7th March 1941 saw a daring raid by two German bombers on Ransome and Marles, the vital bearing factory in Newark.
We are working with the events team at Newark Air Museum on a one day event on Sunday 6thMarch 2016, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Luftwaffe attack on the Ransome & Marles bearing factory.
This commemoration is a joint venture between the museum and the NFS and AFS Vehicles Group; and Newark Town Hall, Newark Cemetery, NSK (TBC) and other likeminded organisations.
This will be part of the weekend of commemorative events, starting at 1:30pm on the Saturday outside the Town Hall with the reading of the names of the 41 people killed, and culminating at the Cemetery on the Monday where 30 of the 41 are buried. The museum will also be remembering 80th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire; the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines of this iconic fighter used bearings from Ransome & Marles.
The main event at the museum will be a major Air Raid starting at 1:25pm, the actual time of the air raid 75 years ago, and the events in the aftermath of this will run all afternoon.
To help make the day even more memorable the museum is looking to have visiting displays and participants that are suitable and relevant to that time. We would like to include people and/or displays within the following areas:
- Re-enactors, particularly those portraying factory workers (the more the better), ARP, Rescue, Police, Fire Service, WVS, Ambulance, Press, Home Guard and British Army
- Wartime and Pre-war cars and military vehicles with their occupants ideally dressing in period clothing
- Anyone with family connections to Ransome & Marles, especially descendants of people who were there in 1941.
- WWII Veteran Associations or those that support them commemorating their role within the period
- Music of the time
- Model displays of Aircraft, Ships and Vehicles from the period
- Cockpits/Aircraft/Aircraft Interior Displays/Engines from the WWII period
The approximate timing for the day will be as follows (NB these supersede the provisional timings on the entry forms):
8am: Museum opens for exhibitors
10am: Museum opens to public – Exhibitors should be in place.
10:45am: Air Raid Participants briefing – this is essential if you wish to take part.
11am: Music and entertainment begins – get into the swing for the day.
1:35pm: The first air raid – much damage caused by bombs and machine-gun strafing. ARPs start to evacuate workers from the factory, and the works firemen start fighting fires.
2:00pm: The second air raid – one more bomb, and straffing. The Fire Brigade arrive to with Escape and Turntable Ladders, and mobile dam.
2:15pm: ARP and Rescue Services rescue severely wounded casualties, including those trapped in rubble. Casualties are taken away by a military lorry, vintage cars and an ambulance all afternoon.
2:24pm: A minute’s silence to remember the dead, at the exact time the second raid actually happened.
3:00pm: Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal team deals with the UXBs.
3:45pm: Reenactors and public form a convoy for a parade through Newark.
4pm: Museum closes to public and convoy departs around Newark to the old part of the R & M building (now NSK) (TBC), and on to St Mary’s church.
5:00pm: Special service at St Mary’s Newark by the Market Square. (Note new time, NOT 5:30 as previously advertised!)
The museum is also keen to hear from anyone with ideas for display items, but wonder if they would be relevant to the days theme please contact them with the details: Newark Air Museum
Newark Cemetery are also commemorating the events of 1941 on Monday 7th March, the actual anniversary.
If you would like to take part, further details and application form are here: R&M invitation and form Let’s make this a really memorable and dramatic start to the re-enacting year, and honour all those who served and died, in a fitting way.
Admission is free for booked-in re-enactors and vintage vehicle drivers, and there may be some discount for re-enactors who just turn up. Otherwise, normal entry fees apply. You can also join the Facebook event here.