On June 25 1941, an enemy aircraft dropped a parachute mine, sometimes referred to as a
landmine, right over the house called "ELNATHAN", in Northam Bridge Road, (as it was
then, later Upper Northam Rd and now named Upper Northam Drive).
This was the home of Phillip and Winifred Morant. Other of their children in the house
at that time were, Florence aged 21, Sidney 15, Reginald 12, twins Elsie and Norman
aged 9 and Leonard 8. Also staying there on that day was an evacuee Gladys
Martin, 23, who was related to the Morant family.
There was also a sailor William James Moore, aged 21 who was home on leave to marry
Florence. These were all killed instantly by the blast but two other children,
Sheila Morant aged 6, (a cousin), and Kenneth Martin aged 2, Gladys' son, were
rescued alive from the debris and taken to Coldeast Emergency Hospital. Sadly,
Kenneth died the same day.
Sheila Morant survived and recalls that she had been visiting the house during
preparations for the marriage of Florence to William James Moore, a sailor serving
as a cook home on leave from H.M.S Victory - she was to be their bridesmaid. Sheila
was told that her life was saved by her Aunt Winifred, when she threw herself
across her body during the blast. Scroll to the bottom to see the National Press extract.
This photo, taken soon after the incident, shows the house as a pile of rubble.
Beyond the back garden, the windmill used to pump water from the adjacent well for
irrigation of the nursery, can be clearly seen. It is expected that this will be restored
to full working condition in the near future.
Joyce Chambers, (nee Whitlock), recalls her father, George Whitlock, who lived at
No 1 Foord Road being a member of the Rescue Team on the Winchester Council ARP.
He and Mr Bert Hallett, Mr Sid Abraham, Mr Tom Trump, (from Winchester), recovered
the remains of the family from the ruins.
Also present helping in the recovery were George Whitlock's son Gordon, then a
teenager and Ken Martin of Windmill Lane from the local ARP team.
He remembers that two were rescued alive but has only just learned in 2011, when the
picture (right) was taken, that the girl survived and lived till 2007. What a
strange coincidence that the two-year old boy Kenneth Martin was unrelated to
this local rescuer of the same name - Kenneth Martin.
Bert Hallett was also the village grave digger at the cemetery and he was joined by
George Whitlock in preparing the family interment plot pictured. Gordon Whitlock, Joyce's brother often
often played with the Morant children.
"ELNATHAN" stood about six houses down from the junction of West Road in what is now
Upper Northam Drive. This is adjacent to the track to Windmill Nurseries. The house
was rebuilt on the site in 1947 under the "War Damage" scheme and is said to be in
the style of the original house. It is now named "Four Oaks" and the picture
shows how it is now . It is currently the home of someone who lived in West Rd who was
2 years old when the original house was destroyed. When a recent extension was built
at the back, He tells how it was necessary to excavate to a depth of over six feet to
reach undisturbed ground - evidence of the huge crater that must have resulted from
the blast in 1941.
The Copse was planted with of 20% Oak, 30% Ash, 10% Wild Cherry, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn,
Dog Rose, Guelder Rose, Goat Willow, Alder, Buckthorn, Crab Apple and Field Maple.
Hedge End Town Council hope that from what must have been a tremendous tragedy
60 years ago, a commemoration and a woodland that will flourish for years to come
is a befitting tribute to those who were lost and by which we ensure that they will
be remembered and become part of Hedge End's History. The memorial stone is a few yards
up from the allotment entrance. Below is a copy of n extract from a National
Newspaper dated: June 27 1941
With tragic suddenness a large family were almost wiped out when a high-explosive bomb
was dropped from an enemy aeroplane on the outskirts of a large village near the South
Coast in the early hours of Thursday last week.
Ten people have lost their lives and the only survivor is a girl of six years. The house
was demolished and other nearby property badly shaken. In the house were Mr & Mrs B
Morant with their seven children, a girl evacuee named Martin and a sailor named Moore,
who was home on leave.
Following a direct hit, Mr & Mrs Morant and five of the children were instantly killed
as were the evacuated girl and the sailor. Two other children, (a girl aged six and a
boy aged two), were rescued alive and taken to hospital but the youngest has since died.
The only surviving girl, Sheila Morant, a relative evacuated from Shirley, although
seriously injured, is believed to have a reasonable chance of recovery.
The occupants of the house next door were badly shaken and the husband had to be treated
in hospital; and in a nearby bungalow two old ladies over 90 years of age, escaped
injury when plaster was showered over them.
Widespread sorrow was shown in the village on Saturday when there was a combined
funeral of the eleven victims of the air attack.
The whole of the victims of the tragedy were buried one grave in the village burial
ground, the service being conducted by the Vicar of the parish.
An officer and twelve naval ratings provided the funeral party for the sailor, and amongst those gathered for the funeral were representatives of the Civil Defence Services etc.
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Native shrubs were planted in the southern hedge in the hope that plants, insects
and animals living in the surrounding hedges would colonise the woodland as it matured.
The original plan allowed for a few small open areas to form woodland glades
to give increased habitat diversity.
A Commemoration ceremony was held on 15th December 2001 at when the memorial stone was
put in place. It is situated a few yards up from the allotment entrance.
BOMBS ON SOUTHERN VILLAGES
Family almost wiped out
