The small SE4 postcode was to be badly damaged by 18 V1 Flying bombs and 5 V2 Rockets. As a result at least 92 people were to die..
As was common with other parts of London the Flying bombs had a very unpleasant tendency to cluster in small areas resulting in a high degreee of damage in concentrated areas. The west side of Brockley Road from Beechcroft to Arabin Road was very seriously damaged. 5 flying bombs fell in this small area. London SE4 was also to suffer 5 V2 Rockets attacks and 4 of these were to result in serious loss of life. The worst was at Finland Road on the 2nd February 1945 when 34 people were killed. Other serious incidents occured at Adelaide Avenue on the 17th September (14 dead), Marnock Road on the 11th Febrary (14 dead) and Wickham road on the 11th March (9 dead)..Many parts of SE4 were seriously damaged there were few undamaged building for the length of the Brockley Road from Crofton Park Station to the Northern limit of the postcode past Endwell Road. Other serious incidents occured just outside the area on SE14 and SE8 (New Cross and Deptford)...The death rate per missile in SE4 was 4.00.. Many parts of Brockley still betray the scars of the period. In particular in the Whitebread Road area much post war development is apparent. At Adelaide Avenue a housing estate defines the extent of the blast area,at Finland Road Meadowgate school occupies the site |
