John Clarke and Peter Hodgkinson’s second volume on West Norwood Cemetery’s military heritage focuses on the Second World War.

There are 70 burials and cremations listed in the cemetery of service personnel, with an additional known 34 commemorations on private memorials. In their volume on the First World War, no civilian casualties were listed. Due to the ‘Blitz’ and the V1 and V2 attacks during 1940-41 and 1944-45, 161 civilian casualties are listed in Norwood and the Great War.

The exact number of bombs that fell on Norwood during the Blitz and subsequently is difficult to estimate but 13 V1s and one V2 landed on West Norwood itself, the York Hill area receiving three V1 strikes. Bombs fell in the cemetery damaging family memorials, and a V1 badly damaged the Nonconformist chapel and the Lodge.  There were 17 V1 strikes on South Norwood, and one V2. The picture below shows the devastation of the V2 strike on Regina Road/Sunny Bank north of Norwood Junction on 20 October 1944 which killed 6, one victim being buried at West Norwood.

Herne Hill received five V1 strikes, and Brixton/Streatham Hill was struck by 21 V1s. Dulwich, which became the unwitting German aiming point suffered 41 V1 and thee V2 strikes.

John and Peter’s book, in contrast to their First World War volume, has a strong focus on the civilian experience, discussing shelters, ARP wardens,  firewatchers and the Home Guard.