IN GLADSTONE ROAD Wednesday December 23rd 1914. - THE BOMBARDMENT OF SCARBOROUGH
As the second bombardment commenced shells burst in rapid succession in the Gladstone road district. The roof of a house in Holborn-terrace was hit and immediately afterwards the semi detached houses 53(Mrs Hinchey) and 55(Mrs Hyde) appeared to be struck by consecutive shots. The dormer window and roof of a bedroom at no 55 were stripped off, the fireplaces of that room and the room below were blown out and only a single window remained in the house. Three of the occupants, Mr N Derwent (Bradford), Miss M White, and Miss W Hyde, were running from the house at the time and Mr Derwent had his coat sleeve torn at the shoulder, elbow and cuff by a piece of shell. The other three occupants Mrs Hyde, Mr F Hyde, and Miss Wade escaped unhurt. A pillow on the bed was hit which had just been left, was riddled with what appeared to be shrapnel. Although everything in the room, and most other rooms, was destroyed, a clock - a recent present, which stood on the mantleshelf of the fireplace (blown out) was afterwards found buried under bricks., but unhurt. A leather brush case was firmly embedded in the wooden window-sill. At about the same time houses in Norwood Street, the repository, and the Gladstone-road Boys School were hit.
A large number of people escaping from the Gladstone-road district went by way of the Whitby Railway into Falsgrave. One pathetic sight was that of an old lady Mrs Laycock, aged nearly 90, being assisted from no 53 Gladstone-road, which was partially hit. Later she was able to go to York.
