Part 6: Bomb Alley – The Day the FW-190s Came to Lancing
While the Lancing Railway Works was a hive of industry, its proximity to the coast and its sheer size made it a prime target for "hit and run" raids. This section, which we’ve dubbed "Bomb Alley," looks at the moments the war truly landed on the doorstep of the Works.
We begin with a remarkable piece of evidence recently shared by Angela Veysey from the National Archives, paired with the evocative imagery provided by Andy Munday.
At exactly 12:06 pm on the 30th of September 1942, the air raid sirens weren't just a drill. Four or five German Focke-Wulf 190s swept in at low level. Having just dropped bombs on Worthing, they turned their machine guns and high explosives toward the Works.
The official records tell a story of narrow escapes: nine men in the Timber Store just managed to scramble into a steel shelter before a 250lb bomb tore through the Panel Shed. Even the "Spotters" on the roof—the men tasked with watching the skies—were physically displaced by the blast, yet miraculously survived.
Official Damage Report: 30th September 1942
Source: Ministry of Home Security Records (National Archives)
| Location | Damage Sustained | Operational Impact |
| Panel Shed | Direct hit by 250lb H.E. Bomb. | Floor (sleepers) destroyed; roof & sides shattered. |
| Pullman Car Shop | Blast damage to roof and side sheeting. | Major glass breakage across the shop. |
| Timber Store | Significant cratering; 50ft radius of floor blown away. | Disruption to timber supplies for carriage repair. |
| Spotters' Post | Structure displaced by blast. | Observation post briefly put out of action. |
| Rolling Stock | 2 coaches destroyed; 3 severely damaged; 54 damaged by fire. | Serious loss of available passenger carriages. |
 |
| "Ground Zero: The red dot identifies the impact zone. Remarkably, the Roof Spotters’ post was located directly above this general area; the official report notes the structure was physically 'displaced' by the force of the blast shown here." |
The Dash for the Shelters
While the map shows a clinical red dot, the reality on the ground was a race against time. The official report highlights the incredible discipline of the Lancing workforce:
The Timber Store Crew: Nine men were working in the immediate vicinity of the blast. As the FW-190s swept over, they managed to reach the steel shelter inside the Pullman Car Shop just seconds before the 250lb bomb detonated.
The Roof Spotters: High above the shops, two men were stationed in a timber-framed observation post. The blast was so powerful it actually shifted their post off its foundations. Remarkably, both men survived the ordeal.
The "Shop-lad": Not everyone escaped unscathed. The records mention a young shop-lad who was treated for cuts to his hands and face—likely from the "rain of glass" caused by the machine-gun fire that preceded the bomb.
 |
| Ministry of Home Security Damage Report. |
Following the map, we look at the clinical aftermath recorded by the Ministry inspectors. This document reveals that the damage wasn't just caused by the explosion, but by the intense machine-gunning that preceded it.
The "Rain of Glass": While only one bomb was dropped, the document notes that 54 coaches had their glass shattered. This suggests the FW-190s "strafed" the Works with machine-gun fire as they flew over, explaining why so many were injured by flying shards.
Structural Displacement: The report specifically mentions that the Spotters' Post—a 4' x 4' structure of concrete and steel—was moved by the blast.
A Massive Crater: The timber floor of the Saw Mill (made of heavy sleepers) was completely blown away in a 50-foot radius.
 |
| The Aftermath: Close-up of the structural damage to the Panel Shed. Note the twisted steel and the force of the blast that displaced the heavy timber flooring. |
The Active Defence: The Bofors Gun
With the Works now a confirmed target in "Bomb Alley," Lancing needed a way to strike back. The solution was the installation of the 40mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun.
The Bofors was a formidable piece of engineering. Unlike the heavy, slow-moving guns used for high-altitude bombers, the Bofors was designed for the "hit and run" raids Lancing was experiencing. It could fire 120 shells per minute, creating a "curtain of steel" that forced Luftwaffe pilots to think twice before dropping to roof-level.
The Human Element: The Gun Crews
These weren't just soldiers; many were "Works Men" who took on the dangerous role of manning the gun during air raids. Stationed on a reinforced platform to provide a 360-degree view of the rail lines and the coast, they were the first line of defence when the FW-190s appeared on the horizon.
High-Speed Stakes: Because the raids often lasted less than a minute, the crew had to be incredibly disciplined. From the moment the "Spotters" (like the ones we saw in the 1942 report) gave the signal, the Bofors crew had seconds to track, aim, and fire.
The "Hedge-Hoppers": The Bofors was one of the few guns capable of hitting the "hedge-hopping" German fighters that flew so low they were often below the level of the workshop roofs.
 |
| The Resistance: While the Luftwaffe targeted the sheds below, this gun platform was the Works' primary defence. These "pylons" were specifically engineered to withstand the heavy recoil of the Bofors Gun during intense "hit and run" attacks. While the 'Secret Documents' were tucked away inside the works, the defence of the site was visible for miles. This 'Pylon' or Gun Tower was a sophisticated piece of military engineering. As seen in the accompanying film, these towers were often built in pairs to ensure the vibration of the 40mm Bofors gun didn't interfere with the delicate aiming equipment. It stood as a silent sentinel over the Lancing Carriage Works throughout the conflict. |
The concrete pylon remains a silent witness to Lancing’s wartime role, but the stories of the men who stood atop it are still being gathered.
The Gun Crew: Does anyone have a relative who served in the Lancing Home Guard or manning the anti-aircraft defences?
The Dismantling: Does anyone remember when the Bofors was finally removed? Was it immediately after VE Day, or did it linger into the late 1940s?
The Sounds of "Bomb Alley": If you or your family lived nearby, do you remember the distinct "thump-thump-thump" of the 40mm Bofors during those 1942 raids?
 |
| The Final Word: An official signature at the bottom of the damage report. While the name is lost to time, this document was the final word on the 1942 raid, sent directly to the Ministry of Home Security. ________________________________________________________________________________ Many locals recall the strange sight of the Grinstead Lane bridge during the war years. It was a bridge to nowhere, with construction halted as resources were diverted to the front. Yet, its unfinished ramps served a grimly practical purpose. Elevated above the tracks, it provided a commanding view for the anti-aircraft gunners, while beneath their feet, the concrete hollows of the ramp served as air raid shelters for the community. _______________________________________________________________________________ The significance of our village was not lost on the high command. On the 2nd of July 1940, Winston Churchill stood at Lancing College, looking down over the valley. He wasn't just admiring the Chapel; he was inspecting the vital industrial 'Centre' below. Just seven days later, the Luftwaffe would find that target, striking the Power House and claiming the life of William Geer. It was a stark reminder that while the Chapel stood tall as a landmark, the men in the Works were on the true front line. ________________________________________________________________________________ Update from the Community: Since publishing, local historian John Maple has shared further insights into the Works' defences. John recalls his father (who worked in the Frame Shop) mentioning that there were actually four Bofors guns in total—two mounted on ground level and two on elevated towers to cover all four corners of the site. The concrete pylon pictured above was specifically located on the South West corner, outside the Paint Shop. |
___________________________________________________________________________________
- Part 1:
The Guardians of the Works: Firemen & Veterans Part 3: Mr Warr and the Lancing Railway Fire Brigade- Part 4: The Bofors Crew: From Shop Floor to Front Line
- Part 4b: The Shingle Skeletons - A prequel to the front line
- Part 5: The Lancing Squad – Precision on the Front Line
- Part 6: Bomb Alley- The day the FW -190s came to Lancing (You are here)
- Part 7: The Invisible Colony
No comments:
Post a Comment