The Sabotage Campaign was a campaign of bombing and sabotage against the civil, economic, and military infrastructure of the United Kingdom from 1939 to 1940, conducted by members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The campaign resulted in 300 explosions, seven deaths and 96 injuries.
On 17th January 1939 a bomb exploded in Great Barr at an electricity pylon, but it remained standing on one strut.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Plan
A prisoner of war camp was built in the 1940's and at various times had Italian and German prisoners. It was located near the Spouthouse Lane and Hamstead Road junction.
A list of the Fallen of Great Barr can be searched for on the Birmingham Mail website, Go to WW1 Search Tool and enter Great Barr, in theTown or City field
In St. Margarets Churchyard there is a memorial to those of the parish who lost their lives.
The Great Barr Memorial Hall has a panel listing the fallen.
Those who died in World War II from Great Barr are remembered on the gates of St. Margarets Church and on a memorial in the church yard. The original plaques here were stolen and new ones have been now installed. There were some errors on the original details and they were corrected in the new plaques.
The Gates were erected in 1952.
The left pillar had a plaque:-
Pictures to be uploaded soon
Copyright 2020 Great Barr Past and Present, Anthony Lewis