On the evening of the November 14, 1940 515 German bombers from the Luftwaffe raided the industrial city of Coventry which was one of the leading munitions centres in the UK and where 25 per cent of all military aircraft were manufactured.

Over a 24 hour period 500 tons of high explosive bombs were dropped killing an estimated 568 people with 863 seriously injured.

One of the victims of this raid was 44-year-old Doris Lampitt, who originated from Fladbury,when working as an Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Warden ushering people to the safety of the Campers Field air raid shelter.

Local historian Roger Fielder from Fladbury established that Doris was born on the September 24, 1896 being the youngest of eleven children to Henry and Mary Lampitt who lived in Fladbury.

Henry was the station master at Fladbury railway station. Doris was a milliner by occupation and started as an apprentice at Hamilton and Ball in Evesham. In 1929 Doris spent three years in the USA working as a governess for a wealthy family in Atlanta, Georgia. Doris kept in touch with Fladbury sending wool and material to the “Fladbury sewing club” in memory of her mother who had been a member.

After returning to England Doris settled in Coventry where she set up her wool and millinery shop at 12 Campers Fields, Radford. In September 1939 Doris became a voluntary Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden on active duty during the bombing raids that took place prior to the notorious November raid.

Following her death the Tewkesbury Register reported that Coventry residents contacted the Lampitt family to tell them of her “really marvellous work who acted like Florence Nightingale and deserved the VC for her actions”.

During the afternoon of of Thursday, November 21, 1940 Doris Lampitt was interred in the churchyard of St John the Baptist in Fladbury. The funeral service was conducted by the Rector, the Reverend D.K Sylvester and over her coffin was draped the Union flag bearing the inscription “Doris Lampitt died serving her country November 1940 aged 44 years".

Doris actually died at just over 44 years of age although her grave inscription states 43 and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives her age as being 45.

At a recent remembrance of Doris Lampitt the Reverend Sarah Dangerfield offered a prayer after the bugler played the Last Post and the wreath was laid by Simon Dudfield from the Royal British Legion Pershore.

Simon said: “ It’s been an absolute privilege to lay a wreath in memory of this lady who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving her country."