Event    From 15/10/1940  To 15/10/1940

Kennington Park air-raid

Categories: Tragedy

Following the outbreak of World War II, there was a variety of designs for shelters designed to protect the populace from air-raids. For those who didn't have Anderson or Morrison shelters or access to London Underground stations, an alternative was the 'Trench' shelters in public parks. These were very basic and were designed for people who were caught out when an air-raid occurred; but concerns were expressed about the safety of their design. At about 8pm one day the shelter in Kennington Park suffered a direct hit, resulting in the collapse of the trenches which smothered the occupants. As no records were kept of those entering shelters it is difficult to know how many died in the raid. Best estimates give the number killed as 104, of which only 48 bodies were recovered, men women and babies.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Kennington Park air-raid

Commemorated ati

Kennington Park air-raid

The Friends say "The air raid shelters were actually on the south field of th...

Read More

Other Subjects

Paul Hutcheson

Paul Hutcheson

Cycling to work in the Monday morning rush hour he was hit by a car and killed.  Aged 41 with two children.  A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and fa...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy

1 memorial
Charles F. des Voeux

Charles F. des Voeux

Role on the lost expedition: Officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Emma Ross

Emma Ross

Killed in the Camberwell Green air-raid, aged 48.

Person, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Jasmine Cochran Patrick

Jasmine Cochran Patrick

Andrew Behan has researched this woman: She was born Caroline Jasmine Hay on 8 January 1958. In 1980 she married Nigel Aylmer James Harold Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick and on 8 April 1981 their son, Nei...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Fm. Alfred Charles Smee

Fm. Alfred Charles Smee

Fireman killed in the Dudgeon's Wharf explosion. Andrew Behan has researched Smee: Fireman Alfred Charles Smee was born on 16 September 1921 and his birth was registered in Islington. He was the t...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

2 memorials