On the 8th March 1945 at 11.30 a V2 Struck Smithfield Market. This was the
building which stood on the corner of
Charterhouse Street and Farringdon
Road. The Rocket penetrated to the railway tunnels which lie beneath this
area and were originally used as sidings for the market.  There was a huge
explosion which was heard all over London and the market buildings then
collapsed into the void below. A massive crater formed filled with the rubble
of the devastated buildings. The market was very busy at this time with both
market workers and those queuing for produce. Many of the victims of this V2
fell through the floor of the market into the railway below. In all 110 people
were to die in this attack and numerous more were seriously injured. There
were many women and children amongst the dead who had gone to the market
to try and obtain one of a consignment of rabbits that had gone on saleThis
dreadful death toll occurred only two weeks before the end of the V2 strikes.
Today there is no trace of the Victorian market buildings that stood at this
point. They have been replaced by a typical 1960's office block.
Smithfield Market
Next : V1 & V2 Incident Logs