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Product Description
Product Description
Up until the 20th century warfare was fought on the battlefield; it rarely impacted on the civilian population, unless as with Paris in 1870/71 a major city was under siege. All this changed with the development of aircraft; suddenly there was an additional dimension to warfare. World War 1 saw the first limited raids on urban areas but it was World War 2 that was to force Britain's towns and cities into the front-line. Whilst many town and cities - such as Coventry and Plymouth - suffered severe damage, it was the Greater London area that sustained the longest and most damaging onslaught, from the early bombing raids of 1940 through to the V1s and V2s of the later years of the war. Central to the viability of the city during the war was London Transport; not only did its Underground stations provide essential additional air raid shelters but its buses, trains, trams and trolleybuses had to continue to operate throughout the period, despite sustaining vast damage to vehicles and infrastructure. As with the Metropolis more generally, London Transport battled through the war to emerge victorious at the end. This readable book provides an anecdotal rather than detailed history of London Transport during the period between 1939 and 1945. Michael Baker, who was born just before the war and grew up in London during the period, is a master of narrating a good story interweaved with hard facts. This book will be based around a series of themes - eg dealing with bomb damage, air raids, make do and mend, etc - that will be drawn from personal reminiscences and stories from local newspapers.
About the Author
Now retired after a career in teaching, Michael Baker lives in Wareham, Dorset. A prolific writer, particularly on London where he grew up, he is the author of a number of titles for Ian Allan Publishing. He has contributed all the companion volumes in the London Transport series, and is a hugely popular author among the transport enthusiast fraternity, for whom his engaging writing style is a major draw.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
This book provides an excellent overview of the contribution made by London Transport in World War Two, along with the difficulties it faced during those dangerous and difficult times. Its 144 pages feature 150 black and white illustrations.
The author writes in a flowing style, and includes personal family details amongst the text to help put events into perspective.
Topics covered include the evacuation of children, the effect of fuel rationing on the bus services, conversion of Green Line coaches into ambulances, the withdrawal of Pullman car services from the Metropolitan line, the first bombing raids on London, damage to the Chiltern Court flats above Baker Street underground station, new bus and trolleybus deliveries, the loan of provincial buses to London, the later loan of London buses to other cities, the effects of the V1 "Doodlebug" flying bombs and V2 rockets, and sheltering in the Underground.
Although many people sheltered in the Underground during the blitz, the Underground stations were not totally immune from bomb damage. Seven people were killed in Trafalgar Square station on 12 October 1940, whilst 19 people died the following night at Bounds Green. Disaster struck at Balham underground station on 14 October 1940, when between 65 and 68 people died. A bomb landed in Balham High Road, directly above the Underground station. A double decker bus fell into the bomb crater, but much worse was the fact that the bomb fractured a water main which flooded the (deep level) platforms, bringing with it torrents of sand and ballast. As well as a photo of the bus in the bomb crater, the book includes photos of each platform including the horrific scene of debris almost touching the ceiling of the northbound platform. The last bodies were not removed until eight weeks later, and trains could not run again until January 1941. Sadly, an even greater disaster happened on 3 March 1943. This was not as a result on bomb damage - 173 people were crushed descending the steps to shelter at Bethnal Green (on the unfinished extension of the Central Line between Liverpool Street and Stratford).
Appendices list the bus, trolleybus and tram fleets in September 1939, vehicles destroyed during World War Two, and surviving buses, trolleybuses and trams which are on display to the public, with individual vehicle histories.
Pleasingly, the author also sets the record straight about the death of the well-known vocalist Al Bowlly, who was killed when a landmine exploded outside his flat in Jermyn Street on 17 April 1941. Hundreds of Al's recordings have been reissued on compact disc.
Recommended. For anyone wanting an in-depth study on the subject of sheltering on the Underground, I can recommend The Shelter of the Tubes
The author writes in a flowing style, and includes personal family details amongst the text to help put events into perspective.
Topics covered include the evacuation of children, the effect of fuel rationing on the bus services, conversion of Green Line coaches into ambulances, the withdrawal of Pullman car services from the Metropolitan line, the first bombing raids on London, damage to the Chiltern Court flats above Baker Street underground station, new bus and trolleybus deliveries, the loan of provincial buses to London, the later loan of London buses to other cities, the effects of the V1 "Doodlebug" flying bombs and V2 rockets, and sheltering in the Underground.
Although many people sheltered in the Underground during the blitz, the Underground stations were not totally immune from bomb damage. Seven people were killed in Trafalgar Square station on 12 October 1940, whilst 19 people died the following night at Bounds Green. Disaster struck at Balham underground station on 14 October 1940, when between 65 and 68 people died. A bomb landed in Balham High Road, directly above the Underground station. A double decker bus fell into the bomb crater, but much worse was the fact that the bomb fractured a water main which flooded the (deep level) platforms, bringing with it torrents of sand and ballast. As well as a photo of the bus in the bomb crater, the book includes photos of each platform including the horrific scene of debris almost touching the ceiling of the northbound platform. The last bodies were not removed until eight weeks later, and trains could not run again until January 1941. Sadly, an even greater disaster happened on 3 March 1943. This was not as a result on bomb damage - 173 people were crushed descending the steps to shelter at Bethnal Green (on the unfinished extension of the Central Line between Liverpool Street and Stratford).
Appendices list the bus, trolleybus and tram fleets in September 1939, vehicles destroyed during World War Two, and surviving buses, trolleybuses and trams which are on display to the public, with individual vehicle histories.
Pleasingly, the author also sets the record straight about the death of the well-known vocalist Al Bowlly, who was killed when a landmine exploded outside his flat in Jermyn Street on 17 April 1941. Hundreds of Al's recordings have been reissued on compact disc.
Recommended. For anyone wanting an in-depth study on the subject of sheltering on the Underground, I can recommend The Shelter of the Tubes
Format:Hardcover
Having slated his Past & Present book I thought I'd better redress the balance. An excellent mixture of personal and historical stuff makes for a first class read. Would that all were so good
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I found this book an interesting narrative account of World War II and its effect on London Transport. I felt, however, there was - perhaps - too much emphasis on the former and not enough on the latter. In particular - from a photographic point of view - I would like to have seen many more photographs of damaged vehicles with appropriate descriptions.
John Grant-Silver
Prestwick
Scotland
John Grant-Silver
Prestwick
Scotland
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