Eight killed as Portsmouth fort is bombed | Nostalgia

It had largely been a disastrous raid for the Luftwaffe.
By Deborah Croker
Published 10th Feb 2021, 19:51 BST
Bomb damage to one of the bastions at Fort Cumberland after it was bombed by the Luftwaffe on August 26, 1940.Bomb damage to one of the bastions at Fort Cumberland after it was bombed by the Luftwaffe on August 26, 1940.
Bomb damage to one of the bastions at Fort Cumberland after it was bombed by the Luftwaffe on August 26, 1940.

But one target at Eastney felt the wrath of the German air force – Fort Cumberland.

On August 26, 1940, 50 Heinkel He 111 bombers escorted by more than 100 Messerschmitt 109 and 110 fighter planes flew across the Channel to Portsmouth.

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The Luftwaffe dropped 78 bombs within the narrow confines of the old 18th century fortress.

More than 200 marines were at the fort which was being used as an overflow base. But only one of the bombs caused loss of life, when it hit a perimeter room.

Eight men were killed and six wounded.

Related topics:PortsmouthEastney

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