Harry Brown

The Second World War touched every part of life and children like Harry Brown were not spared from its devastating reach.

In the early hours of March 15th 1941, Harry Brown, then 14 years old, faced the grim reality of war as he saw Leeds pounded by German bombs from his home on Miles Hill View. Harry was seriously injured during the raid and ended up in St James hospital. Luckily for him, he survived his injuries.

Although Harry survived the raid, it is likely to have had a lasting impact. The mental strain of the Blitz as serious for children as it was for their adult counterparts. Amanda Herbert-Davies (2017) argues that the experience of bombing made children much more aware of their own mortality and vulnerability (Hebert-Davies, 2017, p. 157).

"Various findings suggest that, at least in some sections of this country, almost all children, momentarily or for longer periods of time, have experienced some degree of fear or depression concerning the war" (Jersild, 1943, p. 471).

A family sat in the ruins of a bombed building.

Bomb damage Franklin Roosevelt 1940 ‘WWII; Homefront; England; Europe “Bomb damage”’

Marsh Lane Goods Station after bomb damage

1st sept 1940 damage to the Marsh Lane Goods Station after a bomb hit

We do not know what happened to Harry after the raid, but his traumatic experience was shared by other children during the Blitz.