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During the Second World War, the former Mansfield Hotel was used as accommodation for female Naval staff. It was here that a tragic incident took place on 23 November 1940, during a German bombing raid.
During a German bombing raid on 23 November 1940, a group of Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS, also known as Wrens) staff were billeted here, due to the close proximity of RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus).
At around 7pm, as the women gathered in the mess for their evening meal, the building was hit by a stray anti-aircraft shell that fell through the roof, crashed into the mess, and exploded.
10 WRNS were killed, 13 others injured, and only 1 person escaped uninjured. Eight of the WRNS are buried together in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Gosport. The plaque says:
‘On the 23rd November 1940, during a heavy night air attack on the
area, this building, which was used as accommodation for WRNS
based at HMS Daedalus, was the scene of a tragic accident. A stray
anti-aircraft shell penetrated the roof and exploded in the dining
room killing the following personnel’
Wren Writer M.V Armstrong (36)
Wren Steward J.M Bennett (19)
Wren Writer M.V Black (23)
Wren W. Blackett (19)
Wren Steward V.M Cowley (18)
Leading Wren Steward N. Gregory (32)
Wren B.M Northfield (19)
Leading Wren Writer H. Pearson (26)
Wren Cook N.K Reynolds (23)
Wren D.M Wardell (22)
The property is now a care home, but on 23 November 1996, a plaque was unveiled at the site of the tragedy to commemorate those who lost their lives.
48 Milvil Road, Lee-on-the-Solent, PO13 9LX