A Wander Through Wartime London: Five Walks Revisiting the Blitz by Harris Clive Bright Neil & Clive Harris

Author:Harris , Clive,Bright, Neil & Clive Harris
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783460984
Publisher: Pen & Sword
Published: 2013-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Cross over the road and another blue plaque appears at the junction of Millstream Road. The arch here was being used as a sports and games centre rather than shelter. On 25 October 1940 the arch was hit by a high explosive bomb. Rescue attempts were hampered as a gas main was ablaze at the entrance. The gas would need to be turned off by the Gas Board. It could not be extinguished by water for fear of a spark or further bombs causing a deadly explosion. As a result seventy-seven lost their lives that night.

Carry on to the end of Druid Street and turn left into Abbey Street. We are starting to move into the leather and tanning industry area as Bevington’s looms in front of us, now converted into studios and workshops.

However, we continue on to Jamaica Road. Cross over the road and walk over to the Dockhead Catholic Church, a large red-bricked modern church. The original being a worshipping place for the many Irish Catholics who came to England to work in the tanneries, docks and railways. The Convent of Mercy was founded by Catherine McAuley, an Irish nun, in 1839. Many of the sisters went over to the Crimea to tend the wounded in that campaign in the mid 1800s.i

We have looked at the Night Blitz of 1940/41, but we move on to 2 March 1945. A V2 long range rocket thundered into Parkers Row, which now runs behind Jamaica Road. The church, the vicarage and convent were wrecked. Four priests and the housekeeper were trapped. One of the first people on the scene was rescue worker, Ted Heming. Ted was a milkman in the early stages of the war, but as the Blitz progressed he became a full time light rescue worker.

The smoke and dust of the explosion at the church was the key for the light rescue team to go into action. Despite the hopeless-looking situation Ted began to burrow into the wreckage. Miraculously Ted heard a voice which he surmised came from somewhere between the nave and the crypt of the church. Ted had ordered his colleagues away from the scene and began working his way through a v-shaved cavity upside down. He finally located the owner of the voice, Father Arbuthnot, who was conscious, but badly injured. The Father also had his legs trapped by a large beam. It took an almost superhuman effort to free the Father, plus the structure was close to collapse. Also there was a leaking gas main nearby. Fortunately the hole Ted had made getting to the Father was adequate for Ted to pull him through. As they reached surface Ted’s colleagues pulled them both out. Ted was overcome with giddiness and passed out. Both were rushed to Guy’s Hospital and after treatment Ted was told that Father Arbuthnot had died. However, Ted received a message that the Father had survived. The Father immediately wrote to Ted expressing his deep thanks and the pair became firm friends for life.

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