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St Martin’s on the Hill, Scarborough: Bombardment Wedding

Richard Garton Horsley and Winnifred Louise Duphoit married on the day of the Scarborough bombardment (16 December 1914). There is no evidence of any other wedding in the town that day.

Winnifred had attended St Martins on the Hill on the morning of her wedding for Holy Communion. While this was taking place, the bombardment began. Despite the church having been hit, the vicar decided to go ahead with the marriage service. The bride saved a piece of shrapnel from the momentous day. She went on honeymoon with her new husband on a motorbike and sidecar. They were caught up in crowds of people fleeing Scarborough.

The couple’s marriage lasted for more than fifty years. In the church, some of the design is missing where it was hit by the shell.

Location: St Martin’s on the Hill Church, Albion Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 2BT
Image shows Richard and Winnifred’s marriage certificate, courtesy of their son, Geoffrey Horsley
Presented by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Reporter, Jonathan Cowap

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2 minutes

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