Memorial unveiled to victims of Broadgate bombing in Coventry

A memorial stone was unveiled today to the five people who lost their lives when a bomb exploded in Coventry more than 70 years ago.

On 2 August 1939, just nine days before the outbreak of the Second World War, a bomb was detonated on Broadgate, one of the city's main shopping streets.

The blast claimed five lives and injured seventy people. News reports at the time called it a 'scene of havoc', speaking of 'turmoil and confusion'.

It's the first time the victims of the attack have been commemorated in any way in Coventry. Those killed in the blast were:

• Elsie Ansell

• John Corbett Arnott

• James Clay

• Rex Gentle

• Gwilym Rowlands

The stone, carved with the names of the five victims, was unveiled on Unity Lawn at Coventry Cathedral this afternoon.

Families of the victims came together today to remember their relatives 76 years on from the explosion.

White roses were left on the stone, one flower to represent each of the victims in honour of their memory.