As they had done so many other times they came by night. And on this occasion the chaos was widespread and tragically, for some it was fatal…
A summary of the incident
Time that the bombs hit 9pm
Type of bomb/s High Explosive
Was anyone hurt or killed? 3 adults and 1 child were killed and others injured
Where did the bombs land? One landed on the back of Glenshaw Mansions, one next to Christchurch, one on top of 2 and 4 South Island Place and the other in the middle of Offley Road.
Were houses damaged? Yes
Were businesses damaged? No
Were there evacuations? Yes
In memory of those that were killed in this incident
Using the invaluable Commonwealth War Graves Commission website I have been able to find the following casualties from this incident
Name Age Other Information
Anaise Marie Lakeman 62 Widow of J Lakeman. Died at 4 South Island Place.
Diana Valerie Le Poidevin 4 Of 4 South Island Place. Daughter of Edwin Ernest Le Poidevin. Died at 4 South Island Place
Edwin Ernest Le Poidevin 32 Of 4 South Island Place. Died at 4 South Island Place
Minnie Pitman 58 of 2 South Island Place. Wife of George Pitman. Died at 2 South Island Place
Sites of the bombs are indicated with red dots on the map below:
There are four Civil Defence incident logs for this bombing raid, the first reads:
Date 27.12.40
Time 22.25
Position of Occurance Christchurch, Nth Brixton, corner of Mowll Street
Type of bombs High Explosive
Casualties (Approx) Nil
Whether any trapped under wreckage Nil
Fire Nil
Damage to Mains Nil
Names of any roads blocked Nil
Position of any unexploded bombs Nil
Time of occurance 21:00
Notes Nil
And the second…
Date 27.12.40
Time 22:17
Position of Occurance Glenshaw Mansions, Brixton Road.
Type of bombs High Explosive
Casualties (Approx) Nil
Whether any trapped under wreckage Nil
Fire Nil
Damage to Mains Nil
Names of any roads blocked Nil
Position of any unexploded bombs Nil
Time of occurance 21:00
Notes Nil
And the third…
Date 27.12.40
Time 21:35 PM
Position of Occurance Footpath outside 44 Offley Road
Type of bombs High Explosive
Casualties (Approx) Nil
Whether any trapped under wreckage Nil
Fire Nil
Damage to Mains Coal Gas & Water
Names of any roads blocked Nil
Position of any unexploded bombs Nil
Time of occurance 21:00
Notes Lamp standard destroyed. Bad escape of gas.
Is there any more information on Anaise Lakeman and Diana Valerie Le Poidevin. I believe Anaise was my Great Great Grandmother. I have a letter sent to another family member telling them of mummie and Dianas death.
Amazing website! My maternal grandparents – the Charmans lived at 139 Brixton Road from the early 1920s. My mother used to talk about the bombing of the Russell Hotel and how my grandfather, who was a regular, had been drinking there that night, I assume earlier in the evening.
Our family lived there until 1974 when the council, after a long stand-off, then insisted they move as the house was due to be demolished.
As a family we all attended Christchurch School in Cancell Road (apart from my Father, who went to Cowley School) – the two schools were bitter enemies in my days there!