29th Dec 1940

[antarmike]

On the evening of 29th December 1940, London suffers its most devastating air raid so far, when German planes firebomb the city. Hundreds of fires caused by the exploding bombs engulfed areas of London, but fire fighters showed a valiant indifference to the bombs falling around them and saved much of the city from destruction. The next day, a newspaper photo of St. Paul’s Cathedral standing (almost) undamaged amid the smoke and flames seemed to symbolise the capital’s unconquerable spirit during the Blitz.

[Snapper]

We have similar shots taken from the roof of the Times office at Queen Victoria Street, which was itself blitzed, but others were also taken from Unilever House and the Daily Mail's building in Tudor Street. They are all brilliant snaps. There is a classic old book, The City That Would Not Die from 1953 (ish) and the more recent Blitz, which tell the story of these nightmare days brilliantly. Highly recommended.

 

MB

[antarmike]

1st Jan 1941

The Blitz continues. London wakes to find the previous night's bombing has destroyed or badly damaged the Old Bailey, the Guildhall, and eight churches by Christopher Wren.