Comments on: The Bethnal Green Tube disaster http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:41:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Terry Saunders http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-116532 Terry Saunders Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:35:30 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-116532 I remember my Mum telling us that when she visited Bethnal green hospital to see her Mother at that time she had to walk past tons of dead bodies in her walk to the ward. She knew nothing of the disaster and wondered what was going on. I think he may have been mistaken but my Dad mentioned that he was told that local pickpockets were at work at the time and were thought to have panicked people and caused the disaster. I remember my Mum telling us that when she visited Bethnal green hospital to see her Mother at that time she had to walk past tons of dead bodies in her walk to the ward. She knew nothing of the disaster and wondered what was going on.
I think he may have been mistaken but my Dad mentioned that he was told that local pickpockets were at work at the time and were thought to have panicked people and caused the disaster.

]]> By: anna courts http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-106373 anna courts Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:17:04 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-106373 Dear Sarah Barratt you can see a list of names on the stairway to heaven web site. My neighbour Joan Elsom was 19 and she was the first one to take the phone call at control headquarters on that terrible night. she had to type the list of names, she wasnt allowed to talk about it and when she eventually was allowed home two days later she wasn t even allowed to tell her parents. At 19 this must have been dreadful for her, it has stayed with her all her life, she is now an amazing lady of 86, with the most remarkable memory. she has wrtten her account of The tube disaster and sent it to Alf who was saved at the age of 7 and has campaigned for a fitting memorial for the people who lost their lives. So hope this helps you. regards anna courts Dear Sarah Barratt you can see a list of names on the stairway to heaven web site. My neighbour Joan Elsom was 19 and she was the first one to take the phone call at control headquarters on that terrible night. she had to type the list of names, she wasnt allowed to talk about it and when she eventually was allowed home two days later she wasn t even allowed to tell her parents. At 19 this must have been dreadful for her, it has stayed with her all her life, she is now an amazing lady of 86, with the most remarkable memory. she has wrtten her account of The tube disaster and sent it to Alf who was saved at the age of 7 and has campaigned for a fitting memorial for the people who lost their lives. So hope this helps you. regards anna courts

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-71043 Brett Holman Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:29:27 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-71043 As it happens, I can, but only because a post by <a href="http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html#4787324548453135568" rel="nofollow">diamond geezer</a> has just popped up with the answer in my RSS reader! There's a group trying to raise funds to build a more striking memorial to the Bethnal Green tragedy, and they have a website with a list of names of the dead: <a href="http://stairwaytoheavenmemorial.org/" rel="nofollow">http://stairwaytoheavenmemorial.org/</a>. As it happens, I can, but only because a post by diamond geezer has just popped up with the answer in my RSS reader! There’s a group trying to raise funds to build a more striking memorial to the Bethnal Green tragedy, and they have a website with a list of names of the dead: http://stairwaytoheavenmemorial.org/.

]]> By: Sara Barratt http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-71033 Sara Barratt Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:16:32 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-71033 Does anyone know where I can get a list of names of those who died? I vaguely remember my grandmother saying she was there with her sister. Can anyone advise me? Thanks. Sara Does anyone know where I can get a list of names of those who died? I vaguely remember my grandmother saying she was there with her sister.

Can anyone advise me?

Thanks. Sara

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-376 Brett Holman Thu, 09 Mar 2006 04:12:06 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-376 When I get to London I'll have to visit Befnal Green and check it out! When I get to London I’ll have to visit Befnal Green and check it out!

]]> By: Alex http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-374 Alex Wed, 08 Mar 2006 10:35:29 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-374 There is a small monument near the tube station. There is a small monument near the tube station.

