Old Photos For No Reason Whatsoever

[Danny_Blade]

12th December and 15th December 1940. The nights the Luftwaffe decided to take out the munitions and armaments works in Sheffield. It was codenamed 'Crucible' by the Germans. On the first night c.12,000 bombs were dropped. Whether it was poor planning or a deliberate policy, most of these fell in and around the city centre, rather than further down the Don Valley where the steel works were all located. Vicar Lane, Campo Lane took direct hits, as did the Cathedral. Later the C&A building was hit and more or less flattened and later the Marples Hotel opposite was hit, killing around 70. Earlier in the evening the early bombings hit Norton and Gleadless.

2nd night the bombs were more incendiary. Over 11,000 of these were dropped in that raid, this time targeting the steelworks, Hadfields and Brown Bayleys particularly hit.

In total more than 660 people were killed, over 1,500 injured and more than 40,000 people were made homeless 78,000 homes were damaged and many businesses in the city centre were damaged or destroyed.

How did we allow the Luftwaffe to get so far beyond the cliffs of Dover all the way to Sheffield? Forgive me I'm only 26 but from the WW2 documentaries I've seen we were pretty much ahead of the game technology wise with early warning radar stations dotted all along the south and east coasts, detecting and tracking enemy aircraft allowing the RAF to intercept them.

Such a shame seeing all these pictures in this thread of utter devastation and the loss of our beautiful grand old architecture, but even if Sheffield wasn't hit it wouldn't surprise me if our council would've knocked most of them down in the years to come anyway.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

vorpal blade was asking about the Luftwaffe bombing and the extent of it and the damage caused. This is an interesting map

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

How did we allow the Luftwaffe to get so far beyond the cliffs of Dover all the way to Sheffield? Forgive me I'm only 26 but from the WW2 documentaries I've seen we were pretty much ahead of the game technology wise with early warning radar stations dotted all along the south and east coasts, detecting and tracking enemy aircraft allowing the RAF to intercept them.

Such a shame seeing all these pictures in this thread of utter devastation and the loss of our beautiful grand old architecture, but even if Sheffield wasn't hit it wouldn't surprise me if our council would've knocked most of them down in the years to come anyway.

They followed radio beam transmissions. One was fired from Ghent in Belgium directly through Sheffield. Another beam was sent from Brest, NW France, where the two crossed was the target of Operation Crucible. Draw a line on a map from Ghent, which is where they took off, to Sheffield and you more or less have the flight path.

 

[benn5712]

How did we allow the Luftwaffe to get so far beyond the cliffs of Dover all the way to Sheffield? Forgive me I'm only 26 but from the WW2 documentaries I've seen we were pretty much ahead of the game technology wise with early warning radar stations dotted all along the south and east coasts, detecting and tracking enemy aircraft allowing the RAF to intercept them.

Such a shame seeing all these pictures in this thread of utter devastation and the loss of our beautiful grand old architecture, but even if Sheffield wasn't hit it wouldn't surprise me if our council would've knocked most of them down in the years to come anyway.

Might have used the Humber estuary as a navigation marker. Don't think night fighters were around in any great numbers then either. On their own admission anti aircraft batteries were wildly inaccurate.
A playground we used as kids on Sutherland rd had a barrage balloon tethered to it during the war.

 

[sitwell]

How did we allow the Luftwaffe to get so far beyond the cliffs of Dover all the way to Sheffield? Forgive me I'm only 26 but from the WW2 documentaries I've seen we were pretty much ahead of the game technology wise with early warning radar stations dotted all along the south and east coasts, detecting and tracking enemy aircraft allowing the RAF to intercept them.

Such a shame seeing all these pictures in this thread of utter devastation and the loss of our beautiful grand old architecture, but even if Sheffield wasn't hit it wouldn't surprise me if our council would've knocked most of them down in the years to come anyway.

I used to blame my Nan ,she worked the spotlights for the land army

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

)

How did we allow the Luftwaffe to get so far beyond the cliffs of Dover all the way to Sheffield? Forgive me I'm only 26 but from the WW2 documentaries I've seen we were pretty much ahead of the game technology wise with early warning radar stations dotted all along the south and east coasts, detecting and tracking enemy aircraft allowing the RAF to intercept them.

Such a shame seeing all these pictures in this thread of utter devastation and the loss of our beautiful grand old architecture, but even if Sheffield wasn't hit it wouldn't surprise me if our council would've knocked most of them down in the years to come anyway.

They would have come in across the North Sea using a guidance system known as knickebein which was a type of radio beam which the bombers travelled along. Another beam transmitted from a different point would be aimed at the target, in this case Sheffield and where the beams crossed was the target.
The raids would have involved several hundred aircraft coming over in waves lasting most of the night. The British anti aircraft defences were way behind the ones that the Germans had and were pretty ineffective by comparison, particularly at that stage of the war so even if we shot some down, hundreds would still get through to their target.
As the saying of the time went, the bomber will always get through.

