May, 2016 marks the 75th anniversary of when Bootle and other parts of Sefton were severely bombed as part of the World War 2 blitz.

Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed as the German Luftwaffe targeted the docks and the surrounding area in continuous days of heavy bombing raids.

As part of remembering the Bootle blitz, BBC North West is to broadcast a special programme called 'The May Blitz: Seven Days that Rocked Liverpool' on Friday, May 6 at 7.30pm which looks at how the region suffered.



In it, host Les Dennis interviews Dave Ewing from Sefton Council's libraries team and they discuss how during May 1941 Bootle suffered the heaviest bombing raid so far.

Dave Ewing said: "Not many people realize that Bootle was bombed on a scale comparable, for its size, to London during the blitz. Due to its location by the northern docks, Bootle and Litherland were particularly vulnerable with the Luftwaffe striking the area in relentless attacks.

"On its worst night during the infamous May 1941 blitz - Saturday 3rd - many high explosive and incendiary bombs hit Bootle causing catastrophic damage.

“By the end of the eight nights of raids in May, there had been 257 fatalities and 261 people seriously injured. More than a thousand houses and other buildings were demolished or required demolition, and a staggering 75% of the houses had been affected. In addition, during that short period, 20,000 people had been made homeless.

"There was no gas, water, or electricity over large areas of the town, and 11 of the main sewers had been damaged. That scale of destruction really is unbelievable."

Les Dennis added: "We knew that if we were going to tell the story of the May blitz properly then we had to come to Bootle. The amount of punishment it took was extraordinary and thanks to Dave and his colleagues in the libraries team, that period in history will never be forgotten."

To view more images on Sefton's past, visit www.sefton-digital-archive.org/

And as Sefton Council have confirmed they will only support and fund 4 events each year, all in Southport, we can expect Sefton council's input to this to be absolutely ZILCH ! Just like the full scale event they had planned for Bootle for the last ever Battle of the Atlantic commemoration. When asked why this significant event in history was scrapped, Sefton council confirmed that the allocated monies had instead been diverted to the Southport food and drink festival.

Originally Posted by mike1979

And as Sefton Council have confirmed they will only support and fund 4 events each year, all in Southport, we can expect Sefton council's input to this to be absolutely ZILCH ! Just like the full scale event they had planned for Bootle for the last ever Battle of the Atlantic commemoration. When asked why this significant event in history was scrapped, Sefton council confirmed that the allocated monies had instead been diverted to the Southport food and drink festival.

Perhaps parking charges in Bootle could be raised to the same levels that motorists have to pay in Southport in order to fund some events for Bootle?

Anyway what has Bootle go to do with a programme called "Seven days that rocked Liverpool"?

The business rates collected from Bootle would have been sufficient to cover such an event, given that most of the boroughs business rates are generated in Bootle.

I guess it's a bit like the name 'Liverpool City Region' one glove fits all. The programme should have probably been called seven days that rocked, Liverpool, Seaforth, Birkenhead and Wallasey.

Originally Posted by mike1979

The business rates collected from Bootle would have been sufficient to cover such an event, given that most of the boroughs business rates are generated in Bootle.

But Sefton doesn't even get to retain all the business rates that are raised in the borough. Half of it goes to central government for redistribution.

Originally Posted by Ralphy Rylance

But Sefton doesn't even get to retain all the business rates that are raised in the borough. Half of it goes to central government for redistribution.

You're never going to get that bigotted wally to agree - I think it shows the moral calibre of the man that he chooses a thread with an background of such historical and social gravitas to make a feeble, dogmatic, sectarian and quasi-political point.
Shame on you.

I hope you are not talking about me !

In the absence of Sefton council organising anything to commemorate this, I have taken it on board and something is now going to be done. Shame on Sefton council !

Originally Posted by mike1979

In the absence of Sefton council organising anything to commemorate this,

But the original article says Sefton's libraries team have assisted in the making of the TV programme. Does that not count?

Originally Posted by Ralphy Rylance

Perhaps parking charges in Bootle could be raised to the same levels that motorists have to pay in Southport in order to fund some events for Bootle?

Anyway what has Bootle go to do with a programme called "Seven days that rocked Liverpool"?

Bootle was a major part of the Liverpool Blitz. All of the major modern Liverpool Docks were in Bootle, and as such major targets. as with the factories and warehouses that serviced those docks. The Gladstone Dock also served as a Royal Navy base for the convoy escorts. During the seven days of the Liverpool Blitz, Bootle suffered damages to 85% of its housing stock. Many of its people died in that dreadful time.

Originally Posted by Ralphy Rylance

But the original article says Sefton's libraries team have assisted in the making of the TV programme. Does that not count?

Not really. They could have interviewed anybody with knowledge on it.

Originally Posted by Greywolf

Bootle was a major part of the Liverpool Blitz. All of the major modern Liverpool Docks were in Bootle, and as such major targets. as with the factories and warehouses that serviced those docks. The Gladstone Dock also served as a Royal Navy base for the convoy escorts. During the seven days of the Liverpool Blitz, Bootle suffered damages to 85% of its housing stock. Many of its people died in that dreadful time.

Yes I know. My comment was tongue in cheek aimed at mike1979 who usually likes to tell us that Bootle is nothing to do with Liverpool.

It isn't. That's why in 1912 Lord Derby thwarted a 2nd attempt by Liverpool to annexe Bootle. That's why at Liverpool Parish Church there is a war memorial to the people of Liverpool and Bootle.

Anyway I've said my piece. I'm not turning this into another boundaries thread. I've got some war commemoration planning to do.

Originally Posted by mike1979

It isn't. That's why in 1912 Lord Derby thwarted a 2nd attempt by Liverpool to annexe Bootle. That's why at Liverpool Parish Church there is a war memorial to the people of Liverpool and Bootle.

Bootle has a more simple memorial to its dead. The Bedford Road School clock in Bootle Town Hall. I played my part in having it moved to the town hall when the old school closed. A senior council officer who liked to collect such things, had his eye on it. I went to that school and I had a word with the mayor of the time about it. Bobby Brennan took it further, and it was saved and is our simple memorial to the people of Bootle, who, like the clock, died in May 1941. My mother was bombed out of two homes during the blitz, and my grandparents one.

Thank you for playing your part in having the clock remain in the town hall.