Bethnal Green Tube Station, 3 March 1943

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Profile	Posted by	Options	Post Date
Member Since: November 2008 Posts: 5,961 Send Message	Elizabethofseasons	Report	3 Mar 2010 19:54
	Dear All Hello The war time air raid siren sounded at 8-17pm in Bethnal Green on 3 March 1943 so people made their way to shelter at the Underground Station, which was still under construction. There was a short flight of steps into the underground booking office area. At 8:27, an anti-aircraft battery a few hundred yards away in Victoria Park launched a salvo of a new type of anti-aircraft rocket. The weapon was secret, and the unexpected and unfamiliar, type of explosion caused a panic. A lady tripped tripped on the stairs and within a few seconds 300 people were crushed into the tiny stairwell. 172 people were dead at the scene, with one more dying in hospital later; 62 of the dead were children. There was heavy censorship of this tragedy because of the war. The government was accused of "hushing up" the disaster by a local campaign and two of the victims' families sued Bethnal Green Borough Council for damages. The crush at Bethnal Green was the largest loss of civilian life in the UK in World War II. To remember those who died and those still affected. Take care all Very sincere wishes xx
Member Since: January 2005 Posts: 3,907 Send Message	Jean (Monmouth)	Report	3 Mar 2010 19:57
	Remember hearing of this at the time.