CAMBRIDGE, GERMAN BOMBING 18-19 JUNE 1940

The aftermath of the bombing during World War 2. The night of the 18th/19th June 1940, when Cambridge first experienced the horrors of war when within moments two High Explosive bombs were dropped destroying numbers 1-6 Vicarage Terrace and badly damaging numbers 7-10.

On 19th June 1940 in the very early hours, Vicarage Terrace in Cambridge was bombed, resulting in the loss of 9 lives. All those killed or injured were occupants of numbers 1-8, with only the Unwin family at number 7 surviving as they had sheltered under the stairs which had protected them from the falling roof. Olive Unwin went ahead with her wedding as planned a few days later, as we can see from the Cambridge St Matthew marriage register:

1940
Jun 22

BROWN George Frederick 20 bac soldier of 7 Vicarage Terrace Cambridge son of George Frederick taxie driver
UNWIN Olive Rita 21 sp [blank] of 7 Vicarage Terrace Cambridge dau of Charles Thomas college servant wits: Reginald Frank BANYARD, Charles Thomas UNWIN
She had to borrow a wedding dress as her dress and trousseau had been destroyed in the blast.

Extract from Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 25 September 1940, page 4:

The German High Command communique yesterday stated: “In reply to the British bombing of the ancient German University town of Heidelberg, which has no military objective whatsoever, Cambridge was bombed.”

Photographs Courtesy Cambridgeshire Collection

Attacks on Cambridge World War 2

April 1940	11 HE bombs aimed at Cambridge but fell in sugar beet fields
18th/19th June 1940	Vicarage Terrace 9 killed 3 injured. Amongst the first British civilian casualties of the war. Follow the link to see an article published by Cambridge Independent Press and Chronicle Friday 14 September 1945 when restrictions were not in place - will open in a new window, note this was taken from microfiche
August 1940	8 HE bombs including Fenners, no injuries
28th August 1940	8 HE bombs Leys Avenue, Shaftsbury Avenue
15th October 1940	1 bomb in Barrow Road, 1 casualty
16th January 1941	200 incendiary bombs on Hyde Park Corner and city Perse school badly damaged. Hydrants frozen with snow
30th January 1941	Mill Road bridge 2 killed, ten injured
15th February 1941	341/ 343 Cherry Hinton Road – fronts blown off
24th February 1941	A major three phased special operation on military activity at the rail station. 11 killed including wardens and fire watchers
9th May 1941	Hundreds of incendiaries between Hills Road and Trumpington Road. 50 houses had direct hits but most fires were quickly put out
29th August 1941	10 HE bombs 2 killed 7 injured
29th September 1941	Incendiaries hit Huntingdon Road damaging telephone wires and public services
8th September 1941	Incendiaries fell into Morley Memorial playground
Ten month gap in the raids
28th July 1942	11 HE Bridge Street and Sidney Street, explosive incendiaries 3 killed and 7 injured
3rd January 1945	The Commencement of the meeting was delayed by the passage of a Flying Bomb. Mr Cann reported damage to the ceiling of his troop room believed to be due to an explosion following an aeroplane crash

Last updated 3 November, 2025