December 29th 2024.
It was a hazy morning in London 84 years ago today, as smoke filled the narrow streets of the capital. The aftermath of the worst night of the Blitz was evident as Londoners woke up to a city shrouded in a thick layer of smoke. It was a night that no one would forget, as more than 100,000 bombs were dropped across the city by Luftwaffe planes during World War Two. The destruction was immense, and even American journalist Ernie Pyle, who witnessed the chaos, described it as the "Second Great Fire of London."
It all began at around 6:15 pm on December 29, 1940, when the deafening roar of planes could be heard overhead. For the next three hours, the city was under attack, with bombs raining down on central London, causing widespread destruction. The area within a square mile was completely destroyed, and the impact was felt even further, with smoke visible for miles.
The death toll was staggering, with 160 people killed instantly and many more succumbing to their injuries in the following days. In his account of the night, Mr. Pyle wrote, "For on that night, this old city was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen, despite the destruction." He described the unforgettable image of the entire horizon lined with fires, some of them reaching up to the sky. And amidst it all, stood the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral, unscathed.
Although the area around St. Paul's was left in ruins, the cathedral itself was spared, thanks to the designated watch set up after Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared, "St. Paul's must be saved at all costs." Despite 28 incendiary bombs landing on the cathedral that night, it remained standing tall, resulting in a now-iconic photo named "St. Paul's Survives."
But the devastation was not limited to St. Paul's. The majority of the bombs used that night were incendiary, which meant that the fires spread quickly and were challenging to extinguish. The River Thames, which could have been a crucial source of water for the fire services, was at low tide, making it challenging to pump water to fight the flames.
As the night wore on, the city slept in underground stations for safety, while brave firefighters battled the blazes. Children were rescued from bombed-out buildings, and the city's landscape was changed forever. The Nazis had intended to destroy the center of the City of London, targeting train stations and other key areas. The Dean of St. Paul's at the time, W.R. Matthews, recalled the terrifying experience in his book, "St. Paul's Cathedral in Wartime."
Despite the chaos and destruction, life went on as normal in the aftermath. A milkman was even seen on his regular route, a small but significant reminder that Londoners were determined to carry on. The city was not defeated, and the people were resilient, even in the face of such devastation.
The night of December 29, 1940, was the worst of the Blitz, but it was just one of many. Over the course of the next eight months, London suffered 71 aerial attacks, with the bombing continuing for 57 consecutive nights. The toll was immense, with over 20,000 people losing their lives, and 1.5 million left homeless. The London landscape was changed more significantly than at any other time since the Great Fire of 1666.
The Blitz may have been one of the darkest periods in London's history, but it also brought out the best in its people. The resilience and strength shown by Londoners during those difficult times will never be forgotten. And as we look back on that fateful night 84 years ago, we remember the bravery of those who fought to save their city and the sacrifices made by those who lost their lives.
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