World War II in Broomhall: Shirley Smith's Story

Shirley Smith was born on 17^th August 1934 and she was six years old when Sheffield endured its worst bombing of the Second World War. The city was blitzed by the German Luftwaffe on Thursday 12^th December and Sunday 15^th December 1940. She remembers that her grandfather had come to her family’s house at 187a West Street and her mother had gone to walk him to the tram stop when the air raid sirens sounded. Shirley’s mother worked at Ernest Hill’s as a capstan lathe operator, making munitions.

Listen to Shirley’s story in the clips below the photo gallery; Picture Sheffield has some additional Sheffield Newspapers Ltd photos of the refugees at High Storrs school:

High Storrs play centre for blitzed children, (s01103)

Rest Centre at High Storrs School (s01105)

Rest Centre: re-clothing at High Storrs School (s02058)

Shirley Smith, 2014

Photo: OUR Broomhall

Unexploded bomb in Devonshire Street. 1940

Photo: SALS PSs01323 & Newsphotos Press Agency

Fitzwilliam Street and Devonshire Street junction. 1956

Photo: SALS PSs15920

Aerial view of street in Broomhall, cleared after air raids. 1940s

Photo: SALS PSs01285 & Sheffield Newspapers