Sudden death in London

4th January 1945: Women and children across London must face up to random explosions bringing death and destruction to their communities

V-2 rockets on their first launch pads in Germany in 1942. They became operational in 1944.

The German V2 rocket attacks continued, with most rockets aimed at either Antwerp or London. The 4th January was a particularly bad day for casualties in London, with a number of rockets falling in heavily populated areas.

Fifteen V2 rockets are known to have been fired at England on 4th January 1945. They were all aimed at London but fell over a wide area from Hertfordshire in the north-west to Essex in the north-east and Surrey in the south. Several exploded prematurely in the air or fell in open countryside, causing no casualties. But five fell within London, causing fatalities. The worst incidents were in West Ham, (14 Dead, 30 seriously injured), Dalston (15 dead, 27 seriously injured) and Lambeth (43 dead, 26 seriously injured)¹.

Forest Road, Dalston, showing the destruction of houses and the Library, with various people standing on site, following an attack by German rocket bombs (V.2's), 4th January 1945.

There was no warning, no sirens or even the sound of an approaching rocket. The sound of the rocket exploding was the first thing that survivors heard, then the sound of the sonic boom of the rocket, travelling faster than the speed of sound - and sometimes the sound of the brief roar of the rocket itself as it hurtled to earth caught up with it.