Son's anger after flowers for mum killed in Sheffield Blitz stolen on 80th anniversary of tragedy

Neil Dalby had made his annual pilgrimage to Fitzalan Square on Saturday to remember his mum Winifred who was among 70 people who died when the Marples Hotel was bombed during two nights of terrifying air raids on Sheffield in 1940 as part of World War Two.

Mr Dalby, 83, discovered that the floral tribute had been snatched just minutes after he had placed it in the building’s doorway.

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But as he went to catch his bus to return home, he spotted two young men with the flowers in nearby Castle Square – and he angrily remonstrated with the pair before returning them back to the entrance to the Marples.

Said Mr Dalby, who was just three when his mum died: “It was a horrible thing to happen. I was so upset that people could show such a lack of respect and take the flowers.

"I happened to spot two lads with them so I went up and challenged them.

"They were pretty aggressive and angry at first, telling me the flowers were theirs. They couldn’t speak very much English but I managed to get across what the flowers were for, that they were mine and that they should show some respect.

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"They were apologetic at least, but it’s still very wrong. The card had been taken off the flowers and thrown on the ground. I was absolutely fuming.”

"I can only guess that they were going to try and sell them to make a few quid or something.

"Looking back, I suppose I took a bit of a chance tackling them about it because they were young lads and could have done anything.

"But I was absolutely furious. It was such a horrible thing to do, but fortunately I got them back.”

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Mr Dalby, who lives in Dronfield then returned to the building to relay the flowers, a tribute he has carried out for many years following his mum’s death.

He said: “I don't know very much about her sadly, I was very young when it all happened. I just like to do what I can and remember her each year on the anniversary.”

Hundreds of people died in Sheffield during German bombing raids over two nights starting on 12 December 1940.

In all, almost 700 people were killed and 82,000 city houses out of 150,000 were damaged.

The bombardment by about 330 aircraft on 12-13 December 1940 lasted for nine hours.

The Moor was devastated along with Devonshire Green while City Hall and Sheffield United's Bramall Lane football ground were damaged.

The Marples, although never an officially designated air raid shelter, people took refuge in the large cellars during the bomb raids thinking they would be safe. But the building took a direct hit at 11.44pm, with the bomb thought to have plunged through the upper floors of the building, only detonating on floor-level impact right above the cellars.