Bolton escaped the devastating enemy air raids that were unleashed on Manchester and Liverpool but it did not go entirely unscathed. Bombs straddled the packed Odeon cinema on Asburner Street- resulting in one fatality instead of thousands. There were other deaths as a result of bombs falling on Matthew Street.

Bolton's worst loss of life through enemy action was on the night of 12 October 1941 when 11 people were killed and 64 injured after bombs fell on Punch Street, James Street, Ardwick Street and surrounding areas.

Full text of the casualty report

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