Hull is a city of great resilience but it deserves answers on the Blitz

Post-war the emphasis was on building a better, brighter future. Hull, which was devastated during the Blitz, is a city that really embraced the rebuild.

But at the same time there is a sense that this great city’s wartime suffering has been forgotten. Despite Hull being the most devastated city in the UK per square mile - even more than London.

That is why the call for greater recognition of Hull’s wartime sacrifice from Dame Diana Johnson, the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, should be supported.

The final version of a report concerning the effect of aerial bombing on the people of Hull during World War Two from 1942 has still not seen the light of day.

The report was originally embargoed until 2020 but that was extended indefinitely for undisclosed reasons.

It is essential that historians are able to put together a clear picture of the impact of the Blitz on Hull.

Only then will local communities be able to understand and appreciate the true extent of hardship suffered by the people of Hull during the Second World War.

With the passage of time, the importance of being able to pass on accurate stories of the past to future generations grows. It’s not just important for the city of Hull but also for the sake of national awareness.

There are a lot of questions around the embargo that the people of Hull deserve answers to.