Ellen Marnell

Ellen Marnell – Swansea‑Born Civilian Victim of the Hampstead Blitz

Ellen Marnell was born in 1910, the daughter of Nicholas and Ellen Marnell of 56 Grove Road, Clydach, Swansea. She spent her early life in the Swansea Valley before later moving to London for work.

Life in London During the Blitz

By 1940, Ellen was living at Welbeck House, Welbeck Street, in the St Marylebone district of Hampstead. This area, though not an industrial target, lay directly beneath the flight paths used by German bombers heading toward central London. As a result, Hampstead and West Hampstead suffered repeated air‑raid damage during the early months of the Blitz.

Air‑Raid Incident at 35 Holmdale Road

During one of these raids, Ellen was caught in an explosion at 35 Holmdale Road, West Hampstead. The neighbourhood experienced several high‑explosive bomb strikes in September 1940, as shown on the London County Council Bomb Damage Maps, which record widespread destruction across the surrounding streets.

Holmdale Road lies in an area that was repeatedly hit during the first weeks of the Blitz. Although not all individual house‑level incident logs survive in public form, the pattern of damage confirms that a high‑explosive bomb fell in or near the street, causing severe blast effects and civilian casualties. Ellen was among those seriously injured in this attack.

15^th September 1940 – A Major Day in the Blitz

Ellen died on 15^th September 1940, a date now recognised as Battle of Britain Day. On this day, the Luftwaffe launched one of its largest coordinated assaults on London, sending large formations of bombers and fighters across the capital.

Although the main targets were airfields and central districts, bombs fell widely across residential areas, including Hampstead. The intensity of the attacks resulted in numerous civilian casualties across north and northwest London, consistent with the injuries Ellen sustained at Holmdale Road.

Death and Burial

Ellen was taken to Hampstead General Hospital, where she died of her injuries later the same day. She was buried at Hampstead Cemetery, close to the community in which she had been living at the time of her death