Ethel Price – Civilian Casualty of the 18 September 1940 Air Raids

Family Background

Ethel Price was born in 1914 and was the daughter of Morgan and Ellen Price, of 109 Lane Road, Clydach, Swansea. The Price family were part of the close‑knit Clydach community, where Morgan and Ellen raised their children during a period marked by industrial change and the growing tensions that preceded the Second World War.

Residence Before the Blitz

By the time of the 1939 Register, Ethel was living at 99 Pound Lane, Middlesex. Like many young women who moved to the London area for work, she found herself in the capital during the escalating air‑raid threat of 1940, as the Luftwaffe intensified its campaign against Britain’s major cities.

The Air Raid of 18 September 1940

The air raid of 18^th September 1940 occurred during one of the most intense early phases of the London Blitz. By mid‑September, London had already endured nearly two weeks of continuous bombing following the massive attack of 7 September 1940, which marked the beginning of the Blitz. The Luftwaffe had now shifted to a strategy of sustained day‑and‑night attacks, aiming to break civilian morale and cripple the capital’s infrastructure.

During the morning of 18^th September, several enemy reconnaissance flights passed over London between 07:00 and 08:00, helping the Luftwaffe assess previous damage and identify new targets. These flights were followed by probing daylight raids, taking advantage of breaks in the weather to launch fast, targeted attacks.

The most destructive phase came after nightfall, when London was subjected to heavy night‑time bombing. Fires, collapsing buildings, and widespread destruction were reported across multiple districts. The West End, including areas around Oxford Street and Marylebone Road, suffered significant damage. Notably, the John Lewis store on Oxford Street was struck and burned, placing nearby residential areas—such as those where Ethel lived—at heightened risk.

This combination of daylight reconnaissance, evening raids, and intense night bombing made 18^th September 1940 one of the most dangerous days of the early Blitz.

Death on 18^th September 1940

Ethel Price lost her life on 18^th September 1940, becoming one of the many civilians killed during these relentless attacks. Her death reflects the indiscriminate nature of the Blitz, which struck homes, workplaces, and streets without warning, claiming the lives of ordinary residents across London