by Deborah Gingell

A solitary bell rang out across Templecombe railway station to mark the 80th anniversary of the Second World War bombing raid that struck terror into the heart of the sleepy village and killed 14 local people.
On September 5 1942 a German Ju88 bomber dropped four bombs near the station, a busy strategic rail junction at that time.
Twelve people were killed instantly and two more died later as the station’s buildings, track and nearby areas were devastated in the attack. The blast injured many more, some seriously.

Shaftesbury town crier and railway enthusiast Cliff Skey came up with the idea of marking the event and brought together relatives of those who died for a poignant ceremony on the station’s platform.
He donned an air raid warden suit, complete with tin helmet, gas mask and first aid box, and rang his town crier’s bell in memory of those that were lost.
The Rev Kevin Rogers led prayers for the victims, many of whom are buried in Templecombe churchyard.
Mr Skey also recited a poem written by local resident Nick Hudson and oversaw the planting of a peace rose in the station garden in the presence of about 60 people.
He said: “I was reading a book and noticed a bit about the bombing, and suddenly realised we were coming up to the 80th anniversary.
“I went and spoke with the vicar who was very interested but couldn’t get hold of the station committee, so left a note on the footbridge, which they found and then contacted me.
“It was a very moving memorial service, and it was good to mark such an important event in history.”
He said Templecombe railway station was targeted because it was one of the most important marshalling yards in the region where freight wagons were organised into trains.
“In the 1960s it was 14 tracks across, with two station buffets, a footbridge with a lift, two engine sheds and had a staff of 167 people, and was on the major route to many south-west stations,” Mr Skey said.

Town crier and railway enthusiast Cliff Skey donned an air raid warden suit, complete with tin helmet, gas mask and first aid box, and rang his town crier’s bell in memory of those that were lost at the memorial service attended by scores of people.

The bombing happened about 9.15am on Saturday September 5 1942, when a lone Ju88 bomber attacked Templecombe and its station in an attempt to damage the rail junction.
The pilot misjudged his run slightly and the bombs intended for the railway line and buildings succeeded in hitting the track only once but caused extensive damage to homes and station buildings, involving serious loss of life.
The first bomb fell close to a terrace of houses in School Lane where Church Garth now stands and was followed by another which landed at the western end of the terrace near the main road to Wincanton.
These two bombs destroyed two houses resulting in the loss of four lives.
The third bomb fell close to the Somerset and Dorset tracks at the platform and the fourth hit the Southern Railway blocking both lines and causing the death of eight railway men.
During the attack damage was caused to the station and terrace of houses on the north side of the Southern Railway line, Bridge House, St Mary’s Church and the United Reformed Church – known then as the Congregational Church – and two hotels in the village.
Both railway lines were blocked along with the A357 to Wincanton and many other houses and buildings sustained damage. The Co-op store in Church Hill was also set on fire by the second bomb.

Town crier and railway enthusiast Cliff Skey donned an air raid warden suit, complete with tin helmet, gas mask and first aid box, and rang his town crier’s bell in memory of those that were lost at the memorial service attended by scores of people.