Bingley woman among 26 to be commemorated after Great Yarmouth bombing

On the morning of May 11, 1943, what is described as the "biggest loss of female army life in British history" took place, when 26 servicewomen were killed by bombs dropped by enemy Focke-Wulf fighter planes on their quarters in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. Only one woman survived.

Kathleen Gaunt (Image: Submitted by Warwick Smith)

Kathleen Gaunt, of Bingley, a Private serving the ATS, was one of the victims of the attack. She was only 21 years old.

She is buried in Bingley Cemetery and special commemoration service will be held there tomorrow (Sunday, May 14), in conjunction with a main service in Great Yarmouth as well as many others across the country to honour the 26 servicewomen who died that day.

Kathleen Gaunt and her cousin Joan Bottomley joined a march past Bradford Town Hall (Image: Warwick Smith and Imperial War Museum)

One of Kathleen's second cousins, Warwick Smith, will attend tomorrow's Bingley service along with Kathleen's great niece Emma Wood and her two daughters.

Mr Smith shared some memories and photos of Kathleen with the T&A.

Mr Smith said: "My mother Joan Bottomley and Kathleen Gaunt joined the ATS together as they were very close cousins.

Joan Bottomley, cousin of Kathleen Gaunt (Image: Warwick Smith)

"I have a photo of them marching past Bradford Town Hall. I also have photo of Kathleen taken in her last leave home to Bingley before she was killed.

"On that visit home, she revealed she had just become engaged and she left her new engagement ring with her mother for safekeeping.

Kathleen Gaunt with her mum, dad and little sister (Image: Warwick Smith)

"Family legend has it that her father Harry (a World War I veteran as four of her uncles were) was so heartbroken he died of a broken heart just a month later. Harry is buried with Kathleen.

"I also have my mum's World War II autograph book full of wonderful poems, drawings from World War II servicemen.

"There is also a message from Kathleen along with a pressed rose petal.

"Mum would look at Kathleen’s signature every year at this time all through her own life."

A memorial to the victims of the Great Yarmouth bombing (Image: Warwick Smith)

Eighty years on from the fatal bombing at Great Yarmouth, the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association (WRAC Association) organised the first coordinated event to remember and honour the 26 women who died while serving in the ATS. The Auxiliary Territorial Service became the WRAC in 1949.

Eric A Beckett, 87, gave an eyewitness account of the Great Yarmouth bombing when he was an eight-year-old boy.

He said: “Coming towards us was what looked like a torpedo, it was almost touching the sea. At that moment, we heard explosions further south… I peered over to see a building collapsing across the North Drive with lots of dust coming from it.

“Then all went quiet, except for explosions around the town. Outside was a lady covered from head to toe in soot - it was our mother looking for us. It wasn’t until a day or so later that we realised that the house we saw collapsing across the North Drive was the same house where we had played games with the ATS girls.

“That so many had died shocked us - those ATS girls, who gave us so much joy, have always had a special place in my heart.”