Gloucester Street SW1

10 November 1940

By Amy Heaney

Just before 9pm on 10 November 1940, a high explosive bomb detonated here. It destroyed three houses, damaged water and coal gas mains and sparked a fire at the top end of Gloucester Street off Denbigh Street. This rendered access to the scene more difficult as Gloucester Street was already inaccessible by vehicle from nearby Belgrave Road. The destruction caused the closure of 160 metres of Gloucester Street from St.George’s Drive to Denbigh Street.

The response team immediately established the number of casualties at a minimum of four. In the next two hours, two rescue parties, a stretcher party, two doctors and several ambulance teams were called to the scene. Three casualties were taken for medical treatment. When the incident was declared closed, at least one and possibly two bodies remained trapped under the debris; these victims would remain there until later recovery crews were able to remove them.