On the 29th September 1942 a lone german bomber dropped 3 bombs on Petworth, one hitting the boys' school in North Street.
There was no air raid warning and of the 80 children and teachers at school that day 28 were killed and a large number injured. Along with the children the explosion also took the lives of their headmaster, Charles Stevenson and Charlotte Marshall an assistant teacher. A nearby laundry was also badly damaged killing Eva Streeter who was working there.
From reports it seems the aircraft either was attempting to bomb Petworth House or was simply jettisoning its load before crossing the Channel. There is at least one eye witness statement that reports that the bomber was diving which would indicate a deliberate intention to hit a target.
 
Some of the various statements are shown lower down page.
 
The Cemetery, which is no longer used for burials, today (July 2007) is the centre of a 'row' about who actually owns it and is responsible for its upkeep. With all contenders denying responsibility. But someone is at least attempting to keep some of the grass to a reasonable level.
 
Whilst the area around the school grave seems to be regularly tended the remainder of the cemetery is neglected and very overgrown with fallen and falling headstones. Access to the graveyard for those wishing to visit the memorial, or other graves is difficult and nigh impossible for anyone with limited mobility. Any visitors to Petworth would have great difficulty in finding the spot if they wanted to visit, what is after all, a memorial to a dramatic event in local recent history which wiped out a significant number of Petworth's younger generation. Very few residents of Petworth at the time of the bombing would have failed to have been touched by this harrowing incident.
 
The chapel, as shown left, is in a very sorry state of repair and contrary to expectations there appears little obvious vandalism which would demonstrate that even the local youngsters have respect for the graveyard.
 
Bishop Bell, Bishop of Chichester, had conducted the mass funeral for the victims in 1942, and 60 years later in 2002 the Rt Rev John Hind (Bishop of Chichester) officiated in a memorial service in St Mary's Church. There was an open invitation to parishioners, relatives, friends and survivors of the bombing to attend.
Prior to the visit, Parish councillor Tony Whitcomb had told the council at its meeting, that the condition of the cemetery was such that he hoped the bishop would not visit it when he was in the town. Whilst the schools grave was neatly maintained, urgent work was needed to repair headstones on other graves and clear undergrowth, Mr Whitcomb said.
 
 
Pictured left: The entrance gates to this 'unwanted' graveyard give an indication of the condition of the interior.
 

There have been mixed reports not only of the intentions of the aircraft crew but also on the identity of the German aircraft responsible. Some stating that it was a Junkers 88 and another that it was a Heinkel 111.
see below