BETHNAL GREEN UNDERGROUND DISASTER 3rd March 1943

From my collection




Bethnal Green Tube Disaster :The Stairway to Heaven Memorial

 

Original memorial plaque at the entrance to Bethnal Green Station from my collection

 

There was quite a large amount of people attending this year, the 75th anniversary.

Several survivors were in attendance. We sat behind someone who just missed being in the crush on the night of the incident.

During the service all of the victims names were read out, some by family members directly affected - Derek Spicer and Sandra Scotting. Also Patron Harry Harris and Tommy Walsh read out names. Harry Harris is a documentary maker and was, or still is a black taxi cab driver.

As the 173 names were read out a candle was lit for each person.

Two pieces of verse were read out: 'Looking Down On You,' by Joyce Hampton and 'One Night in Bethnal Green,' by Chris Stanfield and read out by Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.

Sandra mentioned Dr. Joan Martin who died recently aged 102. She had been on duty the night of the tragedy in 1943. Her memories never faded.

After a very special service the congregation walked across the road to place tributes at the memorial before returning to the church for refreshment.

 

Sunday 4.3.2018 Commemoration service images:

 

More images 4.3.18
image 1. Tommy Walsh
image 2 General view of memorial
image 3. Harry Harris
image 4. Bab's Clark, survivor.
image 5. left to right - Sandra Scotting - Stairway To Heaven Memorial Trust Secretary; M.P. for Bethnal Green and Bow Rushanara Ali; Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs; and Harry Harris.
image 6. Civil Defence actors *
image 7. Harry Harris with Sandra
image 8. The candles that were lit as each victims name was read out by Fr. Alan Green.
image 9. Some of the survivors, and relatives.
image 10. The architect for the memorial Harry Paticas can be seen standing to the right and slightly above of Sandra Scotting- red scarf - (he has black hair).



* A play about the memorial is being held locally. These actors (not re enactors) came along to take part in the service.

The service was filmed by several concerns. It will appear on the 'Inside Out' programme, the London screened version tomorrow night:
Inside Out London - 05/03/2018 Go to 9 mins 30 secs.

Another company was making a documentary. Not sure when that will be screened but no doubt it will be listed on the S.T.H.M. Trust website

 

Bab's Clark's tribute to Dr.Joan Martin who died in January. (image's 2 and 4).

 

A service to remember the victims of the tube tragedy will take place this afternoon at 1400. hours at St. Johns church.

Here is a link to a BBC radio London interview about Dr. Joan Martin. This lady was a junior casualty doctor at the time of the tragedy. She often attended the commemoration services and lived to be 102 years old.

 

This years commemoration service takes place on Sunday 1st March at 2pm:

St John's Bethnal Green church then the laying of flowers after the service at the memorial next to the church.


The architect of the memorial, Harry Paticas was awarded an MBE in the New Year's honour list.


There will be an exhibition at the Bancroft Road library starting on the 6th March for four weeks called 'Women in History.' This will also feature women who were involved with the Bethnal disaster.

 

https://www.ideastore.co.uk/assets/documents/Local History Archives Online/BG Disaster WHM Exhibition Booklet FINAL UPLOAD.pdf

 

This years commemoration service has had to be cancelled but the organizers are looking into the possibility of holding an 'online service.' If this goes ahead we should hear how to access it.

Some pictures attached of actress Barbara Windsor (RIP) who attended 7th March 2010.

 

For those who may not be aware, Sandra Scotting, one of the driving forces behind establishing the memorial was in 2019 awarded the MBE for her efforts. Sandra is a quiet and reserved person and did not seek any recognition but the award was well deserved.


Sandra Scotting, who fought for Bethnal Green air raid disaster memorial, made MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours | East London Advertiser

 

Due to the Covid restrictions the annual commemoration service for the victims of the tragedy was held 'on line' on Sunday 7th March.

It is now available on YouTube Link here:

It is obviously nothing compared to the usual service whereby the atmosphere of physically being in the church makes a big difference especially when the names are read out.

None the less those who died have been remembered.

 

This film was made ten years ago. It's 27 minutes long and still worth watching.

In Memoriam on Vimeo

 

The memorial service took place today. The 3rd March was the 80th anniversary.
During the service the second reading was carried out by HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

The service was well attended.

Afterwards those attending proceeded across the road to place flowers around the memorial. The local Fire Brigade provided a Guard of Honour into the memorial site. Here a two minutes silence was observed.

This was the last church commemoration service. Next year there will be just a commemoration a the memorial and on the actual 3rd March, not the Sunday closest.

Harry Harris took part as did Tommy Walsh. Both read names of the deceased as did The Duke of Gloucester.

My old mum now 92, can still remember her father coming home after he was sent to remove the tangled dead bodies from the staircase. He was a member of the Mile End Home Guard. As a teenager, probably when I was about fifteen I can just about remember him trying to tell me about it.....wish I'd listened.

Images:

Alf Morris - in the wheel chair. He survived by being pulled out by a warden. Alf campaigned hard and long for a memorial.

Harry Harris and Tommy Walsh leaving the church to cross to the memorial.

Group image - families connected to those lost in the tragedy.

One candle was lit for each person lost in the tragedy. After the service many images were shown of those who died on the screen behind the candle table.

Bethnal Green tube station disaster (WWII) memorial, 80 years on in London (UK) - Bing video

 

The service for the 80th year commemoration can be seen on YouTube now:

 

A few update photos taken 27/7/23

 

Bethnal Green Tube Disaster - Historic UK