A talk by Ed Adams, hosted by Smarden Local History Society.

On 24th March 1943 Ashford experienced the worst single air-raid, in terms of death and injury, to occur in Kent during the Second World War. Ashford was a key objective for the Luftwaffe on account of the Newtown railway works, which that morning was targeted by twelve fighter-bombers using the new tactic of ‘tip and run’. Some hit this objective; others, harassed by anti-aircraft fire, overshot the railway works and dropped their bombs indiscriminately over the town, firing cannon shells and machine-gun bullets as they went.

 Join us on Thursday week, the 18th of September, when Ed Adams, author of the recently-published Ashford at War, will present a comprehensive account of three minutes of terror, together with an analysis of the causes and consequences, using many rare and unseen photographs, including comparisons of scenes as they were then and are now.

As always, we'll be open for drinks at 6:45 pm at The Charter Hall and the talk begins at 7:30 pm. Guests are very welcome.