FlyingBombsandRockets,V1 & V2 Rotherhithe and Bermondsey

Because of the proximity to the Surrey Docks Bermondsey and Rotherhithe had suffered badly during the 1940-41 Night
Blitz.Much of the dock area had been seriously damaged and great fires had burned out of control. Now the area was to
suffer again as it was hit by 30 V1's and 7 V2's These missiles killed about 84 people.

V1 & V2 logs SE16 Rotherhithe and Bermondsey

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SE16 log : Use scroll bars to see complete list

This was tragic enough but it is noted that the casualty per bomb (2.35 )was lower than in the adjoining areas of SE8 Deptford
(5.22) and SE14 New Cross (14.35). This can be explained because of the make up of the built up area. Whilst parts of it
consisted of tightly packed terraced housing much of the Surrey Quays peninsular was occupied by docks and warehouses. Whilst
the numerous V weapons that fell here caused much destruction and some loss of life this was substantially lower than it would
have been within residential areas.
Many of the V1's on the peninsular fell in the Docks themselves. This includes 2 V1's that struck the SS Tristram which was
moored in Greenland Dock at Brunswick Wharf (now Quay) in separate incidents on the 23rd June and 12th July 1944 killing a
total of 8 people most of them actually on the ship, which was a phosphate carrier.
As with common with other areas some parts of the district were visited over and over by these bombs.In particular the area
around St Olaves Hospital in the Lower Road (on the stretch between Moodkee Street and Gomm Road ) was devastated by no
less than 3 V1's and 2 V2's. This caused extensive damage to St Olaves Hospital and destroyed Rotherhithe Old Town Hall as well
as numerous houses and a church. This is clearly seen today from the fact that no pre war building remains along this stretch of the
Lower Road. The Town Hall site is now re-developed as the Seven Islands Leisure centre.
One of the other parts of SE16 which was heavily damaged was the Southwark Park Road area around the Railway over bridge,
near the current "The Blue " Shopping centre.
This was the result of 2 V2's at more or less the same point on the 26th October and 5th November 1944. One of them actually
penetrated the railway bridge causing the tracks to collapse into the road below. These 2 Rockets killed 11 people between them
and caused devastation to the shopping area and to hundreds of houses. The whole of the shopping area has been re-developed
post war.

