Killed By Enemy Action

 70 years ago on the 10th February 1943 will be remembered as a tragic day in Readings history. On that fateful day a German Bomber flew in over Reading dropping bombs and firing a machine gun at people on the ground. Four bombs fell in a line killing 41 people most of which were in a restaurant called the Peoples Pantry.

A little distance away two little girls  Violet Brown age 10  and Betty Parsons age 11 must have heard the air raid siren and ran to hide in an arcade which unfortunately for them took a near hit. The wall near them collapsed and they were caught under the falling masonry and killed. 

 

 

They were buried beside each other in Reading Cemetery along with the other casualties of the raid. 

 

At the end of the row you will find this headstone. It says

"Here lie the unidentified remains or two persons killed by enemy action 10th Feb 1943 Rest Eternal Grant unto Them O Lord"

 

 

The people who died on that tragic day lay almost forgotten today, they will be remembered as a new memorial That was unveiled near where they all died.

  RIP