Swansea Family
History
Swansea Civilians
During the Second World War, Swansea was subjected to a series of bombing attacks carried out by the German Luftwaffe, resulting in widespread destruction across the town and the loss of many civilian lives. These air raids targeted residential areas, commercial districts, docks, and industrial sites, causing severe damage to homes, places of work, and key infrastructure. Among the most devastating of these attacks were the events known collectively as the Three Nights Blitz, during which Swansea experienced intense and sustained bombing that left large areas of the town destroyed and profoundly affected the lives of its inhabitants.
The table presented here lists the dates on which Swansea suffered bombing attacks, illustrating both the frequency and the sustained nature of the air raids throughout the war years. This information has been compiled from The Three Nights Blitz, written by J. R. Alban, which provides a detailed and authoritative account of the bombing of Swansea, the extent of the damage, and the experiences of those who lived through the attacks.
The names of civilians who lost their lives as a result of these bombing raids are recorded separately. By listing them individually, this record ensures that those who suffered and died during the bombing of Swansea are remembered not only as victims of war, but as members of the local community whose lives were permanently affected by the conflict. Together, these records form an important part of Swansea’s Second World War history and its civilian experience of war.
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|
Date |
Type and Number of Bombs |
Location |
Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1940 |
|||
|
Thursday 27 June |
6 High Explosive |
Danygraig Road. Slight damage to property |
None |
|
4 High Explosive |
Killay Hill, 3.30am. Bombs failed to explode |
None |
|
|
Saturday 29 June |
2 High Explosive |
Lone aircraft over Morriston |
None |
|
Wednesday 10 July |
4 High Explosive |
King’s Dock, daylight raid at 10.20am. Extensive damage |
12 killed, 26 injured |
|
Thursday 18 July |
9 High Explosive |
Railway at Jersey Marine, 1.00am |
None |
|
Saturday 20 July |
2 High Explosive |
Swansea Docks and Elba Crescent, Mayhill. Unexploded bomb at Danygraig |
None |
|
Monday 22 July |
2 High Explosive |
Talefrewe Farm, Cockett. Slight farm damage |
None |
|
Saturday 27 July |
2 High Explosive |
Swansea Docks. Slight damage |
None |
|
Thursday 30 July |
2 High Explosive |
Banc Mawr, near Reddiffusion, Cockett |
None |
|
Friday 2 August |
14 High Explosive and numerous Incendiaries |
Mumbles foreshore, Uplands, Treboeth. Girls’ High School and St James’ Church hit |
4 injured |
|
Saturday 3 August |
2 High Explosive and numerous Incendiaries |
Wunarlwydd |
None |
|
Few High Explosive |
Fell into Swansea Bay |
None |
|
|
Thursday 6 August |
10 High Explosive |
Fell into sea near West Cross |
None |
|
Saturday 10 August |
31 High Explosive |
Heavy midnight raid. Damage at Landore railway viaduct, Manselton, Cwmbwrla, Brynhyfryd, Singleton Park, Clyne and Ravenhill. 13 bombs failed to explode. One bomb hit an Anderson shelter |
13 killed, 15 injured |
|
Friday 16 August |
20 High Explosive |
Fell into sea near Mumbles Head |
None |
|
Saturday 17 August |
16 High Explosive |
Hafod, Cwmbwrla, Greenhill, Treboeth and Cadle Commons. 7 bombs failed to explode |
7 killed, 12 injured |
|
Sunday 18 August |
12 High Explosive |