PostCode

PostCode	Borough	Type	Area	Position	Deaths	Date	Time	Notes
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Bermondsey	LBSCR By Surrey Canal	0			This V1 on the LBCSR railway by the Surrey Canal is shown on both the bomb damage maps and the local paper maps published after the war. I cannot find a corresponding ARP or Fire Brigade record.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Redriff Road Opposite Canada Dock	0			This V1 in the Redriff Road is shown on the Bomb damage maps but I cannot reconcile it with an incident on the ARP records or Fire Brigade records
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Silwood Street by Railway	0			This V1 in Silwood street is clearly shown on the bomb damage maps but I cannot reconcile it with either the ARP records or Fire Brigade records. As such I can provide no further information. To that extent there may be some doubt as to the accuracy of the bomb damage maps.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Bermondsey	Raymouth Road	7	16/06/1944	00:17	This V1 struck Raymouth Road
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Deptford	Between Croft St and Chilton Grove	18	18/06/1944	01:15	This very serious incident occurred when the V1 struck between Crofton Street and Chilton Street. .8 houses were totally demolished and 200 suffered serious blast damage. The area today has been totally re-developed with local authority housing
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Between Russia and Lady Dock	0	18/06/1944	05:00	This V1 struck Chamberlains wharf between Russia and Lady Dock. There were no casualties but a great deal of damage was caused to both the wharf and it foodstuff contents
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe		1	19/06/1944	17:15	This V1 is not shown on the bomb maps and there is no Fire Brigade record. However, it is shown in both the Bermondsey ARP records and book of war dead. It struck Upper Crane Wharf in the Rotherhithe Street area and caused damaged to Rotherhithe Street,St Marys Church Street and Brunel Road.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Greenland Dock	2	23/06/1944	04:13	This V1 struck the SS Tristam which was standing in Greenland Dock at the time. The V1 hit the portside decking and penetrated though to the engine room. The same ship was struck again by a V1 on the 12st July.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Moodkee Street Lower Road junction	6	23/06/1944	04:13	This was the first of 5 V weapons that were to fall in a very small area of Rotherhithe. This incident was followed by 2 further V1 and2 V2's.. 23 houses demolished This area today it is clear that no pre-war buildings remain demonstrating the sheer extent of the damage around this area,
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	South Wharf. Can�t find it on old Rotherhithe Map. probably by South Dock	0	28/06/1944	03:25	The V1 struck South Wharf in Rotherhithe Street and damaged a range of buildings including some LCC flats.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Nelson Dock	0	30/06/1944	07:55	The V1 plunged into the Thames Adjacent to Nelson Dock. Damage was caused to the wharves and adjacent property. No casualties are reported
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Lawrence Wharf	0	30/06/1944	16:40	The V1 plunged into the river adjacent to Lawrence Wharf. Slight blast damage was caused to the wharf .
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Trinity Wharf	1	05/07/1944	20:04	The V1 struck Trinity Wharf. 1 person was killed and 3 injured. The Motor tug Jean was severely damaged and 5 barges slightly damaged. There was further damage to surrounding property
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Albion Dock NE Side	0	09/07/1944	14:06	This V1 descended on Albion Dock and exploded on impact with baulks of floating timber in the dock. A 1 storey brick building was severely damaged. An invasion barge, barge sections,4 temporary wooden structures and surrounding property damaged.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Centre Yard ( was to North East of Albion Dock)	0	11/07/1944	11:26	6 people were injured when the V1 hit Centre yard which was to the North East of Albion dock
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Russia Rock NE corner	0	11/07/1944	17:45	The V1 exploded on floating timber in Russia dock. 2 people were injured
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Greenland Dock	6	12/07/1944	15:24	This was the second V1 to hit the SS Tristam which was moored in Greenland Dock, by Brunswick yard. There was severe damage to 3 and 4 holds. The nearby SS Peebles was also damaged.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Russia Dock	0	17/07/1944	04:41	This V1 is reported as an airburst over Russia Dock by the Fire Brigade but no reference can be found on bomb damage maps or ARP records. The Fire Brigade state that there was no damage .
