V1 and V2 Strikes on the UK - test before publication

Some of you will know that I have been compiling a list of all V1 and V2 strikes on the UK (which includes those that landed in the sea, close to the coast).

It is about to go to publication, and I am keen to test the database, to ensure accuracy of locations. This is because the 'strikes' were plotted using army maps and Cassini grid references.

So if you know an exact/approximate location of where a V1 or V2 landed in the UK, I would be grateful if you could test my database.

My database consists of:

Time
Date
Grid Reference (period grid reference and modern GPS coordinates)
Description
Crater size
Damage caused
Casualties (where known)
In the case of a V1 strike, if it was shot down (by AA, Barage Balloon, Fighter, airburst etc)
In the case of a V2 if it exploded on the ground (or airburst)

Your assistance is appreciated.

 

Try this one Pete. Here is a post I did in 2010.

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/18492-new-series-blitz-street/page-3#entry260267

The last civilian killed by a V2 Rocket that landed on Kynaston Road, Orpington, Kent on 27 March 1945. Ivy Millichamp, aged 34. 23 others were injured.

 

Hello Pete

I have photos of the strikes

V1
British Restaurant ,Cumberland Road North Harrow
30th June 1944

V2

Pinner Cemetery,Pinner 20th November 1944

regards
Clive

 

Starting with the British Restaurant:

It was the 1460th V1 to be plotted. It was assigned the 'raid number' of 79H. No hits were claimed on this 'robot' which crashed to earth of its own accord.

Bomb Census department give it as striking earth at 08.15hrs. Fire Brigade record it as 08.17hrs.

Cassini grid given as wL 581091. I have corrected this to 51.58700833N, 0.359625W. The main brunt was borne by 45 to 57 Cumberland Avenue.

I have the names of 4 civilans killed (all but 1 in Cumberland Road), but only have the names of 10 injured who were hospitalised (the others must have been treated at the scene and their names not recorded).

I am missing one killed (service casualty, I assume).

Fire Brigade reports to follow....

 

Pic 1

 

Pic 2

 

Following was pointed out to me 20-odd years ago by an elderly, now deceased, neighbour. There is a faint crop mark visible on Google Earth west of the village of Haddiscoe in Norfolk that was caused by a V2 explosion on October 11th 1944, missile had been fired from the Netherlands according to:- http://www.v2rocket.com/start/deployment/timeline.html

My Google Earth gives the location as 52 deg 31 min 47.53 sec North and 1 deg 34 min 39.21 sec East. Using the rollback to an image taken in 1999 gives a clearer and larger depression than the current image. I believe there were no causalities and property damage was minor.

Hope this helps.

 

Cross-referenced my casualty list and realised that the 'missing' casualty is Robert Brebner Brown, who is incorrectly listed by the CWGC as having died on 30th July (whereas it should be 30th June) 1944. It shows how the blast travelled between houses. He was 2 streets away when struck down by shrapnel that whizzed between houses.....

I have some reports of shrapnel travelling up to a mile away (in rural areas).

 

It does indeed. I was a minute out. Now corrected, thanks. This was the 74th rocket to hit the UK, at 08.10hrs and left a crater 35 feet wide and 10ft deep. Shrapnel hit Haddiscoe Hall apparently.....

I have a lot of respect for the website you linked to, but was surprised to find I have quite a few more missiles than shown by them. There are hundreds of 'Vengeance' files, at the National Archives, and nearly all of them vary (duplicates and 'missing' hits abound). I can see why there would have been issues, especially when a rocket landed, for example, in the Thames. Spotters in Essex would have recorded their coordinates and the spotters in Kent would have given their findings. It has taken me years to sort out the confusion and I was obviously not under the same pressure as those guys were. All in all, I think they did a fantastic job.

 

good day pete wood.m.yesterday.04:28pm.re:V1 AND V2,strikes on the uk,test before publication.i cannot give the exact location.but when they came over we could see them.and watch them faling.we lived in london w.2.and i must add we could hear them clearly.hope you can finish your publication.regards bernard85

 

Hi Pete,

Glad it was of use. I can recall the same neighbour telling me of V2s landing in Breydon Water, to the west of Great Yarmouth, presumably Norwich was the target?

Look forward to seeing your web site when it is completed.

Bye,

Roger

 

V2 Rocket (223rd to land) landed on enclosed ground at Capel Gardens at 01.10hrs (Fire Brigade says 01.19hrs). One house was demolished and a 3 storey block of flats (87 feet from blast) was badly damaged. A NFS station (34 B1Z) had most of its windows blown in. The nearby cemetery also suffered some damage. There were two small fires among the debris.

It left a crater 36ft in diameter, and 12ft deep. 12 people were injured.

 

Photo added which gives the devastation caused

 

Photos added

 

Wellington Barracks....

 

Wellington Barracks

 

I now live just 5 minutes drive from there. I had a little (authorised) dig in one of the adjoining back gardens - and came away with a chunk of V2.

The nice guys at 'After The Battle' were responsible for locating Ivy's resting place, and paying for a headstone.

 

As far as I can make out, the last person to be officially commemorated, by the CWGC, who died as a result of the V1 and V2 raids, was Walter Henry Bryant. He was injured on the 21st July 1944 and died as a result of his injuries on the 27th December 1947.

 

Hi Pete,

Can you give more details of your publication please, e.g. title, date of publication, number of pages and cost etc.

Thank you - I look forward to purchasing a copy.