 

[Dnblade]

Definitely Bernard Shaw. This was the FA Cup match in 1968 which we lost 1-0. The photo was on the cover of the Park Drive football book that came out yearly. I am in the crowd somewhere between Shaw and Charlton.

Wondered where i'd seen it before...I had that book along with the following year that at had George Best on the cover.
Had to work hard for that book,picking up empty Fag packets,although my Uncle made the biggest contribution by smoking himself to near death.

 

[vorpal blade]

let's up the bar a little - what about the Blade between Hodgkinson and Charlton?

 

[Dnblade]

let's up the bar a little - what about the Blade between Hodgkinson and Charlton?

I'll go for Ken Mallendar.

 

[I should coco]

How did we allow the Luftwaffe to get so far beyond the cliffs of Dover all the way to Sheffield? Forgive me I'm only 26 but from the WW2 documentaries I've seen we were pretty much ahead of the game technology wise with early warning radar stations dotted all along the south and east coasts, detecting and tracking enemy aircraft allowing the RAF to intercept them

The radar in 40/41 was all ground based.
Spits and Hurricanes were sent up with the latest available information and generally could find and deal with them in the daylight. Sadly they couldn't locate the bombers in the dark hence the devastation Sheffield, Coventry, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Plymouth suffered.

By late 1941 they were beginning to develop in plane radar. The Bristol Beaufighter was a lovely twin engined beast big enough to carry these early radar sets as well as 4 cannon in the nose. They didn't want the Germans to understand why they were being found and shot down, hence the 'Cat's-eyes Cunningham' stories at the time. His many kills were put down to eating carrots amongst other things.

The RAF had sorted it by 1942 and the Luftwaffe were on the back foot by then .

 

[vorpal blade]

I'll go for Ken Mallendar.

weren't the Mallendars from Mexborough ...... my Dad said something like that to me once - is it the cricketing family too?

 

[bornablade]

The team was; Hodgkinson, Badger, Shaw, Munks, Mallender, Barlow, Woodward, Carlin, Addison, T Wagstaff and Reece.

No TC. No wonder we lost.

Wondered where i'd seen it before...I had that book along with the following year that at had George Best on the cover.
Had to work hard for that book,picking up empty Fag packets,although my Uncle made the biggest contribution by smoking himself to near death.

I'm pretty sure the Leeds v Blades photo was on the back cover of the one that had George Best on the front cover.

 

[grafikhaus]

I should coco - I refer you to my previous comments on the incompetence of local government in Northern England ...

etc. Totally agree. I've worked for both Rotherham and Sheffield Councils and it's fair to say that the vast majority of council staff are otherwise-unemployable. Despite spending fortunes advertising for new staff, these positions have to be advertised internally (notice boards, intranet etc.) That way, existing staff tip off their friends, these friends lie on their CV (nobody ever checks) and they get the job. To this day, Sheffield Council spend fortunes training new staff in basic computing - despite the fact the job required them to be computer-literate. They tie up IT support because - among other things - they've 'forgot their password'.

Even though getting a council job is like you've won the lottery - good pay, easy hours, flexi-time, gold-plated pension, 'working from home' and a job for life, I was (illegally) pushed out by SCC. I just didn't have the mindset. Having had serious, proper jobs I quickly realised that the council lot are just playing at it. 'Staff meetings' for no purpose whatsoever (apart from ticking a 'best practice' box in the book), people blatantly fiddling their time sheets (I worked for a woman who was on a full 37-hour p.w. contract. She used to roll up at around 10.30, bugger off around 14.30 and claim the full hours. Plus, she used to bring her vast brood in during school holidays and park them in the staff room. She was promoted to manager...)

 

[Therealfurphy]

Brewery and pub/hotel on the Wicker. The decoration is for the visit of Edward VII

I used to work in some offices just above the gate saying Tennant Brothers, of course it was Whitbread's then. And yes, I did get paid to test the different brews - oh the joy's of pre-heath and safety!

 

[Therealfurphy]

Here's a more modern image. Opposite the car park entrance to Ponds Forge Pool I think

Fitzalan Square at the top of the steps, used to park there waiting for my wife to finish work at William Hill's in the corner

 

[Therealfurphy]

View attachment 43975 View attachment 43976 View attachment 43977

That's more like it Sampylad, don't forget, us High Storrs Grammar School boys had to tread the mean streets of Bent's Green!

 

[vorpal blade]

The Famous Baker's Hill !

 

[Silent Blade]

No TC. No wonder we lost.
.

