home front

Whittaker Road, Mobile Canteen.19/3/41.(5)

Boardmans removal van staff and civil defence workers gather round the Mobile Canteen.

From the Thompson collection of glass negatives of East Ham War damage. In Newham Heritage and Archives.

Whittaker Road, Mobile Canteen.19/3/41.(5)

Skeffington Ave. War damage. 3/8/44. (4)

House repairs to minor bomb damage.

From the Thompson collection of glass negatives of East Ham War damage. In Newham Heritage and Archives.

Skeffington Ave. War damage. 3/8/44. (4)

Skeffington Ave. War damage. 3/8/44. (3)

Volunteers ready to work clearing war damage, after the bombs.

From the Thompson collection of glass negatives of East Ham War damage. In Newham Heritage and Archives.

Skeffington Ave. War damage. 3/8/44. (3)

VE Day in Baxter Road

The whole street turned out for a party to celebrate the end of the War. If you recognise someone in the picture do let us know.

Queens Road, Nissen Huts

Queens Road, 1st May 1945. Nissen huts were erected to provide temporary housing for familes who were 'bombed out' during the Second World War.

VE Day, Chesley Gardens

By James Briggs

May 1945. Chesley Gardens, London E6. Street party to celebrate VE Day. The Union flag is on number 11.

Air Raid Shelters Poster

Notice encouraging East Ham residents to build their own shelters.

Photo: Newham Heritage & Archives

Victory in Europe Day Celebrations in Stratford Broadway, 8th May 1945. The war ended in Europe in May 1945 and against Japan in August 1945. As elsewhere around the country, people took to the streets on impulse to celebrate. Almost every street in East and West Ham organised a street party. The cost of the war had been high. Nearly 3,000 local people had lost their lives. Approximately 16,000 homes had been destroyed with many thousands more damaged. The area had lost about a quarter of its homes and the population declined too.

Photo: Newham Heritage & Archives