One tragic event occurred on September 18th when high-explosive Luftwaffe bombs crashed down onto Walton Gaol, resulting in the loss of 22 inmates as the bombs demolished a wing of the prison.
Police and prison warders used chisels, crow bars and sledge hammers to break through the thick cell walls to release prisoners trapped under fallen masonry.
The prison would be attacked again in the May Blitz. After this it was decided to remove prisoners to other gaols until the end of the war.
Such was the extent of the damage, that the body of one casualty was not found until 11 years later when rubble was finally cleared.
The bomb damage to Walton Prison