Some snippets of news taken from the Scarborough papers after the German bombardment in 1914
Houses in Belvoir-terrace and The Crescent suffered greatly. Mrs Keble of No. 6 Belvoir terrace, and invalid, was lying ill in the house, but fortunately was not hurt, although the house was very much damaged, huge holes gaping in the front - not an uncommon site at other places. No 8 The Crescent (Mr Micklethwaites) presented a very wrecked appearance but here, again, fortunately no one was hurt. Huge portions of stone were thrown about like peas. No 9 The Crescent and adjoining houses were also damaged
Trooper J Davis, of the Yorks. Hussars, when he heard the first shot and saw part of the wall on the Castle Hill fall, with reat presence of mind, got his comrades together, and into a defensive position then hurried to the Grand Hotel to inform the Officers, already coming out.
At the time of writing seven injured persons, including two children, were receiving treatment at the emergency hospital at Westborough Wesleyan Chapel. These included a Territorial, a member of the 5th Yorks., on duty at the Elecric Power works, and he is severely wounded about the legs and arms. At the time of writing an operation was being performed.
The names of the injured were not available at the time of writing.
With both legs shattered, the injured 5th Yorks Territorial at the Electric works, managed to crawl along a passage to his comrades. The first thing he asked for was a cigarette.
The circumstances of the death of the boy Taylor were very sad. He had been a Boy Scout, and was well known in scouting circles. His father, after the first booming of the guns were heard, had called him up. On going downstairs he asked what was the matter , and stating that he wanted to get a paper, a "Scarborough Pictorial," he ran out. His father just afterwards thought it would be better for him to remain, and went to call after him, but the lad was then out of sight. He then heard that he had been killed near Albion Street.
Mr Nicholl, the tramway manager, is the possessor of a bomb proof cave, formed out of a large stock of tramlines, which he and his family, together with a few friends used on Wednesday morning.
Mr J.R. Raley informs us that eight or nine shells fell at Cayton, but no damage was done. They all alighted in the fields. One fell close to the waterworks and two behind the Wesleyan chapel
A postcard has been received in Dunfermline from a seaman on board one of the destroyers which engaged the German ships bombarding the Yorkshire coast. He says that four British destroyers came into contact with the Germans, and that if the latter had been able to "shoot for nuts" they would have sunk the British vessels, which looked like rowing boats compared with the cruisers. His vessel was holed by a shot., and had to make for harbour.
The Castle hill and walls presented a sight to be remembered. In two or three places, the 10 foot walls were shattered as though mere timber.
The Old Beacon, which was used hundreds of years ago to warn the people, was blown clean away and found reposing in a crumpled up condition half way down the Dykes.
Another curious incident occurred at Mr Dalton's book shop in Newborough. Only one book fell from the shelves and that was "Imperial Germany."
