description
Object description
Group of civilians, military and emergency service personnel in East End, London, GB, 1939-1943
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as civilians, military and emergency service personnel in East End, London, GB, 1939-1945: first German Air Force raid on London docks, 7/9/1940; bombing of Woolwich Arsenal, 7/9/1940; attending fire in church, 7/9/1940; dealing with incendiary bombs, 7/9/1940; taking shelter during raid, 7/9/1940; memories of first day of war, 3/9/1939; lack of casualties during first raid, 7/9/1940; question of estimated number of casualties; problems of getting from Woolwich Arsenal to Silvertown, 8/9/1940.
REEL 2 Continues: damage to Silvertown area, 9/1940; question of persuading civilians to take advice from authorities; Air Raid Warden's narrow escape from bomb and damage to family home, 13/10/1940; question of lack of anti-aircraft guns; moral effect of anti-aircraft fire; panic caused by anti-aircraft rockets at Bethnal Green, 1943; distance fires could be seen from; problems with water supply during raid; sight of Lord Mayor of London during raid.
REEL 3 Continues: character of bombing witnessed after boxing match in Woolwich; co-operation of emergency services; incidents of parachute mine being dropped; relief work in Poplar area; living conditions during blitz period; atmosphere in communal air raid shelters; story of interviewee's mother urging ammunition train driver to move his train during raid; community spirit during bombing.
REEL 4 Continues: incident of Air Raid Warden being blown into air raid shelter and other incidents during air raids; stories illustrating women's attitude to bombing; Air Raid Warden's story of ending up in Canary Wharf after freeing trapped water; story of East End womens' reaction to visit by Prime Minister Winston Churchill; story of being caught naked in street during air raid; bombing of gin distillery; story of visit by King George VI to Mayor of Poplar; morale of population; evacuation to Buckinghamshire; amusing story of evacuee; evacuation from East End; public morale.
REEL 5 Continues: effect on morale of Lord Haw Haw broadcasts; opinions of Prime Minister Winston Churchill; visit by Clementine Churchill; opinion of role of women during German bombing campaign; amusing story of air raid warden telling a civilian to put a small light out; opinion of role of women.
