Thread: London war memories from WW II.

Hi Tomgus

welcome to the forum. Most people think of the war affecting the East End. It would be worth exploring the affect of the war on the west End subarbs. For example try to have a look at the book Ealing At War, which contains memories and events affecting that borough.

Welcome to the forum Tom. Try Subterranea Brittanica for a few sites in London and the surrounding area, though you'll have to wade through this list in order to find them.

What are you looking for specifically?

Hi Kyt and THANK YOU!
Got the two Blitz-walking books and "East End now and then" from After The battle, but will take a look at the Ealing at War. Did a small photo-session in London in June 2008 (found the Shelter-signs in Westminster etc) and will try to do another in 2009.

Hi Kitty!
MANY THANKS! Great site, will help me a lot I Think!
Will make the book as a guidebook for those interested in the war years and make London i five or six chapters with "places" like V1 Mile End-site, The RAF-church in the city, Cabinet War Rooms plus, I hope, lots of other places.

The Blitz:Then and Now are probably the most comprehensive books available. It would also be worth checking out

London at War, 1939-1945: Philip Ziegler: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Though a social history, it does mention various raids, incidents etc

Tom, don't forget the Tower, which was used as a high security prison. Many underground stations were used as factories, some are still classified now. The many clubs available (ask Kyt who has an original guide for servicemen). The theatres.

Also the sites of some of the big guns and balloons. Am sure there some info on them out there somewhere.

The BBC site BBC - WW2 People's War which is now closed to new contributions is a wonderful source of anecdotal information.

Good point, Kitty and many good suggestions - THANKS!! There´s another fascinating story about The Tower and the prisoners there during World War I. One spy was a Swede Ernst Valdemar Melin, the son of a parlament member in Sweden and as it seems a most pathetic man. But 1915 he was executed in The Tower and his (very unknown) story is another that I've written about in some Swedish papers and magazines. One day I'm going to visit National Archive in Kew looking up more facts about him.