It was not until the end of the Second World War that the scale of enemy attacks in Spalding and the surrounding area finally became known, as revealed in this article from the 18 November 1945 edition of the Lincolnshire Standard.
“IT is now possible to reveal the story of air-raids in Spalding and district and the East Elloe area since the outbreak of war, together with the totals for the Holland Division of the County.
In the Spalding urban and rural area there were 41 incidents, involving 116 high explosive bombs, 34 of which were in Spalding. There were several hundred incendiary bombs, and in the parish of Crowland, but outside the village, there were two parachute mines. The casualties numbered five killed and 25 injured, all being in the town of Spalding.
In East Elloe there were 37 incidents, involving 140 high explosive and several hundred incendiary bombs. Two parachute mines were dropped in fields in Stonegate, Gedney, on July 7th, 1941, when three people were slightly injured. These were the only casualties caused in the East Elloe area by enemy action, but on July 1st, 1942. Two ladies at Sutton Bridge were seriously injured when one of our planes crashed in a field just off New Road.
The total number of bombs dropped in the whole of the Holland Division, including Boston, were: 695 high explosive, several thousand incendiary bombs, including 30 oil bombs, 10 parachute mines, and five containers of antipersonnel bombs, The total casualties for the Division were 18 killed and 84 injured.
It was rather a coincident that Long Sutton, regarded as one of the most efficient and enthusiastic areas from the point of view of Civil Defence in the Holland Division, has not had a single incident.
The biggest crater among some very large ones in various parts of South Holland was found at Gosberton Bank, this being 100 feet across.”
For ease of reference, the statistics contained in the report have been tabulated. See attached image.
