The unexploded bomb
Based on information in bombsight.org/bombs/26563/ “High Explosive Bomb at Yoakley Road”
41 Yoakley Road, Stoke Newington. London (formerly 11Yoakley Terrace, Park Street, mid-terrace) was the home of Alfred Henry Warland (my grandfather).
The following story was supplied by Edward Warland who was living there at the time of The Blitz.
Occupants that were never missing: Alfred Henry Warland (Grandad), Tich (The Cat)
Some nights away at May & Baker (?), Dagenham and Home Guard: George Stansell.
May have been in Swindon at end of the Blitz: Constance Stansell (My Aunt) and Janet Stansell (cousin)
Away with NAAFI and Army: Arthur Warland (Uncle)
Shrewsbury/Melksham: Mary Warland (Molly) and Edward Warland (Ted)
Grandad was often on firewatching duty at night, dealing with incendiary bombs dropped at the outset of a night raid to identify targets. The firewatcher had to extinguish the firs or call for help with a whistle or a rattle (later used by Ted as a speedway supporter and finally left to the church for Tenebrae (1), when the bells may not be used). The fin of an incendiary bomb was found in the next door garden (No. 43).
The most powerful bombs ….
References
(1) Tenebrae (Latin for ‘shadows’ or ‘darkness’) is a Christian religious service celebrated within Western Christianity on the evening before or early morning of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, which are the last three days of Holy Week. The distinctive ceremony of Tenebrae is the gradual extinguishing of candles while a series of readings and psalms is chanted or recited