As a consequence – and being on the way to London – it was often targeted by the Nazis. Portsmouth officially suffered 67 air raids between July 1940 and May 1944, three of these categorised as major attacks. The three major raids took place on August 24 1940 during the Portsmouth Blitz, January 10 1941 and March 10 1941.
In this selection you will see damage at Portsmouth Harbour Station, with a train off the rails, an air raid siren outside Portsmouth Guildhall and the damage to it after the raid.
MORE RETRO: Portsmouth during the blitz - picture special | Historic pictures of Portsmouth hospitals and their staff
You will also see a large hole in the gas holder at Rudmore after it was bombed.
MORE RETRO: Portsmouth during the blitz - picture special | Historic pictures of Portsmouth hospitals and their staff
![An Air Raid Precaution warden brings traffic to a halt in Copnor Road, Copnor, Portsmouth, in February 1940](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ5YzgzOTVlLWMyY2QtNDQ3Yi1iMjJlLWFhMTNlNWZkZmM1Yzo2YzI3ZjliMy1kNjNhLTQ1MjgtODUzYS0zMzZjMzQwNDZjMDY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
5. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
An Air Raid Precaution warden brings traffic to a halt in Copnor Road, Copnor, Portsmouth, in February 1940Photo: The News archive
![Carriage hanging off the rails. During the air raid of January 10, 1941, Portsmouth Harbour station was wrecked. Picture: T. Bye collection.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmEzNWZiMDE3LWQwZjQtNDBiNS1hNDkyLTQ5NGM1YzdiOTFlMjpmZjkyN2Q2ZS02ZGI4LTRmY2QtYTE5OS0xYjEwODU5NjZhYzg=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
6. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
Carriage hanging off the rails. During the air raid of January 10, 1941, Portsmouth Harbour station was wrecked. Picture: T. Bye collection.Photo: The News archive
![An underground air raid wardens' post in Portsmouth](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI5Nzc5MGNlLTgyZWUtNGNjOS05MjFiLTk3NjliMTc0YmMwODo3M2JhODVhZC1jZDlkLTRlNzAtOTU5My0yYTY3OTU2MDZmMDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
An underground air raid wardens' post in PortsmouthPhoto: The News archive
![A hole in the gas holder at Rudmore.
First air raid in Portsmouth](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg3MDMzYTI4LWIxYjgtNGNiYi05MWEyLWU5ODk0ZDY1NzlmODo2ZTZhZGU0OC0zYTM4LTRiNGEtYTZkNC1jNzEzNDgyMmQxZWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
8. Memories of Portsmouth air raids
A hole in the gas holder at Rudmore. First air raid in PortsmouthPhoto: The News archive