When Bombs Fell On Cambridge

Just above the kid’s head is a hole with something green pushed into it. I don’t know what it is, but there are lots of creative people in Cambridge and the green thing may be an adornment. On the other hand it could be a seal to keep the weather out of the hole.

The little spattering of holes are bomb damage from World War II.

Here is a close up. And without knowing anything of the history of the street (Bridge Stree), it would be easy to pass by and never give a thought.

From WW II Attacks On Cambridge

On the 28th July 1942 when the bombing started again, it was on a sharp scale. A single low-flying raider, clearly visible in the moonlight, attacked Bridge Street and Sidney Street with eleven H.E’s and many incendiaries. It was with this attack that the Germans are said to have made use of their new explosive incendiary bombs, one of which caused the big fire at the Union Society building. As the result of this attack three people were killed and seven injured; 10 buildings were destroyed or rendered unsafe so they had to be demolished, and another 127 properties were damaged to a much lesser extent.

The results of the attacks would of been much worse but for the fact that three of the H.E’s failed to explode. One of the bombs went through a roof of a house in Portugal Place and rested just above the basement where the residents were sheltering. One lodger who was still in bed awoke to see the bomb sticking through the wall.