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Chronicle of the 20th Century
Key Events in Nuneaton
and district in the last one hundred years
compiled by Peter Lee

1940-49

1940 
Mr. Charles Phillimore, rope maker, of Queens Road Rope Walk died. The name Rope Walk is to be celebrated in a new shopping mall to be opened in Nuneaton in the year 2001.

The water fountain in the Market Place was taken down and the water supply used for a static water tank in connection with air raid precautions. The old stone water fountain was stored for many years in the council yard in Queens Road at the back of the library.

10th January - Nuneaton Citizens Advice Bureau opened.

4th June - RAF Bramcote commissioned.

July - The 1st Polish Squadron came to be stationed at RAF Bramcote. No.300 Masovian, followed by Nos. 301, 304, 305.

20th August - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth paid a secret visit to RAF Bramcote to inspect a squadron of Polish aviators.

28th August - First air raid on Nuneaton. The Luftwaffe bombed Weddington  - 1 dead.

14th November -  The great blitz on Coventry, a few bombs were dropped around the Nuneaton area.

1941
The Elizabethan poet, contemporary of William Shakespeare, Michael Drayton's cottage demolished on Hartshill Green.

The 1st Battalion Cambridge Regiment was stationed at Arbury Hall. 343 of these men lost their lives between 1942 and 1945 serving in the Far East.

16th/17th May - the great blitz on Nuneaton. Extensive damage was done in the town centre. St. Nicholas Parish Church badly damaged and gravestones flattened, All Saints Parish Church,Chilvers Coton, burnt out by incendiary bombs, Church Street, Attleborough Road, Glebe Road, Vicarage Street, Queens Road, were badly damaged by both incendiaries and blast bombs, as well as extensive damage to historic buildings such as the old Grammar School, George Eliot's school, the Elms, Vicarage Street school virtually destroyed, Midland Counties Printing Works destroyed, houses in Church Street including "Lawyer Dempster's House" badly damaged although they should have been repaired instead of being knocked down after the war.  110 people were killed, including Alderman Edward Melly of the Close, Church Street. Attleborough church and vicarage were also damaged.  170 people were injured. There are many stories of lucky escapes, great bravery and heartbreak that fateful night, the most traumatic in Nuneaton this century.

1942
Frank Bowles elected as Labour MP for Nuneaton. He continued as MP for 24 years until 1964 when he became Lord Bowles.

25th February - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Nuneaton.

May - Conferred the following medals on local heroes:for bravery during the blitz:-
Dr. Percy George Horsburgh (First Aid Commandant-ARP) - George Medal
Mrs. Mary Lily Maybury - MBE
James Shannon - BEM

24th/25th June - An air raid on Nuneaton lasted 1 hour. 18 people were killed mostly in Manor Court Road area..

28th July - Last recorded bomb fell on Nuneaton, on the Pingle Fields.

1943
Lieut. Leonard Cecil Knox VC tragically killed when he lost control of his motorcycle on ice on Tuttle Hill. Buried in Witherley churchyard.

Coal gas tar leaked from the Gas Works via the Wash Brook into the River Anker causing considerable pollution.

1944
There was an enormous accidental explosion at an RAF bomb store at RAF Fauld near Burton on Trent said to be a blast bigger than the atomic bombs which fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. The blast and flash were felt in Nuneaton.

Preliminary work started on clearing the rubble of Chilvers Coton church.

1945 
The AB Taxi firm started by Albert Ball from premises in Bond Street.

January - The generation of electricity ceased at the electric works in Coton Road. All supplies were then taken from bulk supplies from the power company.

7th May - VE day. Great celebrations and street parties in Nuneaton.

By 1945 of the 13,644 houses in the Borough of which 10,485 were damaged, 380 were totally destroyed  over 10,000 received emergency repairs. 131 people had been killed 229 were injured. 291 high explosive bombs dropped on the town.

1946
Tubby's taxis started.

The Intalok Co. Ltd. started operations from premises in Leicester Road, Nuneaton. They made springs for beds.

Haunchwood Brick & Tile No. 2 yard closed in Heath End Road.

Caldwell Hall, Chilvers Coton demolished. (Built in the 18th century by the Harpur family)

3rd December - The Royal Navy took over RAF Bramcote. It became HMS Gamecock. Its task was to train naval air mechanics.

1947
George Helps, manager of Nuneaton Gas Co. Ltd. retired.

Nuneaton twinned with Roanne.

June - Mrs. L.C.S.Fitzroy Newdigate awarded the O.B.E.

25th September - There was a talk broadcast on BBC World Service between 6.10pm - 6.20pm. by R.G.Lloyd Thomas on the restoration of Chilvers Coton Church.

27th September - The rebuilt Chilvers Coton church re-dedicated by Dr. Neville Gorton, Bishop of Coventry. Architect H.N.Jepson.ARIBA. .

1948
4th June - Field Marshall Montgomery unveiled the war memorial to fallen Nuneaton men in Riversley Park.

1949
The Royal Cinema, Stratford Street, closed.

28th March - Attleborough Grange old peoples home opened by Ald. W.T.Smith.

5th June - 25 yards of the Arley railway tunnel collapsed during reconstruction work.

24th October - the Arley tunnel re-opened to rail traffic occupying one line. A temporary signal cabin was erected to protect the single line.