It’s very simple to be envious of other people depending on their whereabouts due to their rich history. However, it’s extremely important to be aware of your own history, especially if you feel jealous of other places around you. Even if you may not be aware, every place has its own unique story, Southampton being one of them.

 

The Southampton Blitz

 

The Southampton Blitz occurred between 1940-1944, by the Nazi German Luftwaffe in World War Two. As an important port on the South coast of England, Southampton was strategically a major target by the Nazis. Altogether, there were 57 separate bombing raids, involving 2,361 bombs being dropped, totalling a huge number of roughly 475 tons of high explosives. Lamentably, this wound up to the deaths of 631 people, and a further 898 seriously injured. The damage was so substantial that Southampton resulted in being the seventh most bombed town in the country. 963 homes were destroyed; just like the rest of the country, those who survived were hugely impacted, their lives never returning back to what they were. Their community had been disrupted, not just by the bombings and explosions, but by the overwhelming loss of innocent lives.

 

The Titanic

 

Perhaps one of the more well known aspects of Southampton, the “unsinkable ship” took its final voyage from Southampton’s very docks. Here in Southampton, there are numerous places one can visit if they want to take a deeper delve into the fascinating story. One of these places is SeaCity Museum, which offers those who are interested an amazing experience where they can find an immersive model of the Titanic, as well as numerous other displays. 

The Titanic, otherwise known as the “Wonder Ship” set sail on its maiden voyage on April 10th, 1912, a revolutionary breakthrough on the sea, capturing the entire world’s eye. Despite all the positive press, what makes the Titanic story so well known today is the fact that the unthinkable occurred on April 15th, 1912, when the ship hit an iceberg.

 

Over 540 people from Southampton perished, their bodies never recovered. Whilst the Titanic is a worldwide phenomenon, it is especially special to those in Southampton. The people who died were just ordinary people, who were truly excited to travel across the seas.

 

Southampton truly is a wonderful place full of history, and while these are some of the more eminent occasions, there are hundreds more which make Southampton the place it is today.