| The event for which our village, Campile, is most famous for is the bombing.
This happened on Monday August 26th, 1940 between
1.50pm and 2.10pm.Three local girls were killed. Ireland
was neutral and had no part in the war. The three who
died were Mary Ellen Kent (35), her sister
Catherine Kent(25) and Kathleen Hurley(25). The
Co-op was badly destroyed. The dining room or restaurant
got the worst of the blast. Part of the train track was
tore up. Luckily only three people were killed as others
had just left the restaurant or gone home for lunch.The
first bomb was the fatal explosion which killed the
three girls. It hit the restaurant and creamery part of
the Co-op. The second bomb went through the roof and
started a fire. A third bomb hit the window of the co-op
and damaged the railway line. The fourth bomb landed in
a field and left a massive crater or hole in the ground.
It is said that two other bombs did not explode. |
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The crater made by the bomb near
the railway line
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| The stationmaster's house
was badly damaged and his hens were killed. It is said
that slates went through the air like pieces of paper as
did gates, doors and glass.The bombs made a terrible
roar people said. Lots of people like Kitty Shannon had
lucky escapes. |
| We also read about a lorry
full of soldiers coming to help from New Ross. They
overturned at the bad bend in Ballybrazil which is very close to our
school and three of them were badly injured. |
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This is a bit of the bomb Tom
Grennan from Ballykerogue gave us to look at in school
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| There are many reasons
told why Campile was bombed. Some say that English
soldiers were found with butter wrappers from the
creamery by the Germans. Others say the Germans were
lost and dropped their load. The third reason is that
they thought they were over a Welsh town. |
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Josephine and Francis
Mc.Crohan,daughters of the stationmaster Paul,had a
lucky escape.The roof of the stationhouse was badly
damaged and their fowl were killed.
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Another picture of the damage
caused by the bombs
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Co-Op in all its glory 2003
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Memorial Plaque on Co-Op
wall
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What
Campile is like to-day
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The Co-op had to be re-built but the creamery wasn't. The railway was also
repaired and the other damaged buildings. We have big
shops like Centra and the Co-op is now with Glanbia. There are
three pubs. The Co-op has a memorial sign up for the
three girls who were killed. There are four housing
estates in Campile. There's a chip shop, a soccer pitch,
a parochial hall, and two hair salons.We also have a
Garda station,post office, a chemist and a drapery. Our
village looks much better now than it did on that day in
1940 long ago.
If I was in Campile when it happened I would have been
terrified as the explosions were very loud. Campile was
ruined that day and everyone was sleepless that night.
It was a terrible day.
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| This story of the
Campile bombing was mostly done by Katie C. Lisa W. and
Kate B. in Mr.Crowley's 4th Class. May 2003
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