“Descending on London from a height of 50 miles, these ballistic missiles with 2,000lb warhead caused larger crater and damaged even more subterranean utilities services than the V1s although their surface blast effect was generally smaller… V weapons killed over 2,800 Londoners and seriously injured another 6,200 ”  (Robin Woolven, London County Council Bomb Damage Maps 1939-45, 2005)

DORA PROJECT was keen to hear from London survivors and families who were victims of V2s. The Commemorative Public Events were  opportunities to come together to remember and reflect upon these historical events and commemorate, more than 70 years after the end of WW2 and the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camps. Françoise Dupré lived and worked in South East London for more than three decades and was keen to focus on the impact the V2s on people’s life in this area.  

DORA PROJECT Commemorative Public Events in South East London (2014-2016)

Local History groups, individuals with a passion for their history, residents, community groups, artists, lecturers and students were invited to contribute and take part in the events.

Following a pre-launch event at the Deptford Town Hall, in November 2014, DORA PROJECT  led three Commemorative Public Events in Greenwich (St Alfege Church Hall) and New Cross (St James Centre, Goldsmiths). The third event, in collaboration with The Peckham Society was held at Peckham Platform during DORA PROJECT exhibition (8 April-8 May 2016). The event commemorated Peckham and Southwark’s V2 rocket victims.  Participants shared memories and discussed the impact theses attacks had on people’s lives and surroundings.

For the events, Dupré made a series of 20 display panels, storyboards that weave together through texts and images, the story of her uncle with those of Londoners, and rocket engineers.  Research at Greenwich Heritage Centre, Southwark Local History Library and Archive and Lewisham Local History and Archives were extremely useful. The boards formed the visual focus of the events, introducing participants to DORA PROJECT’s content. For the first two events,  Rebecca Snow’s film was projected. Grey Area: a map sketched in film was made in response to the artist’s 2014 visit to the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp memorial site in Germany.  The Museum Group, based on New Cross Road contributed to the events with a display of WW2 archive materials.

On view and for sale at the events were reprints of the 1994 Rations & Rubble, Remembering Woolworths published by Deptford Forum Publishing. Edited by Jess Steele, the booklet is a remarkable act of remembrance containing tragic yet immensely brave human stories of the 25 November 1944 V2 attack on New Cross Road. Do make sure you get a copy! Contact directly Deptford Forum Publishing.

The third and last Commemorative Public Event, at Peckham Platform, 2016 brought together many participants who had attended the previous events.  Local visitors were curious to find out more about the V2 sites and other WW2 sites.   The event also prompted participants to talks about their own family’s history though it might have nothing to do with WW2 and many said that they felt inspired by the project to research a relative’s story.  Without brass bands and speeches, the events were extremely successful in connecting artists, V2 survivors, and victim families as well as introducing a younger generation to important historical moments that continue to have a contemporary relevance. The events were great opportunities for participants and artists to learn, take time to reflect and remember.   The events  brought together many wonderful and generous individuals with a great knowledge and passion for their local history.

The second Commemorative Event took place at St James Hatcham, Goldsmiths, University of London, Deptford, on 25 November, 2015 . The event commemorated the 71^st anniversary of the deadly V2 attack on New Cross Road in Deptford.   Deptford was the second worst area, after Finsbury, where V2 hits were the heaviest per 1,000 acres. The Museum Group whose archives are located on the site of the V2 hit joined us with a selection of WW2 archival materials and memorabilia. Amongst them was a wonderful 1950 book titled The Conquest of Space by Willey Ley with brilliant illustrations by Chesley Bonestell.  Ley was a scientist consultant on Fritz Lang 1929 film Woman in the Moon.Participating in the event, was Allen who as a young National Fire Service Messenger rescued a trapped victim in the Brook Hotel following a V2 hit on 11 November 1944 in Blackheath. Allen joined us in a fascinating discussion with a group of Goldsmiths MA students studying Transcultural Memory in the Visual Culture Department.  Other participants included Barry who was a baby when a V2 fell on Azenby Road and damaged his home in Peckham on 6 January 1945. Barry with Peckham Society joined us at Peckham Platform for our third and last Commemorative Public Event.

The first Commemorative Event took place in the Church Hall of St Alfege Church in Greenwich on 19 September 2015. Thanks to the kind support of Reverend Chris Moody.  St Alfege was heavily bombed during the Bliss and is very near the V2 rocket attacks on Stockwell Street, near junction with Greenwich Church Street and Straightsmouth near Greenwich High Road.  Greenwich was the borough where the V2 rocket hits were heaviest per population of the LCC Area between June 1944-March 1945. The commemorative event was a success, and included a thoughtful contribution by Reverend Caroline Risdon about remembrance.  Testimonies from participants included one by Pat whose home was damaged when a V2 hit her school, Morden Terrace School on Albion Hill.  We were able to find more information about the hit in the Greenwich Incident Book no:6 that logged all the bomb and rocket attacks in 1944-1945. We also met Tina, whose Grand-mother Annie was killed in the New Cross Road V2 hit.   Tina and Pat joined us again in Deptford for Dora Project’s second event. Dora Project also visited Queen Elizabeth’s College to meet and speak with residents about their WW2 experience.

” Before I was born my Grandmother was just shopping in woolworths when the rocket hit – the devastation caused to her family is still felt today. We need to remember that it was only yesterday to some people and we need to teach our young people about it to secure a safe future. ” ( Tina Kirby, 2014)

DORA PROJECT Commemorative Public Event at Depford Town Hall, 2014. @ Françoise Dupré, David Nevin. Right: New Cross Road after the attack on 25/11/1944. © Lewisham, Local History and Archives Centre.

DORA PROJECT Publication Pages © Meddings Associates

Warwick Gardens, V2 site, 2015. © Françoise Dupré Peckham High Street, V2 site, 2015. © Françoise Dupré.

DORA PROJECT Commemorative Events leaflets © Meddings Associates