Harry Skippon – Civilian Victim of the Bristol Blitz

Early Life and Family

Harry Skippon was born in 1901 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, the son of Robert Skippon and Mary Elizabeth Reynolds. He spent his earliest years in the industrial Midlands before the family later moved to South Wales.

1911 Census

By 1911, the Skippon family were living at 63 Prestwood Road, Heath Town, Wolverhampton. Robert, then 27, was employed as a Motor Engine Fitter, while Mary Elizabeth, aged 24, managed the household. Their two young sons, Thomas, aged 3, and Harry, aged 1, completed the family home. The household reflected the typical working‑class structure of the period, with Robert engaged in skilled mechanical work and Mary caring for their children.

1921 Census

A decade later, the family had relocated to Borough Road, Loughor, Carmarthenshire, marking a significant move from the Midlands to South Wales. In 1921, Robert, now 39, was working as a Mechanic, and Mary, aged 36, continued to undertake domestic duties. The family had grown considerably: Thomas (13), Harry (11), and Frederick (9) were all attending school, while younger siblings Nellie (4) and Bessie (2 months) were at home. The move to Loughor placed the family within a community shaped by industry and the nearby tinplate works.

1939 Register

By 1939, Harry was living independently at 13 Douglas Road, Horfield, Bristol. His presence in Bristol—an important centre for wartime manufacturing—placed him close to one of the most strategically significant industrial sites in Britain: the Bristol Aeroplane Works at Filton.

The Filton Raid of 24^th September 1940

The Luftwaffe attack on 24^th September 1940 was one of the earliest and most destructive raids on the Bristol area. Filton, home to the Bristol Aeroplane Company, was a major target due to its production of aircraft vital to the Battle of Britain. On that day, a large formation of Heinkel He 111 bombers, escorted by Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighters, crossed the Channel and made a direct, coordinated assault on the factory complex. Their objective was to cripple Britain’s aircraft output at a critical moment in the war. The raid caused devastating damage to the works and surrounding districts, killing nearly 100 employees of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and injuring many more. Homes near the factory were also struck, resulting in further civilian casualties. The scale and precision of the attack shocked the region and marked Filton as one of the Luftwaffe’s most significant early‑war successes against British industry.

Death at the Bristol Aeroplane Works

Harry Skippon was among those who lost their lives during this devastating raid. He was killed on 24^th September 1940 at the Bristol Aeroplane Works, Filton, becoming one of the many civilian victims of the early Bristol Blitz. His death reflects the heavy toll the Luftwaffe’s industrial bombing strategy inflicted on both workers and residents in the region