Raith, wonderful story, they were characters those that returned. My father at the end of his life went to Burma, I believed he paid for it, but only a fraction of the cost, it was organised by the Royal British Legion and the Burma Star organisation. He went to Kohima and Imphal to the big war cemetery, he was in his 80’s when he went, and some Gurkhas who were older than him marched for 2 to 3 days to meet the veterans. His visit was to lay the ghosts of something that happen in the war and say goodby to someone he fought alongside, it’s a tragic story which I told before, I won’t repeat it. But the trip done the job, his nightmares disappeared and he died at peace with himself and the long gone comrade.
Brilliant in our road, must’ve been at least 2/3 of the 60 houses out with bunting, flags, garden furniture and BBQ’s on the front drive. My missus stuck a note through every door encouraging people and it paid off. We spoke to people we never had done before. Plenty were still sitting out late into the evening. Real community spirit with music and loads of laughs. Just a shame we couldn’t have shut the road off and done it properly
The house I grew up in at Kinveachy Gardens SE7 was severely damaged by a high explosive bomb but not demolished. The bomb fell directly opposite and I’m guessing about 8 - 10 houses destroyed. A small block was built on that site opposite my house in the late fifties I think.
A picture in today's paper of a pretty 11 year old Russian girl in a girl guides type uniform, standing on pads of nails in celebration of the (then) Soviet Union's victory over the Nazis .. strange celebration but presumably meant to indicate how tough and resilient Russia still is
Brilliant in our road, must’ve been at least 2/3 of the 60 houses out with bunting, flags, garden furniture and BBQ’s on the front drive. My missus stuck a note through every door encouraging people and it paid off. We spoke to people we never had done before. Plenty were still sitting out late into the evening. Real community spirit with music and loads of laughs. Just a shame we couldn’t have shut the road off and done it properly
same - luckily our road is shut off at end with a barrier so everybody ended up there - socially distanced although the booze did make people forget occasionally unfortunately - no closer than people walking past each other in supermarket aisles and the like mind you.
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https://thamesandhudson.com/catalog/product/view/id/3267/s/the-london-county-council-bomb-damage-maps-1939-1945-9780500518250/category/2/
Map shows clearly the houses hit by a V1 (doodlebug) (Charlton Village end) and also, nearer the Thorntree Road end, by the V2.