Cup tied

 

[Pollingtonblade]

etc. Totally agree. I've worked for both Rotherham and Sheffield Councils and it's fair to say that the vast majority of council staff are otherwise-unemployable. Despite spending fortunes advertising for new staff, these positions have to be advertised internally (notice boards, intranet etc.) That way, existing staff tip off their friends, these friends lie on their CV (nobody ever checks) and they get the job. To this day, Sheffield Council spend fortunes training new staff in basic computing - despite the fact the job required them to be computer-literate. They tie up IT support because - among other things - they've 'forgot their password'.

Even though getting a council job is like you've won the lottery - good pay, easy hours, flexi-time, gold-plated pension, 'working from home' and a job for life, I was (illegally) pushed out by SCC. I just didn't have the mindset. Having had serious, proper jobs I quickly realised that the council lot are just playing at it. 'Staff meetings' for no purpose whatsoever (apart from ticking a 'best practice' box in the book), people blatantly fiddling their time sheets (I worked for a woman who was on a full 37-hour p.w. contract. She used to roll up at around 10.30, bugger off around 14.30 and claim the full hours. Plus, she used to bring her vast brood in during school holidays and park them in the staff room. She was promoted to manager...)

How do I apply?

 

[Harrisblade]

How do I apply?

If you do, don't ask grafikhaus to be a referee

 

[Basing Blade]

 

[snootyfenooty]

etc. Totally agree. I've worked for both Rotherham and Sheffield Councils and it's fair to say that the vast majority of council staff are otherwise-unemployable. Despite spending fortunes advertising for new staff, these positions have to be advertised internally (notice boards, intranet etc.) That way, existing staff tip off their friends, these friends lie on their CV (nobody ever checks) and they get the job. To this day, Sheffield Council spend fortunes training new staff in basic computing - despite the fact the job required them to be computer-literate. They tie up IT support because - among other things - they've 'forgot their password'.

Even though getting a council job is like you've won the lottery - good pay, easy hours, flexi-time, gold-plated pension, 'working from home' and a job for life, I was (illegally) pushed out by SCC. I just didn't have the mindset. Having had serious, proper jobs I quickly realised that the council lot are just playing at it. 'Staff meetings' for no purpose whatsoever (apart from ticking a 'best practice' box in the book), people blatantly fiddling their time sheets (I worked for a woman who was on a full 37-hour p.w. contract. She used to roll up at around 10.30, bugger off around 14.30 and claim the full hours. Plus, she used to bring her vast brood in during school holidays and park them in the staff room. She was promoted to manager...)

I had a similar experience many moons ago and fucked off to better things. The thing that really pissed me off was the prevalence of "accidental managers". These are the duffers who have been around for so long they end up getting promotions by default and in the end find themselves running things, however incompetent they are. Putting yourself forward for promotion was simply a case of "aahve been 'ere longer than 'im" and that was it. Anyone with less experience but more talent just fucked off as a result. I've got a good mate of mine who did the opposite and couldn't be arsed with the charade. He just went through the motions every day, maximised his sick leave and just stuck around waiting for his pension. For forty fucking years!

 

[georgebernardshaw]

That's more like it Sampylad, don't forget, us High Storrs Grammar School boys had to tread the mean streets of Bent's Green!

Ah, the Battle of Bent’s Green, what memories.

Happy days

 

[georgebernardshaw]

View attachment 44009

Norman Wilkinson, the artist.

One moment of epiphany saved countless sailors’ lives by inventing camouflage that convinced submarine skippers that their target was going in the opposite direction.

 

[Dnblade]

weren't the Mallendars from Mexborough ...... my Dad said something like that to me once - is it the cricketing family too?

Not sure but I googled Ken Mallender and he was born in Thrybergh near Rotherham, so it would 't surprise me.

 

[vorpal blade]

Yes I did and Neil Mallender the cricketer is all the way from Kirk Sandall ... which I imagine is some duney island in the Hebrides .....?

 

[HighfieldBlade]

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Norman Wilkinson, the artist.

One moment of epiphany saved countless sailors’ lives by inventing camouflage that convinced submarine skippers that their target was going in the opposite direction.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Norman Wilkinson, the artist.

One moment of epiphany saved countless sailors’ lives by inventing camouflage that convinced submarine skippers that their target was going in the opposite direction.

...or he just painted masterpieces

 

[Sean Thornton]

I had a similar experience many moons ago and fucked off to better things. The thing that really pissed me off was the prevalence of "accidental managers". These are the duffers who have been around for so long they end up getting promotions by default and in the end find themselves running things, however incompetent they are. Putting yourself forward for promotion was simply a case of "aahve been 'ere longer than 'im" and that was it. Anyone with less experience but more talent just fucked off as a result. I've got a good mate of mine who did the opposite and couldn't be arsed with the charade. He just went through the motions every day, maximised his sick leave and just stuck around waiting for his pension. For forty fucking years!

"He just went through the motions every day, maximised his sick leave and just stuck around waiting for his pension. For forty fucking years!"

The enterprising bulldog spirit that's made this country what it is.