Event    From 25/11/1944  To 25/11/1944

New Cross V2 attack

Categories: Tragedy

The rocket landed on the Woolworth's building at 12.44pm It was a sunny Saturday and many people were out shopping. There were rumours that Woolworth's were selling saucepans (which were in short supply) and a long queue had developed. Neighbouring grocers and butchers stores were also destroyed, and Deptford Town Hall across the road was damaged. Apart from shoppers, casualties included passengers on a passing bus and troops in an army truck. 168 people died. It took three days to clear the debris and 24 bodies were never identified. 

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

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
New Cross V2 attack

Commemorated ati

New Cross V2 attack - plaque 1

Remembering Woolworths, 168 people killed in Britain's worst V2 attack, 25th ...

Read More

New Cross V2 attack - plaque 2

The photograph was taken some years ago and sadly since then, this plaque has...

Read More

New Cross V2 attack - plaque 3

Plaque unveiled by Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham.

Read More

Nunhead Lane V1 rocket

In memory of the 24 people who died from a V1 missile strike at this site on ...

Read More

Other Subjects

George J. Cann

George J. Cann

Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Station Officer Frederick Ernest Hawkins

Station Officer Frederick Ernest Hawkins

Firefighter who died as a result of a fire at Langley St, WC2. Hawkins, Rawden and Gadd died 11-23 May 1954. Frederick Ernest Hawkins was born on 28 June 1913 in Tottenham, Middlesex (now Greater ...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

1 memorial
Bob Sharp

Bob Sharp

Robert John Sharp was born on 24 November 1924. Telephone directories from 1969 show him listed at 52 Garth Lane, Lower Morden, Surrey. He died, aged 50 years, on 6 August 1975 when he and his co...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Gülender Akça

Gülender Akça

25 years old, artist

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial
Great Plague

Great Plague

Europe suffered a number of bubonic plaque epidemics from 1347 – 1750.  The last major outbreak in England was in 1665-6 and killed about 100,000 people, 20% of London’s population at the time.  It...

Event, Medicine, Tragedy

1 memorial