Search Warwickshire, Coventry Blitz, German Air Raids 1940-1941

Casualty Bureau

Several of these records were compiled by the Casualty Bureau. The five lists that Findmypast has now published were latterly held by the Midland Daily Telegraph and have been published as a result of our partnership with Reach PLC. Each record comprises a transcription of key information and an image of a contemporary typed casualty listing compiled after the German air raids over Coventry between November 1940 and June 1941. There are five lists in all covering the following air raid dates:

• 14th/15th November 1940
• 7th January 1941
• 8th/9th April 1941
• 10th/11th April 1941
• 4th/5th June 1941

In each case, names and addresses are given, followed by details about where the person was treated. This might have been at a First Aid Post or at a hospital. Some people were treated and sent home, others were detained in hospital.

The amount of detail for each individual varies, but the records usually include the following information about your ancestor:

• Name
• Date
• Casualty List
• Nature of casualty
• Street
• City
• County
• How and where treated

Coventry Archives

In partnership with Coventry Archives, we have scanned and transcribed mortutary lists from the air raids on Coventry during the Second World War. The amount of detail for each individual varies, but the records usually include the following information about your ancestor:

• First name
• Last name
• Address
• Year of birth
• Age at death
• Date of death
• Next of kin name and address

Each record will likely have two images, in which you can find information relating to their appearance (for idenitification), personal items on them at the time of death, cause of death, and occupation.

Close to 2,500 individuals are included on these lists, including some people who remained unidentified. Coventry was badly hit during 1940 and 1941, the raid of 14th/15th November destroying the ancient heart of the city including its mediaeval cathedral.

The vast majority of the casualties were, of course, citizens of Coventry, but there were also people from the length and breadth of Britain whose names you will find on these lists, as well as military personnel and members of the Auxiliary Fire Service and Air Raid Precautions.

Children and adults alike are recorded in these lists, and surname searches quickly reveal whole families affected.

At Ribble Road on the night of 10th/11th April 1941, William Burton at No 19 was injured, whilst further along at No 25, Mrs West was also killed. So too was Cyril Hartup, aged 11, killed in the Smith’s Stamping Works shelter. Other members of the Hartup family were injured.

James Dawson and Arthur Young, both living at separate addresses in Cambridge Street were injured in the November 1940 raid, but Cambridge Street on the whole, generally got off lightly. That certainly wasn’t the case when the Luftwaffe paid a return visit in April 1941. Numbers 133, 135 and 137 Cambridge Street were all hit, with members of the Arrowsmith, Webb and Sadler families, and other individuals besides, all killed.