Baedeker Raids Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

TheOldfields: Time to close this one down. Thanks to all the visitors.

More
Hidden : 3/24/2013
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

A multi-cache looking at some sites in Bath concerned with the bombing raids on the city during World War 2. The walk is a bit over one mile, mostly flat through the city centre but finishing in a wooded area that is definitely not wheelchair or buggy accessible.

On 28 March 1942 RAF bombers attacked the German city of Lübeck. This was bomber command's first demonstration that it had the ability to destroy German cities. It was a small, rather beautiful city that was largely made of wood and would be an ideal target for incendiary devices. The attack was successful with around 40-50% of the town destroyed. The medieval centre, most of the merchants' timbered houses, the market hall and the Cathedral were all turned to ash.

In retaliation for this, Hitler ordered a series of surprise attacks on historic towns that had not been targeted before. These came to be known as the Baedeker raids: named after a German tourist information book. The towns attacked were Norwich, York, Exeter, Canterbury and Bath.

The attacks on Bath came on 25-27 April 1942. The first ran from 11pm on the Saturday to 1am on the Sunday. The bombs dropped were mostly incendiary designed to set the city ablaze. The bombers returned to France, refuelled then attacked again at 4.35am with high explosive bombs, using the fires to help them identify targets. A third attack came early on Monday morning, with both high explosives and incendiaries, and bombers flying low to pepper the ground with machine gun fire.

417 people were killed, with over 1,000 injured. 400 high explosive devices were dropped, together with over 4,000 incendiaries. Around 1,100 buildings were seriously damaged or destroyed including over 200 of historic or architectural importance.

For more information on the history of these attacks, we would recommend the following:

Books:
The bombing of Bath by Niall Rothnie
The Bath Blitz by Martin Wainwright
Bath in the Blitz then and now by Dan Brown and Dr Cathryn Spence

Web:
http://www.thejwarrens.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bathblitz/index.html

There is nothing to find at the given co-ordinates, but they are quite close to the first point you need to visit. The first step may require a bit of research. During World War 2, Anderson bomb shelters were a common form of protection. They were distributed freely to all householders who earned less than £250 per year. You will need to find out how many people they were designed to accommodate. Call that A. Later on, you'll also need to have a rough idea of how long an Anderson shelter was.

Now go to N51 23.1(A+2)2 W2 21.7(A+2)0

You should now be in front of one of Bath's main historic buildings. During the third raid it was almost completely gutted by incendiary bombs which set the roof alight. If you look between the bases of the two leftmost windows (half way up on the front of the building) you will be able to see scorched pink stonework caused by the intense heat. Restoration of this building was not completed until 1963.

Two or three lengths of Anderson shelter off to the left, as you look at the building, there is a map of Bath. Count how many 'walkers' there are around the metallic effect circles - including both sides. That number is BC. (Note: Do not include children on a swing, or any on an orange 'Five minutes walk from here' background.)

Next, head to N51 23.(C+1)(B+4)5 W2 21.(8-C)(B+B)3

A nice green area. You may notice the slight depression in the grass as you approach. This is due to the high explosive bomb that detonated here, causing a huge crater. It had originally fallen and failed to explode, but when the fire brigade was attempting to pump water to deal with the fire at the previous building the vibration caused it to detonate. This caused the death of the only fireman to be killed while on duty during the raids: Leonard Smith.

About three Anderson shelter lengths to the south east from here, there is a lamppost. Call the number written on that D.

Now move on to N51 22.(D+3)(A+2)1 W2 21.(A+1)(D+2)9

It didn't happen immediately (see the 1963 date of the first site above), but the majority of Bath's Georgian heritage was painstakingly recreated after the war. One of the best examples of this is the building you are now in front of. As you can see from the text on the wall, a stretch of building here had been completely demolished. (Try doing a web search for 'hotel name' bomb damage if you want to see how it looked)

According to the text, rebuilding here was completed in 195E.

Next, go to N51 22.(E+5)(E+1)9 W2 21.(D+2)(3-C)1

This is definitely the Bath building that is most widely recognised as having been damaged in World War 2. The facade is scarred with shrapnel impacts and scorch marks from nearby fires. You might notice the slightly strange shape of the roof. This is due to the fact that the upper storey was blown off by a high explosive bomb. In 2002, on the 60th anniversary of the blitz, this building was Grade II listed as a site of Special Architectural and Historic Interest. Note: The building is currently being done up to turn it into student accommodation so sadly you have missed the roof detail now.

How many windows are there on the ground floor of the front of this building? Call that F.

A bit further to walk this time. N51 22.(F+1)(B+4)6 W2 21.(D+2)(B)6

Here, behind the wall and partially hidden by foliage, you can see the remains of a cottage that was destroyed by a high explosive bomb. If you do some research on the Bath Blitz website (http://www.thejwarrens.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bathblitz/index.html) then you can find a picture of the damage the nearby bombs did to the church on the other side of the road.

On the other side of the road is a hotel. That is number GG.

Almost there now. The cache can be found at N51 22.(G-3)E0 W2 21.(G-1)AA. It is a small camoed loc'n'loc box and contains a 1939-45 Star medal for the first to find. The log book also contains 'bonus' co-ordinates of an interesting place to visit. That is just a couple of hundred yards from GZ.

Wandering through this area you may well see the remains of lots of other properties. Note that this does not come from the war, but from 1960s planning decisions.

Many thanks to TheCelts for their help in placing this one, and congratulations to Jenny&James for the first to find.

FTF Controversy

This cache was first placed in December 2012 but it proved problematic fitting in with other existing locations around the area, so it wasn't published at that point. While unpublished the log was signed by Tilly and Jemima. Congratulation to them for that, but we have made an executive decision that this won't count for the highly prized FTF commendation.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre vil naq jbbq

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Advertising with Us

Bookmark Lists

View all bookmark lists...