone lines; the absence of 'Ack-Ack' [anti-aircraft gunfire] during the Blitz on 04 May; digging shelters; and an expected visit from the King and Queen.
Also included in this collection are three photocopied photographs of John Saunders, and a photocopied photograph of the original envelope in which the letters were contained. |
| AdminHistory | John Saunders was born 11 December 1923. He studied Engineering at the University College of the South West of England (predecessor of University of Exeter) and was a resident at Mardon Hall. In 1943, the Hall was occupied by the American Red Cross and Saunders joined the Navy before the end of the war. He studied History at Oxford on his return. John Saunders died 13 April 2015.
The term 'Exeter Blitz' refers to the air raids by the German Luftwaffe on the British city of Exeter, Devon, during the Second World War. The city was bombed in April and May 1942 as part of the so-called 'Baedeker raids', in which targets were chosen for their cultural and historical, rather than their strategic or military, value. |