The Dulwich area was to suffer serious damage and loss of life from the V1 & V2 attacks. In all the population was to endure 42 V1's and 3 V2's. About 93 died in the attacks
It was established that the mean aiming point of the V1's was (erroneously) North Dulwich station so it is unsurprising that the area suffered so much. It is of note that SE21 Dulwich,much of it Dulwich Estate (with a low density of housing) had a death rate of 0.8 per bomb whereas SE22, a more densley populated suburb 3.04. SE21's figure is more comparable with outer areas such as Croydon. A number of the SE21 Dulwich V1's fell in the numerous green spaces in the area and other fell in areas of large detached houses, bad enough but not as devastating as in the crowded terraces normally found in the inner suburbs. Dulwich recieved multiple V1 attacks. For example the area around South Croxted Road,Park Hall Road and Rosendale Road was to have 4 within a very small area. In East Dulwich there was another very bad cluster in the Underhill Road/Barry Road area where five fell in close proximity. The Dulwich Plough area had 2 V1's and a V2 within a few hundred yards of each other and the degree of damage shown on the bomb damage map was extensive across Lordship Lane, Court Lane, Friern Road and Etherow Street.
Dulwich had a number of very serious incidents in terms of loss of life.
14 died on the 6th July 1944. The Fire Brigade reported the location as 1-3 Woodvale and then another V1 a minute later (see log) . I cannot confirm this double event from the bomb damage maps so there is some doubt as to the 2nd bomb.I have some suspicion that the record is incorrect. although some of the deaths are recorded at 15 Woodvale which is odd as this is some way up the road.
23 died when a V1 hit the Co-op in Lordship lane on the 5th August. The store was totally demolished killing a number of people inside. Other died when they were caught in the blast whilst queuing for a tram
24 died when a V2 struck Friern Road and Etherow street on the 1st November.
Apart from the human tragedy there was serious damage to many fine houses and much loved public buildings. Dulwich picture gallery was very seriously damaged. The Gallery was repaired in the 1950's to the original plans. Dulwich College was also badly damaged as was the library. Some road were visited again and again by Flying bombs, College Road receiived 3, these demolished Woodhall house (on the site of Woodhall Drive) and other large houses further towards the Village. Most houses in College Road were damaged to one extent or another.
It is interesting to review today the material impact that the attacks have had on this area.
In some cases careful reconstruction has been carried out, as with Dulwich Picture Gallery. Another good example of this is the Lovelace Road/Rosendale Road area which had 2 V1 hits on the North side but has been re-built in a sympathetic style.
In Court Lane, a V2 site can be spotted by 1940's houses with metal window frames.
Around Friern Road and Etherow street the site of both a V1 and V2 the transformation is total and post war housing estates dominate.
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