]]> By: Jack http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-372 Jack Tue, 07 Mar 2006 14:20:13 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-372 Bethnal Green, or 'Befnal Green', as it comes out in cockney pronunciation, is still a predominantly working-class area. In fact, it still comes very close to the quintessential London 'East End' (and even "EastEnders") cockney stereotype - with the welcome added factor that it is now a highly multicultural area. I had a little look around recently, as it is where The People Show, who I've been researching and blogging about, are based. It is also very close to Mile End, home of Queen Mary, University of London. As you know, it was the whole Bethnal Green-Bow-Mile End-Stepney Green area, i.e., the historic East End, which was hit particularly hard by the Blitz. (One stated aim of basing the 2012 Olypics in nearby Stratford is to help 'regenerate' this whole area...) Bethnal Green, or ‘Befnal Green’, as it comes out in cockney pronunciation, is still a predominantly working-class area. In fact, it still comes very close to the quintessential London ‘East End’ (and even “EastEnders”) cockney stereotype – with the welcome added factor that it is now a highly multicultural area. I had a little look around recently, as it is where The People Show, who I’ve been researching and blogging about, are based. It is also very close to Mile End, home of Queen Mary, University of London. As you know, it was the whole Bethnal Green-Bow-Mile End-Stepney Green area, i.e., the historic East End, which was hit particularly hard by the Blitz. (One stated aim of basing the 2012 Olypics in nearby Stratford is to help ‘regenerate’ this whole area…)

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-371 Brett Holman Tue, 07 Mar 2006 13:37:49 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-371 You're exactly right about the shame/guilt, Jack! In fact I think there is a lot of that sort of thinking going on in predictions of the knock-out blow, particularly where the working classes were involved (not sure what Bethnal Green is like now, but back then it was definitely working class). It was assumed they would behave irrationally in air raids and be a major part of the problem; the government even considered cordoning off London with troops and police in order to prevent workers from fleeing in panic. The "Blitz spirit" was something of a surprise then, and a welcome one, but probably it was all too easy to slip back into the pre-war language when things like Bethnal Green happened, or maybe more that negative assumptions about the working classes resurfaced when they had a chance. You’re exactly right about the shame/guilt, Jack! In fact I think there is a lot of that sort of thinking going on in predictions of the knock-out blow, particularly where the working classes were involved (not sure what Bethnal Green is like now, but back then it was definitely working class). It was assumed they would behave irrationally in air raids and be a major part of the problem; the government even considered cordoning off London with troops and police in order to prevent workers from fleeing in panic. The “Blitz spirit” was something of a surprise then, and a welcome one, but probably it was all too easy to slip back into the pre-war language when things like Bethnal Green happened, or maybe more that negative assumptions about the working classes resurfaced when they had a chance.

]]> By: Jack http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-368 Jack Sun, 05 Mar 2006 16:19:47 +0000 http://airminded.org/2006/03/04/the-bethnal-green-tube-disaster/#comment-368 Another great post, Brett, and on an event which I'm constantly surprised is still not widely known about - even amongst the thousands who, like myself, regularly travel through Bethnal Green on the Central Line. However, from what I've read on it, there are almost-intangible factors of human 'guilt' and 'shame' to add to the secrecy of the government report, and the general confusion and sheer terror. The awful sense that people's own actions - albeit _entirely_ understandable - contributed to the horrific event makes it all the more tragic. There was a decent piece on this in The Guardian's Saturday supplement a couple of years back (maybe for the 60th anniversary?) which you might want to look for in the Guardian's online archive. Another great post, Brett, and on an event which I’m constantly surprised is still not widely known about – even amongst the thousands who, like myself, regularly travel through Bethnal Green on the Central Line.

However, from what I’ve read on it, there are almost-intangible factors of human ‘guilt’ and ’shame’ to add to the secrecy of the government report, and the general confusion and sheer terror. The awful sense that people’s own actions – albeit _entirely_ understandable – contributed to the horrific event makes it all the more tragic.

There was a decent piece on this in The Guardian’s Saturday supplement a couple of years back (maybe for the 60th anniversary?) which you might want to look for in the Guardian’s online archive.

]]>