In Seaton Valley (Earsdon) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave with a private headstone of LT/LX 30197 Leading Steward Matthew Hubbuck serving on H.M.S. Europa with the Royal Naval Patrol Service who died 12/05/1943.
The husband of Martha Hubbock, of Backworth.
The headstone reads:
In loving memory of
my dear husband
Matthew Hubbuck L.S. R.N.
killed by enemy action
May 12th 1943 aged 30 years.
Also my second dear husband
Raymond Ord
died April 13th 1970 aged ?87 years.
Matthew Hubbuck was killed on the 12th May 1943 by a bombing attack. 12th May 43 21.00 hrs. 25 FW {Fokker Wolfe] 190s attacked the town. Crossing the coast they immediately opened up machine gun and cannon fire. The first bomb dropped cut the electric current and the sirens failed. They came in over the north side of town and turned, crossing out over the south.
22 HEs, 500kgs, with a delayed action fuse of 5 seconds, were dropped. Direct hits on 4 Corton Road, Jubilee Stores, High Street, Watson’s Garage, High Street, 148 High Street, 322 Raglan Street and Wildes School.
One bomb dropped 7 feet from a gasholder at the gasworks. Direct hits on 32 Alexandra Road, (this one bounced from London Road directly over the police station), Norfolk Street and Essex Road.
‘While passing through Alexandra Road and Milton Road, the blast threw me off my cycle. On recovering amongst much debris, I arrived at the police station. The blast had taken windows, frames doors, etc out into Regent Road.’
Report from Police War Reservist Eardley Neech
Source : The Blitz After the Battle Vol 3.
The attack was carried out by Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 on the town of Lowestoft at 9.00 on the evening of Wednesday 12th May 1943. They were flying in flights of four aircraft abreast, at a height of no more than 20 metres. The ‘Raid 500’ was spotted when two miles away by the Royal Observer Corps Posts at Corton and Pakefield.
The raid was over in less than 20 seconds.
Total casualties were 32 killed 23 serious 28 minor.
Matthew Hubbuck is remembered in our List of Ships’ Crews.
