Mildred Thomas – Civilian Casualty of the Early Westminster Bombings

Family Background

Mildred Thomas was born in 1900 and became the adopted daughter of Mrs. Dudden, who lived at 93 Powys Avenue, Townhill, Swansea. Her adoption placed her within a stable and established Townhill household, though little is recorded about her early childhood.

Residence Before the Blitz

By the time of the 1939 Register, Mildred was residing at 58 Paddington Street, St Marylebone, Westminster, Middlesex. This central London location—close to major commercial districts, government offices, and busy transport routes—left residents particularly exposed during the early air raids of the Second World War.

The Bombing of 17^th July 1940

The air raid of 17^th July 1940 occurred during the opening phase of the Luftwaffe’s campaign against London, weeks before the Blitz officially began in September. These early attacks were sudden and often targeted central districts to disrupt daily life and test British air defences. On this date, bombs fell across parts of Westminster, including the area around Marble Arch, one of London’s busiest junctions linking Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road. The district was crowded with workers, shoppers, and commuters, making any strike especially dangerous. Although less documented than later Blitz raids, the attack caused multiple casualties and damage to buildings and streets around Marble Arch, demonstrating how vulnerable central London already was in the summer of 1940.

Death at Marble Arch – 17^th July 1940

Mildred Thomas was among those killed during this early Westminster bombing. She died at Marble Arch on 17^th July 1940, becoming one of the first civilian casualties in central London before the full intensity of the Blitz descended on the capital. Her death reflects the indiscriminate nature of these early air raids, which struck without warning and claimed the lives of ordinary residents going about their daily routines