On the night of 3/4 May 1942, just after midnight, 20 bombers arrived over the town centre, and in 70 minutes devastated the town centre and Newtown area. Bombs fell in High St, Sidwell St and Fore St, starting fires in the houses and shops there, which were soon out of control. Fire brigade and emergency services struggled to tame the fires, under the threat of unexploded ordnance and despite strafing by German bombers.[1] Reinforcements from the fire services at Torquay and Plymouth arrived to help; eventually 195 appliances and 1,080 personnel were employed to bring the fires under control, which was largely achieved by 5 May, though sporadic outbreaks continued until mid-day of 7 May.[1] 30 acres of the city were devastated, 156 people were killed and 583 injured.

Cornforth, David (10 March 2014). “The Exeter Blitz – April and May 1942”. Exeter Memories. Wikipedia.

Fifty years later,

Time passes, things change and people heal.

It’s day eleven of Becky’s #timesquare challenge for December, and there’s still time to join in