..... FROM SEPTEMBER 1939, UNTIL AMERICA ENTERED THE WAR IN 1941, THIS SMALL ISLAND NATION BRAVELY STOOD ALONE AGAINST THE MIGHT OF HITLER FASCISM IN THE DEFENCE OF LIBERTY, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY, NEITHER DID THEY WAVER AS THE NAZI LUFTWAFFE RELENTLESSLY BLITZED OUR CITIES KILLING MANY CIVILIANS, A DEDICATED WAR MEMORIAL SERVES TO REMIND US TO ALWAYS REMAIN VIGILANT IN SAFEGUARDING THIS HARD WON FREEDOM, ALL NATIONS HAVE A DUTY TO WORK TOGETHER IN BUILDING A LASTING PEACE, HELPING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, REGARDING ALL LIFE AS SACROSANCT, ABOVE ALL, CREATING A HEALTHY, HAPPY, PROSPEROUS AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE GENERATIONS YET TO COME .....
" LEST WE FORGET ! "
'At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them'
This website is dedicated to all Civilians who lost their lives during World War Two, and to the many thousands across this country who died during the relentless Blitz on our Cities, especially to the remarkable people of East London whose spirit never wavered during incessant enemy air attacks, V1s, and V2 rockets, one of the last missiles demolished a block of flats in Vallance Road just seven weeks before VE Day, it came silently at dawn, killing almost 200 civilians as they slept in their beds.
THE CAMPAIGN THAT MADE HISTORY
THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY In 1996 East London's people made History when their demands to have a Civilians War Memorial and a quiet Garden on the last remaining available site on Wapping's Riverside convinced a Conservative Government to hold a Public Inquiry. The site would be dedicated to the Civilians, Men, Women and Children, who lost their lives during the blitz in World War Two
CONCEDED
The Public enquiry conceded that an area of land in Wapping called 'Hermitage' was appropriate for the construction of a 'Civilians Remembered' War Memorial including a quiet waterfront garden at its Western end. It stated that the current proposal for a housing development by 'Berkeley Homes', being supported by the 'London Docklands Development Corporation' at the time, was not suitable for this last remaining "significant waterfront site on the River Thames".
ENVIRONMENT FIRST 'Civilians Remembered' had campaigned for several years to save this last bit of remaining land in Wapping for a WW2 Civilians memorial, this area was chosen because it had received some of the heaviest bombing during the war, many locals people also felt that yet another housing development on prime land was inappropriate for this last available site in Wapping. Local communities felt that this space should be used for their Community not for a further luxury housing development on the Thames with added underground Car parking. Growing traffic pollution from vehicles had resulted in an alarming increase of asthma in local School Children, instead, there was strong support to create a Civilians WW2 memorial to remember those who had lost their lives during the blitz, it was felt this would be far more apt than any new luxury housing development.
SUPPORT ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The Civilians Remembered campaign won huge support across the Country, many elderly survivors of the War were still living, their contribution during 1939-45 had almost been forgotten, and this campaign had aroused passions like no other, people wanted to see a war Memorial erected soon, it was very clear that this Campaign was becoming a big Public issue across the Country, many hearts and minds had been touched by it at all levels of Public life including Royalty, Her Majesty, the Queen Mother having experienced the war first hand after Buckingham Palace was bombed, pledged her support for a civilians war Memorial to be erected in the heart of London, she was later to unveil a new plaque to them at St Paul's Cathedral.
SUSTAINED BLITZ
Adolf Hitler vowed to burn this great City down to the ground, sending waves of enemy bombers to drop their deadly cargo by day and night. East London became the front line in the Battle for Britain, yet the spirit of its people never wavered, on the contrary, despite exposure to relentless enemy air attacks, their defiance grew stronger with each passing day, Her Majesty the Queen Mother was proud to identify herself with its people after Buckingham Palace was bombed when she said: "Now I can look the 'East End' straight in the eye".
From September 1940 to April 1941 East London was exposed to, perhaps, one of the most sustained periods of aerial bombing on record, constant enemy air raids took a heavy toll on the local population, but the Luftwaffe also began to sustain heavy losses as young 'Battle of Britain' pilots took to the skies to meet the enemy head on. Hitler's losses compelled him to rethink his strategy, he turned his attention to Russia and although
Daylight bombing began to decrease over London, his constant night attacks still continued. On one particular night in 1943 an exploding shell from an Ack Ack gun caused the Bethnal green Tube disaster it happened when people panicked on the stairway and were crushed as they fell forward on top of each other, 173 lost their lives
As his Luftwaffe Pilot losses grew Hitler started sending pilotless 'V1' flying bombs, known as 'doodlebugs', these continued to wreak havoc on London civilians, soon to be followed by the 'V2', the first ever ballistic missile, they came silently without warning, their explosive power was devastating. On One early morning as people slept in their beds, 'Hughes Mansions', a block of flats in Vallence Road, East London, was suddenly demolished by a V2 rocket, leaving a huge crater, it had arrived without warning, tragically killing almost 200 people just seven weeks before the war ended. Peoples War Archive
SURVIVORS
The elderly still have vivid memories of the war, they will never forget, it's as though it happened yesterday, they can tell many unique stories about the blitz. They recall the wailing air-raid sirens, the drone of enemy bombers, the sky filled with searchlights, thuds of heavy ack ack, and then bombs screeching to earth and then the explosions, many escaped nightly to underground air-raid shelters, and in the morning, after the 'all clear' sounded, walked through streets of smouldering rubble and desolation in the aftermath of the air-raids. people were to find their homes and shops destroyed, and incendiary fires still burning, "as kids we took many risks without realizing the danger involved, we picked up bits of shrapnel and kicked spent incendiary bombs off pavements, it was amazing that any of us avoided serious injury, after an air-raid if you managed to get home in one piece, you might be stopped by an ARP Warden on your own doorstep because of an un-exploded bomb or land mine in your street".
