As a consequence – and being on the way to London – it was often targeted by the Nazis. Portsmouth officially suffered 67 air raids between July 1940 and May 1944, three of these categorised as major attacks. The three major raids took place on August 24 1940 during the Portsmouth Blitz, January 10 1941 and March 10 1941.
In this selection you will see damage at Portsmouth Harbour Station, with a train off the rails, an air raid siren outside Portsmouth Guildhall and the damage to it after the raid.
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You will also see a large hole in the gas holder at Rudmore after it was bombed.
MORE RETRO: Portsmouth during the blitz - picture special | Historic pictures of Portsmouth hospitals and their staff
![Train damged at Harbour Railway Station](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk3NDFjYTI3LTgyYTgtNDhmYy1iOGFjLTE4OGVlMDZhM2M5ODo0ZDRiODU0ZS1kY2JmLTRkZTctOGUwMy0xNmI0MjYxNmRhYjg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
9. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
Train damged at Harbour Railway Station Photo: The News archive
![The second air raid on Portsmouth, August 12, 1940, and the Harbour station is hit](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjViNmZlODc4LWFmN2YtNDI4NS05ZGYxLTAwYjA4NWNlMjdmMDo0M2JmODhhMC01NDg4LTRiZmQtYjljYy1lMjhkZWUzOWRhMGI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
10. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
The second air raid on Portsmouth, August 12, 1940, and the Harbour station is hit Photo: The News archive
![The biggest air raid on Portsmouth during the Blitz in the Second World War.Palmerston Road, Southsea, during The Blitz.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjlhMmFiOWU2LWIzMjQtNDkxMS05NDRiLWJiNGE4ZDY3MDg3MzphMTg3NTdkNS0xODE4LTQ0ZmEtYTY3NC01NGNiYTY1MjY3OWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
The biggest air raid on Portsmouth during the Blitz in the Second World War.Palmerston Road, Southsea, during The Blitz. Photo: The News archive
![The remains of the Guildhall after the air raid of january 10, 1941](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjEwMmNmN2EyLTVlNDMtNDJjOC04MDY4LTFiM2UxMmFkMWYwZjplZDhmYjI4NC0xNjE4LTQwMTEtOGJjOC1hYTI1NWQ2OTkzMjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
12. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
The remains of the Guildhall after the air raid of january 10, 1941 Photo: The News archive