Interesting old photos

[Hitchington]

Clearing up: Workers remove rubble from a building decimated in a heavy German air raid during the Blitz. Wallpaper inside the shattered bedrooms can even be seen in the gap left in the row of houses

Standing tall: The spire of the Central Criminal Court - better known as the Old Bailey - rises defiantly while all around it buildings have become jagged shells

On the night of October 14 1940, a bomb penetrated the road and exploded in Balham Underground station, killing 68 people. A No 88 bus travelling in black-out conditions then fell into the crater.

 

[screenman]

Thank you for those, I did not know the Balham one even though I used to have a garage there.

How did they ever rebuild it, around here they cannot even fill a pothole.

 

[Shortmember]

Thank you for those, I did not know the Balham one even though I used to have a garage there.

How did they ever rebuild it, around here they cannot even fill a pothole.

The generation that endured the war and all its hardships would have had no trouble repairing a little pothole that swallowed a double decker. They were made of sterner stuff in those days- and they were capable of creating a NHS that actually worked, because their organisational skills were far better than ours are in this day and age.

 

[screenman]

Was the NHS better or did not so many people abuse it, just got back from the shops and every time I go I am amazed at the amount of obese people about.

 

[Globalti]

I love this picture that's in my Grandpa's war diary from his time in HMS Southampton, 1915 - 1919:

Clearly the Navy already had a use for old washing-machine drums even in those days.

These are good as well:

 

[Hitchington]

Did your Grandpa take these photos?

 

[Haitch]

These are good as well:

They're more than good!

 

[Globalti]

Yes. I have his diary, which is an old autograph book bursting open with cap ribbons, photos and momentos. He was the fleet's Gunnery Correspondent for The Times and there are quite a few of the reports he sent, clipped from the paper, where he worked in the night printing press for the rest of his life after being demobbed. I'm sorry that he didn't witness the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow. His diary makes frequent reference to coaling ship ("back-breaking, filthy work") and contains an interesting account of how Southampton was steaming along on convoy protection duty when a huge bang shook the ship, followed by vibration, so they returned to Rosyth and dry-docked her to find 45 yards of submarine ridge cable wrapped around a propellor!

 

[spen666]

Was the NHS better or did not so many people abuse it, just got back from the shops and every time I go I am amazed at the amount of obese people about.

There was no NHS during the 2nd World War. It was not set up until 5 July 1948 by the Atlee Government

 

[Hitchington]

Yes. I have his diary, which is an old autograph book bursting open with cap ribbons, photos and momentos. He was the fleet's Gunnery Correspondent for The Times and there are quite a few of the reports he sent, clipped from the paper, where he worked in the night printing press for the rest of his life after being demobbed. I'm sorry that he didn't witness the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow. His diary makes frequent reference to coaling ship ("back-breaking, filthy work") and contains an interesting account of how Southampton was steaming along on convoy protection duty when a huge bang shook the ship, followed by vibration, so they returned to Rosyth and dry-docked her to find 45 yards of submarine ridge cable wrapped around a propellor!

What an amazing record to have.

 

[gbb]

My recently deceased dad was a kid in the war. He recounted how you huddled in the air raid shelters in Bristol when there was an attack. He likened it to an orchestral climax, starting with occasional booms, quickly growing in intesity, louder and louder until you thought it couldn't get any worse, this could last 15, 30 minutes, maybe an hour, then an almost screaming crescendo of noise, the very height of the raid, ...then it would quickly subside.

He also recounted how a factory(I think) shelter took a direct hit, killing almost everyone in it, scores and scores of people.

No pictures to contribute, but just thought I'd share.

 

[screenman]

There was no NHS during the 2nd World War. It was not set up until 5 July 1948 by the Atlee Government

Oops! good point.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Clearing up: Workers remove rubble from a building decimated in a heavy German air raid during the Blitz. Wallpaper inside the shattered bedrooms can even be seen in the gap left in the row of houses

How was it decimated?? How did the number 10 destroy it?? Was it hit by a 10 ton bomb or something??

That wasn't Sessame Street was it??

I love it how the guy's hair and right ear almost matches the shape of the balloon!

On the night of October 14 1940, a bomb penetrated the road and exploded in Balham Underground station, killing 68 people. A No 88 bus travelling in black-out conditions then fell into the crater.

Best thing for a bus Wow, that is quite something and it must have been awful for those trapped in the station and on the bus!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Not war related but I was reminded of this photo of Igor Stravinsky the other day, brilliant isn't it.

Arnold Newman was the snapper.

 

[Hitchington]

Brilliant photo!