DANTES INFERNO:
Those civilians on National duty had stoutly defended the Thames with distinction as Hitler's bombs rained down on them. One such Pensioner, a wartime fireman, said: "I will never forget December 29th 1940, that particular night the Luftwaffe dropped thousands of incendiary bombs on London, Hitler had vowed to burn London to the ground. We were engulfed in flames as firemen fought countless fires, their hoses running bone dry, it was becoming a hopeless task" he continued, "each time we turned around another fire had started, the heat was unbearable, the night sky turned crimson red, we were working in a 'Dante's inferno', and yet by some miracle, although surrounded by a ring of burning fires, St Paul's Cathedral survived."
A PLEA TO HER MAJESTY
He continued: "Her Majesty the Queen, who, together with her Mother, experienced the blitz and shared in our terrible ordeal, should award herself and Britain's remaining WW2 survivors a Medal now, in recognition of their outstanding bravery during the Blitz, Britain's civilians were all heroes, one and all, people might show a lot more respect towards the elderly after this recognition, i'm sure the whole Country would be proud to support it ..." his eyes glinted in the evening sunlight.
A WARNING FROM HISTORY:
This unsung hero had survived to tell his tale but he warned "people today must be sure to never again repeat mistakes of the past, our generation was prepared not to tolerate Hitler's racial prejudice and religious intolerance, we stood firm because we were united by our belief in freedom and democracy, only then were we able to defeat Nazi Fascism in a bitter war, The sacrifices made by the British people in helping to liberate Europe and the World from Hitler's tyranny must never be forgotten, this City bravely stood up to defend the right of all peoples to Freedom, Liberty and Democracy, no matter what their race, creed, or colour, that is why this great City of ours has been, and must always remain, a beacon of hope for the oppressed and persecuted everywhere.".
CIVILIANS REMEMBERED MEMORIAL
A Civilians remembered War Memorial and quiet Riverside Garden' in Wapping serves the future as well as the past, remembering the living as well as the dead, its location is just a short walk from the Tower of London, attracting many Visitors, it helps to focus attention on the extraordinary sacrifices made by London's ordinary Citizens in defence of their right to Freedom, Liberty, and Justice, reminding younger generations that democracy was not gifted but hard won and should always be guarded vigilantly lest we forget. Winston Churchill had personally experienced the painful cost of war when he uttered his famous words 'jaw jaw is better than war war', he understood that making peace was a far greater political achievement than making war.
HISTORY OF THE DISPUTE The Developers, Berkeley Homes of Kent, proposed a plan for the site which they hoped, would appeal to the Hermitage Campaigners, but found that their offer to construct a Development that included an Exhibition centre and Gallery at the Western end with Housing in the middle plus a small Memorial Park on the east side, did not meet with local campaigners approval, their demand was for the whole site being turned over for the use of a War Memorial and Public garden, the land should not be lost to yet another luxury development along the Thames.
THE ORIGINAL PLAN
showing a third of the area to be used to construct 'quality' flats, 40% for a Memorial Park and the rest for a Gallery and exhibition Centre, the Architect responded to local people to incorporate one of their prime demands, a plan with environmental and Tourist considerations in its design. an extended Walkway along the River is shown below, and a direct link to the Tower of London with riverfront views, plus Public space and a possible jetty, but organisers of 'Civilians Remembered' had set their sights on demanding nothing less than the whole site for their Memorial plan.
THE FINAL PLAN (Click below to see more)
The dispute continued as a new Labour Government came to power, but by December 12th 1997 it was clear things were not going as planned, so Campaign leader Marianne Fredericks, and her colleague Maureen Davies organised a coach trip direct to the Houses of Parliament where they met local Labour MPs. Oona King and Jim Fitzpatrick, Oona's impassioned plea in the House of Commons to Tony Blair on behalf of the Campaign was during Prime Minister's question time, earlier the campaigners and MPs had visited No.10 Downing Street to put their case directly to the Prime Minister why Wapping was a special place for a Civilians Remembered Memorial. ...more history continued
