The Wiseworld Observer

Bethnal Green entrance in wartime

On March 3rd 1943, the worst civilian disaster of WWII took place as people sought safety from an air raid.

The Bethnal Green tube station was part of the Central Line extension east of Liverpool Street, which commenced in 1936. With the outbreak of war, work ceased on the extension, leaving Bethnal Green almost complete, but without track. The depth of the station made it ideal as an air raid shelter; it could accommodate some 7,000 people.  Locals preferred the relative comfort of the station rather than the cramped and dingy Andersen or Morrison shelters at home.

At 8.17pm, the air raid warning sounded.

Air raid warnings were part of everyday life and a well practice routine. Things had been a bit quieter lately, but retaliation was expected after Berlin had been bombed 2 nights previously. As the siren sounded, three buses unloaded their passengers and a cinema evacuated their customers so they could take safe shelter.

Bethnal Green stairs (4 March 1943)

Although crowded, everything was in order until a woman carrying a baby tripped and fell as she went down the steps to the platform The man behind her tripped over her, and the domino effect took over, compounded by the fact that permanent stair rails were yet to be fitted.

At 8.27pm, further panic ensued at the top of the stairs as unfamiliar heavy explosions were heard, and people pushed into the shelter unaware of the horror in front of the. The unfamiliar explosions were an anti-aircraft unit testing an experimental rocket weapon in nearby Victoria Park.

About 300 were crushed into the stairway measuring about 15 x 11 feet. When they were pulled out 27 men, 84 women and 62 children had been crushed to death, with a further 60 surviving but requiring hospital treatment.

When their bodies were recovered, Kenny had the impression of a hobnail boot on his face. George senior had been carrying Maureen and he was found with his arms outstretched, where he had tried to throw Maureen clear of the mass of people.

Maureen was pulled out alive and was taken to hospital, where my great grandmother stayed with her. She intended to bring her up if she pulled through. Unfortunately Maureen died about 5 hours later. She died with a tear in her eye.

Lorraine Smith

Tragically, no air raid took place that night, the disaster was a direct result of the panic induced by the new weapon being tested. Lack of proper hand rails, lack of supervision and light (due to the blackout) also played their part.
Little mention was made of this in the press at the time to maintain morale – even the results of the Government enquiry were delayed until after the war.

We were just told to lay out the bodies and then load them on to lorries. One or two near the bottom were still alive. But most of the faces, they were all purple and mauve.

Jimmy Hunt (aged 15 at the time)

This is necessarily a brief outline of 2 minutes in time that had a devastating impact on the local community.
Much of this information has been gleaned from the Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust, which aims keep the memories of the heroes and victims of this awful night alive.

Please pay them a visit for further information, including first hand accounts, and make sure those that died are never forgotten.