A PROJECT is being launched to mark the 80th anniversary of Second Wold War bombing raids over York.

While the Baedeker Raid of April 29, 1942 was undoubtedly the largest and most deadly of the raids, it is less well known that there were ten individual targeted-bombing raids on York between August 11, 1940 – when the first bomb in York Cemetery – and the last raid on September 24,1942.

Similarly, less well known is that bombs fell far beyond the train station and Guildhall in the city centre, reaping havoc and fear across all York suburbs.

Starting on Tuesday, August, 11 a new project will use the 80th anniversaries of raids to relive details of each raid in ‘real time’ on social media as well as provide a wealth of information online.

This rich material will draw upon archival research, including newspapers of the day as well as public contributions following a call for information in the press last year.

Such a positive public response has helped frame the project’s aim: to better understand and appreciate what physically still remains of the York blitz experience, as well as to record the memories of those who were children during the raids.

Perhaps for the first time, this project emphasises how the war affected York’s youngsters on the Home Front.

Duncan Marks of York Civic Trust said: “During the Covid-19 lockdown period, people have found great comfort in better discovering their local environment, including its heritage.

"As York’s WW2 experience is a city-wide story, it offers something for all communities."

Visit raidsoveryork.co.uk