A blue plaque has been unveiled in North Shields to mark the bravery of an unsung war-time hero, Mrs Ellen Lee.
In the early hours of the 4 May 1941, a single bomb from a lone enemy aircraft was dropped on Wilkinson’s Lemonade Factory in North Shields, destroying the public air raid shelter inside.
Tragically, 107 men, women and children were killed during the bombing, making the factory the scene of one of the heaviest casualties in North East England during the entirety of WWII.
Instrumental to the rescue efforts following the bombing was ARP warden, Mrs Ellen Lee. As ARP warden, it was Mrs Lee’s job to open the air raid shelter when sirens sounded and count the people entering and leaving it.
On 4 May, Mrs Lee opened the shelter and assisted 192 people to enter. She then descended to the second of the rooms in the basement area of the building.
After the bomb hit the factory, Mrs Lee reassured the frightened people inside, using her torch to look for a route to safety. Undeterred by the fallen rubble blocking the exit, Mrs Lee repeatedly charged the obstructed door until an opening was created. She then manned this escape route until 32 people in the second room were able to get out.
Despite being badly burnt herself in the explosion, Mrs Lee remained on duty until all who were able to, had escaped the shelter. She played a vital role in the rescue of many who would have otherwise perished that night.
On Wednesday 8 March, International Women’s Day, a Blue Plaque was unveiled in her honour at the site of the former Wilkinson’s Lemonade Factory: Kettlewell House in North Shields.
The plaque marks the bravery and selflessness that Mrs Lee demonstrated during and in the hours following the bombing.
North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Dame Norma Redfearn DBE said: “It is so important that we reflect on the atrocities in our history and recognise the sacrifices of the those who came before us.
“The behaviour of Mrs Ellen Lee on the 4 May in 1941 is one of the greatest examples of humanity and selflessness that I can imagine.
“It is a great honour for myself and the Council to recognise Mrs Lee with this Blue Plaque, and I hope it’s presence serves as a reminder for us all to reflect on our history here in North Tyneside.”
The Elected Mayor was joined at the unveiling by local historian and author of North Shields 173, Peter Bolger, whose many years of research into the bombing prompted the installation of the plaque.
Relatives of Ellen Lee and two survivors, now in their 90s, helped with the unveiling.
Millie Matthews, 96, and her cousin, Robert Sutherst, 94, were led to safety by Ellen Lee after the bomb fell. Robert lost his mother and a cousin in the incident.
Millie said the recognition for Mrs Lee is long overdue: “I appreciate that at long last, after 82 years, there is a recommendation for Mrs Lee because she deserved it.
“107 people died that night, and I think about 50 or 60 of us got out. We all went through the mill but we’re here to tell the tale. I don’t think there’s many of us left now. It was awfully sad.
“I was in beside the kids; I was only 14 and sort of looking after them. Mrs Lee was shouting ‘if you can see a light, put your fingers through the wall’, which I did. Around my hand she created a hole to pull people out. I got two or three of the little kids out through the wall. My brother came and he was shouting for me and wouldn’t go without us.
“I wasn’t hurt, thank God, but for two years I had to hang on to my mother, if it was thundering or something like that. I was in complete shock.”
Robert said the unveiling brought back some painful memories but was a fitting tribute to Ellen Lee. He said: “I knew Mrs Lee very well. She was very popular and friendly with everyone. What sticks in my memory is that she always hated wearing her tin hat. I was thrown in at the deep end and the memories will never go away.”
