Died: Due to Anti Aircraft shell at 2 Coton Road
Address / Local links: 2 Coton Road, Welling
Family / Relatives: Daughter of Mr and Mrs A Watkins of 405 Hurst Road. Wife of Aubrey Harold Lockyer
Other Information: A Shop Assistant
From January to May 1944, around 500 German aircraft took part in ‘Operation Steinbock’ (Capricorn). There were 14 raids on London and more on Bristol, Hull and Cardiff. Londoners came to call these attacks the ‘Little Blitz’, or ‘Baby Blitz’. Altogether over 1,500 people were killed and around 3,000 seriously injured.
One of these casualties, who died on 19th April 1944, was Dorothy May Lockyer – “Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Watkins, of 405 Hurst Road”.
Records say that she died due to a falling AA (Anti Aircraft) shell landing on her home at 2 Coton Road. She was found at 2.30am. (A faint entry on Dorothy’s burial records says ‘died Leybourne Grange County Hospital’ (West Malling) suggesting that she died of injuries received some time after the air raid.
Born in 1903 Dorothy was daughter of Arthur Edward Watkins (a farm hand) and Harriet Elizabeth Watkins – in 1911 the family are listed as living at 18 Bethel Road – Dorothy married Aubrey Harold Lockyer at St. Michael’s East Wickham in September 1923 (see copy of the wedding register).
Bexley Civic casualties records do not indicate much more about Dorothy’s fate – “Body claimed by husband for burial” and “Rings 2 Received 19.4.1944 – 1 dress ring, 1 wedding ring”
Dorothy was buried at Bexleyheath Cemetery on 25th April – Probate records show that she left £282/7s/11d to her husband Aubrey Harold Lockyer, a sheet metal works charge-hand.
Dorothy was 41 years old.
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Commemorated
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Dorothy May Lockyer, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.