Event    From 14/10/1940  To 14/10/1940

Balham Station bombing

Categories: Tragedy

During World War 2 Balham was one of many deep tube stations designated for use as a civilian air raid shelter. At 20:02 on 14 October 1940, a 1400kg semi-armour piercing fragmentation bomb fell on the road above the northern end of the platform tunnels, creating a large crater into which a bus then crashed. The northbound platform tunnel partially collapsed and was filled with earth and water from the fractured water mains and sewers above, which also flowed through the cross-passages into the southbound platform tunnel. We believe 67 civilians and London Transport staff were killed.

World War II Today has more details and photographs. The incident features in Ian McEwan's novel 'Atonement'. This and the subsequent film both get the date wrong.

London News Online has another, colour, photo of this scene, from a different angle.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Balham Station bombing

Commemorated ati

Balham Station bombing - 1

In memory of the 64 people killed at this station by a wartime bomb 14th Octo...

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Balham Station bombing - 2

{Beneath the London Transport logo:} In remembrance of the civilians and Lond...

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Balham Station bombing - 3

In remembrance of the civilians and London Transport staff who were killed at...

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Other Subjects

Philip Geddes

Philip Geddes

Journalist, 24. From Geddes Trust (previously geddesprize.co.uk): The awards are named after Philip Geddes, a member of St Edmund Hall {Oxford University} and a journalist of considerable promise. ...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Tragedy

1 memorial
Michael Burns

Michael Burns

Crew member of the 'Olga'. Died during the voyage bringing Cleopatra's Needle to London.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Mary Ann Eve

Mary Ann Eve

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 48. Buried in grave 4 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial