Exactly 80 years ago today on 10th January 1941, the bombing had already started. It was a Friday, and the first bombs started falling on Portsmouth at around 5pm. The raid was to last through the night for more than 10 hours. Portsmouth had already experienced what was designated a ‘major’ raid on 24th August the previous summer, and many other lesser incursions also. The City would endure another major raid on 10th March, in just two months’ time, But the Portsmouth Blitz would be most serious and most prolonged on this night of 10th-11th January.

The raid came in three waves with more than 300 planes taking part and, according to German records, more than 40,000 incendiary devices were dropped that night. It appears that Portsmouth simply happened to be the target on this occasion because there was thick cloud over the rest of the country, and our city on the coast was the clearest target available that night.

In the Portsmouth Blitz overall, 930 civilians were killed (nearly 600 during this January night) and 1200 hospitalised – in addition to the casualties at the Dockyard and other military premises. It is estimated that 10 percent of homes in the city were destroyed and a further proportion seriously damaged. Our skyline and streetview everywhere in the City today still bears witness to where the bombs fell.

As well as the Guildhall going up in flames on the night of 10th January, with its iconic bell tower nearly falling, more than 30 church buildings were destroyed, 8 schools, one hospital, Clarence Pier… the list goes on of the toll that the Portsmouth paid. Early on, the electricity generating station was hit, and for the rest of the night the City suffered in darkness – except for the light of the fires as buildings burned.

Close to us here in Old Portsmouth, the impact and the damage was also severe that night. There was a firewatch on the Cathedral, and to them we owe a huge debt. But the nave of the Garrison Church could not be saved, and the members of the firewatch there spoke afterwards of their sadness and helplessness seeing the nave roof burn after they had run out of water for their pumps with all their efforts elsewhere. It was low-tide that night and the water level was too low to reach to draw from the shore.

Many people took shelter when the air raid sirens first sounded, and some houses with large cellars offered refuge to neighbours. We believe this was the case at no 101 on the High Street, just beyond the South East side of the Cathedral. It took a direct hit from a high explosive bomb, and all 12 people from at least four families sheltering in the cellar died. This may have been the greatest loss of life in one house in Portsmouth during the war – and included two grandparents, and their 11-month old grandson together with one of their daughters. The other daughter, the baby’s mother had just left the cellar at the moment of the blast since thinking her little one was safe – but this was scarcely a lucky escape since she was left with serious injuries all the same – and the loss of her parents, sister and infant son. It is very fitting, that 10 years ago, public concern and local effort, led by Terry Halloran with us here, raised contributions for a memorial stone to be placed and dedicated to those who died at 101 High Street on this night.

Public concern and local effort: amidst the destruction and devastation, the light of kindness and neighbourliness shines out in the stories of the Portsmouth Blitz. The official volunteers of the Civil Defence helped save many lives with the preparations and shelters they assisted people with beforehand, in addition to their patrols and callouts on the night.

It was an abiding impression for those who endured the Blitz how people looked after one another. Those displaced from their homes were taken in by the nearest family or friends who could, and neighbours helped each other out with recovery of any possessions that could be salvaged. Street canteens were set up – especially in the Guildhall Square to provide emergency hot drinks and food. The losses were tempered by the willing contributions and practical support that many received, from those who could share even their limited supplies. As the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Dennis Daley, said later on 11th January: “We are bruised but we are not daunted, and we are still as determined as ever to stand side by side with other cities who have felt the blast of the enemy.’ 

It is significant, perhaps, that we have this anniversary to commemorate just after we have entered a new stage of the struggle we are facing today in this city and this country. We too are being called upon to endure, to show self-restraint and self-sacrifice, to keep up morale and to put a high priority on the welfare of others. We are confronted with a different sort of airborne enemy, but one which nevertheless challenges our courage and resolve.

And our Bible readings and psalm this evening remind us that even in the most difficult of circumstances, we can know that ‘God is our hope and strength, a very present help in trouble: therefore we will not fear.’ As God ‘has taken us by the hand and kept us’ so we can draw strength to offer a helping hand to others – safely of course in these days of restrictions – but positively and practically by recognising other people’s isolation, anxiety and need and being able to do what we can to show our support and solidarity: with phonecalls or messages to help out and help morale, and making it our task to ensure others are safe. The fog last night (and the foghorns round here in Old Portsmouth) served as a small reminder of the smog of ash and smoke and debris that might have hung over the City 80 years ago – and yet today, as then, there are glimpses of light and hope that shine out. Although our most primitive instincts might be to look after our own interests, to fulfil our own needs, yet events like the Blitz and like today’s situation here and in many places, prove that we can be most fulfilled by looking after the needs of others, showing consideration and goodwill, doing the good works ‘that God has created us for’, and leaving a lasting legacy as we emerge from this time of deprivation and difficulty.

Today in the Church calendar we have celebrated the baptism of Christ, remembering that Jesus was recognised as God’s Son even as he underwent baptism in solidarity with our human situation. In the church’s tradition, Christians recognise that we in turn are baptised into Christ’s suffering and death, and only by facing this can we find ourselves gifted with life and able to live God’s promises to the full and eternally. If the Portsmouth Blitz, 80 year ago tonight, was something of a baptism of fire for all those who endured it – with all the losses and injuries and bereavement and devastation they had to suffer - so may we be inspired to endure - each of us, today, whatever we have to face in the days and weeks that still lie ahead. 

We pray for fortitude like that shown 80 years ago by the Portsmouth residents then, and we ask that we may be able to face the sacrifices asked of us now, knowing that we can come through together to a new future and new hope, and that somehow, in God’s good purposes there will be new opportunities ahead to enjoy life, and life in all its fullness.                                      Amen.

Commemoration of the Departed

Our choir anthem in a moment uses words from the Greek orthodox funeral liturgy, which looks forward through suffering to the time beyond death, when we and all the redeemed praise God with the eternal song ‘Alleluia’. 

But first I am going to read out the names of those who died this night in 1941 just outside where we are now, at 101 High Street and who are commemorated on the Memorial stone.

We remember before God: 

ISAAC BARKER his wife GERTRUDE BARKER

GEORGE BARNES
RICHARD CLEMENS and his wife MARY CLEMENS
JOHN ALBERT MORRIS, his wife ELSIE MORRIS

          and their infant son JOHN aged 2
CHARLES RIDGE, his wife ANNIE RIDGE,

          and their daughter RUBY aged 14.

Also their Grandson, Ruby’s nephew, Baby PETER HALSON aged 11 months.
WINIFRED ANDREWS and her son GEORGE who lived at 101 High St

          but died that night outside their home in Lombard Street. 

May they, and all whom we commemorate today as we remember the Portsmouth Blitz, rest in peace.