2. Rescue

Surveying the damage. Image courtesy of West Sussex County Council Library Service. (34kb)


Bulletin issued to Sainsbury's branches on 13 July, 1943. (77kb)


Letter to members of staff on national service, October 1943. (68kb)


Roll of Honour issued by J.Sainsbury Ltd in 1945. (23kb)

By the time the emergency services arrived many buildings including the cinema were burning furiously.

The Civil Defence and Heavy Rescue teams together with servicemen and civilians began to dig away at the rubble in the hope of finding survivors.

Laurie lay buried under the rear of the shop. Although badly damaged, this part of the building remained standing.

The final casualties numbered 108 killed and 235 injured, one of the highest civilian losses in the country.