On the night of 14th / 15th November 1940, much of Coventry was flattened by the Luftwaffe, Almost 600 people were killed and 4300 homes destroyed. Apart from being a historic city, Coventry was a major industrial centre although that heritage has in many ways been forgotten. The destruction included the Triumph factory. Contract C7828 for 1655 5SWs was in full production. The RAOC Chilwell records are incomplete, but the simple statement "Received 1,318. Balance cancelled owing to enemy action" says so much with very few words. C8079 for 3SWs was also cancelled early.

Lest We Forget.

A timely remembrance Rik. From memory there are only about 7 known 5SW's on the register. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

My father was there at the time, working in a factory making aero engines...He had to spend one night a week up on the roof of the factory with his long handled 'scoop' to remove any incendiaries that landed there...Long after I was born ('54) we still had that scoop, with a shortened handle, that we used as a coal shovel....Although not from the area he stayed after the war, working at Alfred Herberts, Armstrong Siddely and others...and that's how I came to be born in Coventry...I guess I've got Hitler to thank for that bit of my story!!:smile: ....Ian