It was on Friday March 7th 1941 when two German planes bombed the works of Ransome & Marles. 36 people were killed including 21 year old Edith Makins from Collingham. There were also 42 people injured making the incident Newark's "Blackest Day" during the war.

The 1st Alert was sounded at 13.35 when a Heinkel 111 made its 1st pass over the factory at 1,000 feet dropping 4 bombs. 2 hit the works, 1 hit the edge of the works and 1 hit the works shelter at the rear of Stanley Street. The works was also machine gunned.

The plane made a further 2 passes over the factory causing more damage although one of its bombs failed to explode. Shortly after that the All Clear was sounded and rescue work began.

At 14.24 the Alert was sounded and another enemy plane attacked the works while rescuers were assisting the casualties. It dropped 5 bombs but only 1 exploded causing a number of casualties and some damage, 4 bombs failed to explode. The All Clear was sounded at 14.51.

The official German
communiqué of the raid said,

"A daring low level attack took place on an armament
factory at Newark, causing heavy
damage in the
workshops".

For the first time in a
German communiqué the crew of the aircraft were named.