Midlands’ Worst Raid Attack Lasted Ten Hours
Bombs of Every Type
There are some graves that call out to be researched. The grave of Edward Carless is one. His headstone reads:
Sacred to the memory of Edward the beloved husband of Evelyn Jane Carless killed by enemy action November 20th 1940, aged 31 years.
Edward was born on 9th August 1909 to James Carless and Susannah nee Wallace. He was one of eight children. In 1936 he married Evelyn Jane Simmons and they made their home in Darley Avenue Castle Bromwich with Edward working as a Bread Salesman and Evelyn as a Ledger Clerk and Cashier.
In 1938 an Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) was formed in Britain as part of the Civil Defence Service. Members of the AFS were unpaid part-time volunteers, but could be called up for whole-time paid service if necessary. At some stage Edward joined the AFS.
On the night of the 19th – 20th November 1920 the Germans launched an air raid on Birmingham. It was the worst raid of the war to date, lasting for nine hours and forty minutes. The raids were concentrated on the southern part of the city and as the night progressed the number and extent of fires became very serious. Hundreds of fires were burning in the Bordesley Green and Small Heath area.
Edward Carless was sent to tackle a fire at the Ryvita Co. Ltd. on Bordesley Green Road. He died trying to extinguish the fire, his body being found in the road the next day.
The raids that night claimed the lives of three firemen and injured another thirty-one. Edward Carless is buried in the graveyard by St Mary & St Margaret Church Castle Bromwich. Official records variously record his death as the 19th or 20th November 1940.