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	South Wharf	4	17/07/1944	07:53	The V1 struck South Wharf causing severe damage to Dock buildings.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Henwood Road	5	18/07/1944	02:34	The V1 struck in Henwood Road . It demolished Green and Silley Weir the ship repairers 40 houses and a public baths in Gomm Road damaged.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	South Wharf	5	31/07/1944	15:04	The V1 struck on the Thames foreshore by South Wharf pier causing much blast damage.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Bermondsey	Bermondsey Wall	3	04/08/1944	18:09	This V1 struck Bond Wharfs on the Bermondsey wall killing 3 people and injuring 9 others. The wharfs were used to store grain and the collapse of the buildings released this. Combined with floods of water from fire brigade house this caused a huge mass which blocked Bermondsey Wall and Loftie Street. In Loftie Street houses and yards were filled to a depth of 3-4 feet and there was a constant stream of water from the fire fighting. It was Christmas before demolition and clearance had started. By this time the grain had taken root and started growing.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Rotherhithe new Road/Bush Road SW quadrant	0	12/08/1944	03:11	The V1 hit in the South West Quadrant of the Rotherhithe New Road Bush Road junction. There was substantial damage to the area. 7 houses and 5 shops were demolished in Bush Road. The Ion cinema which had been previously bombed was completely demolished, A substation severely damaged. The Midway Place LCC school, Westfield House Flats and all property bordered by Oldfield Grove, Rotherhithe New Road, Bush Road and Midway Place damaged. A gas main was fractured.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Neptune st Lower Road junction	0	13/08/1944	07:54	This was the second of 5 V weapons that fell in a very small area around St Olaves Hospital in the lower road causing major devastation. There was severe damage to Rotherhithe Great Hall (Town Hall) a church and St Olaves Hospital which suffered damage to a third of its buildings. 100 other houses and buildings in the surrounding area were damaged
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Lawrence Wharf	3	17/08/1944	09:23	The V1 struck Lawrence Wharf . There was a small fire and surrounding property was damaged.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Lower Ordnance Wharf Rotherhithe St	0	24/08/1944	19:25	This V1 struck Lower Ordnance Wharf in Rotherhithe Street which was next to the top end of Lavender Wharf. No casualties are reported. The bomb in on the bomb maps and reported by the Fire Brigade but cannot be found in the ARP records.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Sunderland Wharf	0	24/08/1944	20:17	Picked up from Fire Brigade report. Not on bomb maps or ARP Records. No other details recorded
SE16	Bermondsey	V2	Bermondsey	Junction of Southwark Park Road and John Bull Arch	8	26/10/1944	08:40	The first V2 Rocket to strike Bermondsey exploded In the Southwark Park Road by John Bull Arch killing 8 people and causing major damage in the area. The extent of the damage caused by this rocket and the further one in almost the same location on 5th November was major, as is demonstrated by the extent of post war re-development in this area around the Blue shopping centre.
SE16	Bermondsey	V2	Rotherhithe	South Dock (by lock)	0	31/10/1944	07:45	This V2 Rocket struck Swedish Quays by South Dock. 16 people were injured. Damage buildings included the Dog Public house
SE16	Bermondsey	V2	Bermondsey	Southwark Park Road on railway bridge	3	05/11/1944	10:55	This V2 in the Southwark Park Road was at much the same location as the one on 26th October. This one penetrate the railway over bridge at this point which collapsed into the road. 123 houses and shops were rendered unfit for habitation. There has been major post war re-development at this point which is now part of the Blue shopping centre.
SE16	Bermondsey	V2	Rotherhithe	Neptune st Lower Road junction	0	14/11/1944	22:25	The 3rd of 5 V weapons that were to strike this small part of Rotherhithe. This actually fell on the forecourt of St Olaves Hospital which again suffered bad damaged and had to be evacuated. Amazingly no-one was killed. The Rotherhithe great hall previously damaged by a V1 was now completely destroyed.
SE16	Dulwich/Camberwell	V2	Bermondsey	Varcoe Road	20	06/12/1944	02:35	The Following report for this incident was found in the public record office : LRR fell and was a direct hit on houses on the South side of Varcoe rd at its junction with Creedon rd and adjacent to the surrey canal. Complete destruction of 8 houses and damage beyond repair to 12 in Creedon Road. No crater was seen. Blast damaged more than usually serious due to poor construction of house and the degree of demolition of the houses directly hit was extraordinary. A high death toll, people were in bed and shelters were not in use. The escape unscathed of a number of people from partially demolished houses is almost inexplicable.
SE16	Southwark	V2	UNKNOWN	Unknown	0	12/12/1944	04:24
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Neptune st Lower Road junction	0	03/03/1945	03:07	This was the 4 of 5 V weapons to fall in a small area of Rotherhithe. It fell on open ground in an area previously blasted. This was bounded by Moodkee Street ,Neptune Street and Lower Road. A 2 storey block of flats suffered some slight blast damage.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Plough Way	0	04/03/1945	05:40	This V1 was reported as an airburst over Plough Way. The exact position was 30 yards north of Plough Lane and 25 yards west of the junction with Grove Street. Some damage was reported in the area but no casualties.
SE16	Bermondsey	V1	Rotherhithe	Swedish yard	0	05/03/1945	11:20	This V1 hit Swedish Yard and badly damaged the top 2 floors of a 4 storey warehouse. A Railway pumping station was also damaged. 1 person was injured. The V1 is reported by both the Fire Brigade and ARP but does not appear on the bomb damage maps.
SE16	Bermondsey	V2	Rotherhithe	Gomm Road behind N side	0	26/03/1945	04:20	This was the lasts V2 to strike Bermondsey and exploded behind Gomm Road by the nurses home of St Olaves Hospital. It was the 5th of 5 V weapons to strike this small area of Rotherhithe. It badly damaged this building as well as 2 greenhouses and a conservatory. All of the Gomm Road houses were rendered uninhabitable. Property was also damaged in Stalham Street and Hickling Streets.