Edward William Sutton was born on the 15th February 1892. In 1939 was residing at 47 Front Street, Whitley Bay. However, at the time of his death wife Mary? was residing at 147 Cauldwell Lane, Whitley Bay. Edward was in the A.R.P., as part of the Decontamination Squad.

He was killed whilst in an ambulance, by a bomb on the 10th April 1941, which dropped on 'Holmlands', [the First Aid Headquarters], Military Road, North Shields.

He was an attendant in the ambulance which received a direct hit, killing him and the driver Doris Ewbank

The raid was carried out by Luftflotte 2 intending to attack the docks, dockyards and industrial installations on the River Tyne down stream from Tynemouth to South Shields. Between 23.20 and 04.26 116 aircraft reached the target area. They dropped 152 tonnes of HE [High Explosive] and 50,280 incendiary bombs. Good results were anticipated as there were many fires and explosions. KG53 participated in this attack. I/KG30 and IIKG76 were doing moonlight attacks against shipping on the East Coast. Mine laying was being done by I/KG4. Long range night fighters was being flown offensively by I/NJG2 on the lookout for RAF fighters.

Luftflotte 2 was formed on the 1st February 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 2 in Braunschweig. On the 15th November 1941 it was ordered to Italy. It was commanded by General Major Hans Seidemann from the 10th October 1940 - 31st July 1942. It was disbanded on the 27th September 1944.

Over 8000 rounds of shells were fired that night, 3,113 were fired by the Tyne Defences.

The following account is from the official War Diary kept by the War Office recording the events day by day of the bombing in the North East.

Among the buildings hit was the Lifeboat Station near the Fish Quay and Preston Institute where the X-ray Department was demolished, and two patients and three male attendants were killed. A police box was destroyed, a first aid and wardens' post damaged, two members of the police reserve, a female ambulance driver [Doris Ewbank], and a naval rating [James Phillip Sheridan], lost their lives. An ambulance received a direct hit proceeding from Whitley Bay and trains in sidings at Monkseaton were set on fire. The death roll, thirty-three, included five children of under sixteen years of age. Fifteen people suffered serious injuries and eighty-six were slightly injured.

Northumberland Aviation Diary: Aviation Incidents from 1790-1999 ; Derek Walton; Norav Publications; 1999; ISBN 0 9536189 0 0

Edward William Sutton is remembered in Whitley Bay on W84.01

1939-1945 War Diary for the North East
The CWGC entry for Mr. Sutton