World War II Today

World War II Today

The Balham Tube Disaster

14th October 1940: Even sheltering in the London Underground, ' the Tube', cannot guarantee safety from German bombs

Oct 14, 2025
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A number 88 bus, travelling in the blackout, drove straight into the crater.

Against the wishes of officialdom, Londoners had demanded access to the London Underground stations and tracks as the nightly bombing raids continued. Conditions were rudimentary at best, with few concessions to public comfort. But usually they were much safer than being anywhere above ground.

There was huge demand for space toshelter on the London underground during the Blitz, probably the safest place to be. Yet nowhere was entirely safe. The Elephant and Castle station was only six stops along the Northern Line from Balham station.

Mike Harris1 recalls sleeping at Balham Underground station before his evacuation from London.

When I was a young boy I remember going down the Underground at Balham station on the Northern Line during the worst of the German air raids. I well remember the sound of the first train in the morning which woke us up from the bunk beds we were sharing. I remember the stuffy atmosphere but the sense of togetherness among the people.

He was fortunate not to be there on the 14th October 1940 when at 8.02pm a 1400 kilo semi-armour piercing bomb penetrated 32 feet underground and exploded just above the cross passage between the two platforms.

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© 2025 Martin Cherrett
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