7/8 September 1940: The London Underground on this day 75 years ago
The first day/night of the London Blitz.
In the afternoon of the 7th, 364 Luftwaffe bombers - escorted by 515 fighters - targeted the area of the docks, although many bombs fell on the surrounding residential areas. As evening fell, a second wave of 133 bombers attacked. In total 436 people were killed, and 1,666 injured. The Ministry of Home Security's Damage Appreciation the following morning stated:
The joint LPTB/Southern Railway New Cross Gate station was hit by five HEs, injuring two Southern Railway workers,[3] one of whom - 43 year-old engine driver Richard James Shelton of Catford - died in St Giles' Hospital the following day.[4] Five year old George Turner of Forest Gate was killed at East Ham station on the District line.[5]
[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 07-08/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 07-08/09/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
[3] Brooksbank, B W L: London Mainline War Damage, page 14 [Harrow Weald: Capital Transport, 2007]
[4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
[5] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
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In the afternoon of the 7th, 364 Luftwaffe bombers - escorted by 515 fighters - targeted the area of the docks, although many bombs fell on the surrounding residential areas. As evening fell, a second wave of 133 bombers attacked. In total 436 people were killed, and 1,666 injured. The Ministry of Home Security's Damage Appreciation the following morning stated:
"Practically the whole of the enemy effort during the last 24 hours was devoted to the attack on LONDON, with an acute concentration of the DOCK AREAS, RAILWAYS and POWER STATIONS."[1]Approximately twenty-four railway stations were hit in the south and east of the capital, including those on the London underground network. At around 19:00, Blackfriars District/Circle line station was hit by a High Explosive (HE) bomb, knocking out the signalling and leaving traffic, "practically at a standstill."[2]
The joint LPTB/Southern Railway New Cross Gate station was hit by five HEs, injuring two Southern Railway workers,[3] one of whom - 43 year-old engine driver Richard James Shelton of Catford - died in St Giles' Hospital the following day.[4] Five year old George Turner of Forest Gate was killed at East Ham station on the District line.[5]
[1] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 07-08/09/40, page 1 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
[2] Ministry of Home Security, Key Points Intelligence Directorate: Reports and Papers, Daily Reports - September 1940: Damage Appreciation 07-08/09/40, page 4 [Kew: National Archives, reference HO 201/2]
[3] Brooksbank, B W L: London Mainline War Damage, page 14 [Harrow Weald: Capital Transport, 2007]
[4] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
[5] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
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Labels: Blitz 75, London Underground, The London Underground at War
posted by Nick Cooper at
08:00:00
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