Merseyside Blitzed

by Neil Holmes

LIVERPOOL IS THE HEART of Merseyside, but surrounding the city on both banks of the Mersey are major towns such as Birkenhead, Bootle and Wallasey that have a proud history and identity of their own. Although their fate was and remains entwined with that of their larger neighbour people often unfairly overlook them. Their experiences during World War Two should not act as a footnote to the events in Liverpool. The bombs that fell on these towns were not dropped by accident as they contained docks, shipyards and vital industries of their own. Between them these areas suffered over 1,200 deaths due to the air raids. They also refused to bow to the pressure put upon them, carrying on despite the terrible impact the raids were having on their family, friends, homes and places of work Like Liverpool the faces of Wallasey, Birkenhead and especially Bootle were dramatically altered by the raids. Today's generation have little to remind them of the scars that the Luftwaffe left. By comparing the wartime image to the modern viewpoint this book gives the reader a link to the region's experiences that mere statistics can never convey. It completes the story begun in Liverpool Blitzed, and inspires anyone to reflect on the sacrifice and bravery of the whole region.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

I was born on the Wirral in 1979 and still live there today, but work in Liverpool as a civil servant. I have studied military history for fifteen years and the history of the Merseyside region for six. My interest in local history and photography led me to research Liverpool’s wartime experiences, culminating in the publication of Liverpool Blitzed: 70 Years On in 2011. I have spent the last year in the local archives, collecting wartime images and travelling around the region taking modern photographs for my second book, Merseyside Blitzed, which was published in 2012. I am currently working on several projects that I hope will become future books.