Story of Wandsworth

Balham High Road,
14 October 1940
64 people died in this incident.
They were sheltering on a
platform of Balham tube station,
which ran under the High Road

By the time war was declared in September 1939, local councils had spent many months preparing for air raids. Volunteer rescue teams were ready and stocks of gas masks, corrugated iron shelters and first aid supplies organised. Plans were underway to evacuate local children to the safety of the countryside. Those who did not go away to fight became part of a huge army of munitions workers, fire-fighters, fund-raisers and voluntary helpers of every kind.

As in the previous war, women played a vital role in the workforce. Food, clothing and other essentials were rationed because of shortages. People were encouraged to grow vegetables and keep pigs and hens. Iron railings, paper and other materials were collected for recycling.