September 2023

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 9th September 2023

Spitfire Makers plaque number 7 is ready to go up!

Do you or family members have connections with Lowther’s Garage in Park Street, Shirley, SO16 4RJ? (Right next to Kwik Fit.)

A date for the unveiling of the latest Spitfire Makers blue plaque, commemorating the wartime use of the Lowther’s Garage premises as a Supermarine Tool Room, is yet to be arranged, but if you’d like to be there please let us know and we’ll keep you posted.

You can reply to this post, send a private message, or get in touch with us via the contact page on our website.

You can read more about the history of the garage on The Supermariners website.

Posted on Facebook by Alan Matlock – 24th September2023

83 years on…

We will remember them…

These are the floral tributes and messages we placed on the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the Supermarine factories in Southampton on 24th and 26th September, 1940.

With help from local heritage groups, and especially Dave Key of The Supermariners, we placed flowers and an information sheet at all the known final resting places of those Supermarine workers killed on those days.

At this time of the year we pause again to remember the Many who, by designing, building, maintaining and repairing, enabled the Few to fly.

With the Spitfire Makers plaques we are placing around the city we are commemorating the locations where production of the iconic Spitfire continued after the bombing.

For many those days still weigh heavily and we continue to make contact with family members of those who died or survived. Again today, one of our Spitfire Makers team will be placing tributes at the site of the Woolston Works, at Peartree Green where so many of the workers died on the 24th, and the graves of Peggy Moon, the only woman to die that day, and Douglas Cruickshank, aged just 14.

“The front line runs through the factories. The workers in them are soldiers with different weapons but the same courage.”

Winston Churchill in “the Few” speech, August 1940.

Some details of what happened and a list of the Supermarine workers who did not go home after work can be found on The Supermariners website – here…

Posted on Facebook by Robert Stidworthy – 24th September2023

Remembering the 83rd Anniversary of the Bombing of Supermarine Works in Woolston & Itchen Works.

On the 24th of September 1940 & 26th September 1940.

Today Poppy Crosses were put at various Supermarine Locations in Southampton to Honour the “Supermarine Fallen” Killed in these Raids on the Supermarine Works.

At Peartree Green, Hazel Road Woolston ( Itchen Works) and at Spitfire Court (near Woolston Works).

And placed on the Grave of only woman killed in the Raids on Supermarine.

” Peggy Moon ” (Known as the Girl in Green)

And also on Douglas Cruickshank Grave

These were placed there by me on behalf of: –

“Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust “

” Solent Sky Museum “

” The Supermariners “

” Southampton Roundel of the Spitfire Society”