Gorse Avenue, Greenhill, Cwmbwrla, Foxhole and St Thomas. Residential damage |
1 killed, 3 injured |
|
Saturday 24 August |
Numerous Incendiaries |
Dunvant to Killay Hill |
None |
|
Sunday 1 September |
251 High Explosive and over 1,000 Incendiaries |
Largest raid to date. Extensive damage across the town |
35 killed, 115 injured |
|
Tuesday 3 September |
2 High Explosive |
Crymlyn Brook |
None |
|
Wednesday 4 September |
4 High Explosive |
Farmland at Llansamlet. One bomb exploded following day |
None |
|
Thursday 5 September |
4 High Explosive |
Llansamlet and Treboeth. Unexploded bomb at Tyrhester Farm |
None |
|
Wednesday 11 September |
3 High Explosive |
Brynmill. Slight damage to Langland Terrace |
None |
|
Tuesday 24 September |
2 High Explosive |
New Cut Bridge and King’s Cut |
None |
|
Incendiaries |
Rutland Street and Wind Street. Strand Power Station and bus damaged |
— |
|
|
Petrol bomb |
Dyfatty Street. Two houses destroyed |
— |
|
|
Wednesday 25 September |
9 High Explosive and numerous Incendiaries |
Town centre, St Thomas, Uplands, Mount Pleasant, Townhill, Mayhill |
None |
|
Wednesday 9 October |
6 High Explosive and numerous Incendiaries |
Prince of Wales Dock, Kilvey Hill, St Thomas, Bonymaen, Winchwen, Morriston |
None |
|
Monday 21 October |
15 High Explosive and numerous Incendiaries |
Gorse Avenue, Winchwen, Cockett, Mayhill, Llansamlet |
5 casualties |
|
1941 |
|||
|
Thursday 2 January |
2 small High Explosive |
Field near Ynystawe |
None |
|
Sunday 5 January |
12 High Explosive and 200 Incendiaries |
St Thomas, town centre, Sketty, Derwen Fawr, Glais |
20 casualties |
|
Monday 13 January |
2 High Explosive |
King’s Dock |
5 slightly injured |
|
Friday 17 January |
178 High Explosive and 700 Incendiaries |
Heavy raid. Extensive damage, especially St Thomas, Hafod and Bonymaen |
97 casualties, 55 deaths |
|
Wednesday 19 February |
896 High Explosive |
The Three Nights Blitz. Town centre largely destroyed |
397 casualties, 230 deaths |
|
Thursday 20 February |
— |
Continuation of the Three Nights Blitz |
— |
|
Friday 21 February |
— |
Continuation of the Three Nights Blitz |
— |
|
Monday 3 March |
6 High Explosive |
Fields at Cockett and Cefn Coed |
1 injured |
|
Tuesday 4 March |
12 High Explosive |
Foreshore between Swansea and Mumbles |
None |
|
Wednesday 12 March |
15 High Explosive |
Neath Road blocked. Gas and water mains damaged |
3 deaths, 9 casualties |
|
Friday 14 March |
100 Incendiaries |
Bonymaen and Llansamlet |
None |
|
Monday 24 March |
4 High Explosive |
Danygraig Road and Crymlyn Bog |
None |
|
Monday 31 March |
2 High Explosive |
The Strand and North Dock |
3 deaths |
|
Tuesday 8 April |
1 High Explosive and 800 Incendiaries |
Mumbles Head and Limeslade |
None |
|
Tuesday 22 April |
2 Parachute Mines |
Frederick Place, Llansamlet |
13 casualties |
|
Tuesday 20 May |
1 High Explosive |
Morriston town centre |
3 casualties |
|
Saturday 31 May |
4 High Explosive |
Treboeth, Morriston |
4 casualties |
|
Saturday 28 June |
4 High Explosive |
Sea off Langland–Caswell cliffs. Unexploded bomb at Mayhill Gardens |
None |
|
Friday 28 November |
2 Parachute Mines |
The Strand, Burrows area and Port Talbot |
1 death, 23 casualties |
|
1942 |
|||
|
Thursday 2 July |
240 Incendiaries |
Birchgrove |
None |
|
1943 |
|||
|
Thursday 16 February |
32 High Explosive and numerous Incendiaries |
Neath Road, St Thomas and Brynmill. Severe damage |
34 deaths, 110 casualties |
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