Event    From 7/9/1940  To /5/1941

The Blitz

Categories: Tragedy

During WW2 Britain came under heavy bombing from Germany for 8 months, 1940-1941. This was called 'the Blitz' from the German word Blitzkrieg meaning 'lightning war'. London was particularly badly hit, especially at the start, being attacked every day/night of the first 57 days, except one. The objectives were the destruction of industrial targets, and to break the morale of the civilian population. But the Blitz failed, on both fronts, leaving London with extensive physical damage but a new psychological weapon, the Blitz spirit.

This interactive map shows all of the bombs dropped on London during the Blitz.

2019: Spitalfields Life posted a number of central London buildings that bear the scars of war.

The Library Time Machine has a lovely post about the Home front volunteers in Chelsea, 1940s.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
The Blitz

Commemorated ati

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

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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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Bank Station WW2 bomb

{Above the London Underground roundel:} In remembrance of the fifty six peopl...

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Show all 53

Other Subjects

Brian Holt

Brian Holt

Aged 62 Holt had worked as a porter at Mile End Hospital for 40 years. He had been commuting by bike the short journey of about a mile from his Stepney for just over a year in order to get fit. Th...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy

1 memorial
Fm. Hamish Pettit

Fm. Hamish Pettit

Firefighter. He was killed when part of the roof collapsed while he was fighting a fire at the Worsley Hotel, Clifton Gardens, Paddington. He was 25 years old. From The Red Plaque website: "On the...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

1 memorial
Mary Geraldine Murphy

Mary Geraldine Murphy

Senior Purser Mary Geraldine Murphy was born on 14 May 1937 in Dublin, Ireland, one of the six children of Robert and Margaret Murphy.  Our Picture Source and the Clipper Crew website gives more i...

Person, Aviation, Tragedy, Ireland, Scotland

1 memorial
Kitty Hopkins

Kitty Hopkins

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 10. Buried in grave 3 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Children, Tragedy

1 memorial
Craig Hayden

Craig Hayden

Via Facebook we have learnt that Craig came from Coventry and as an older teenager and Care Leaver, was living homeless in London around the time of 1990. We thank his mother, Margaret Henderson an...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial

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Southwark Council

Southwark Council

The London Borough of Southwark was created as an amalgamation of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Southwark, Camberwell and Bermondsey. Southwark council annually invites proposals for new plaques fro...

Group, Politics & Administration

91 memorials
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Composer. Born as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart at 9 Getreidegasse, Salzburg in modern day Austria. (Amadeus was a sort of nickname). His father, Leopold was a prominent musici...

Person, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, Austria

7 memorials
Ellen Terry

Ellen Terry

Born in Coventry. From an acting family her stage career started at age 8. When 17 she retired from the stage to marry artist G.F. Watts, 30 years her senior. Her desire for the stage was greater t...

Person, Theatre

4 memorials
Monmouth House

Monmouth House

The Duke of Monmouth obtained a site on the south side of Soho Square (then called King’s Square) in 1681 on which the house was built. After his execution it was owned by the Bateman family and be...

Building, Property

1 memorial
Sloane Court East bomb - wall plaque

Sloane Court East bomb - wall plaque

SW1, Turk's Row, Garden House School

We are extremely grateful to London Memorial who have done the research on this event, all recorded in their excellent website, from whic...

Civilian war dead | WW2
14 subjects commemorated