Bombing Of Sandhurst Road School
School Bombing Incident
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Catford, London, England
TIME PERIOD
January 20, 1943
VICTIMS
44 confirmed
The bombing of Sandhurst Road School occurred on Wednesday, 20 January 1943, at approximately 12:30 PM during an air raid in Catford, southeast London. A German fighter-bomber, piloted by Hauptmann Heinz Schumann, dropped a 500-kilogram bomb on the school, resulting in the deaths of 38 children and 6 staff members, with an additional 60 individuals injured. The attack was part of a larger raid involving 28 Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4 fighter-bombers, which targeted various locations in London, and it is unclear whether the school was deliberately targeted or misidentified as a factory. Currently, the incident remains a significant historical event, with memorials established to honor the victims, and investigations into the circumstances of the bombing continue to be referenced in discussions of wartime conduct and civilian safety.
There is speculation regarding whether the German pilot, Hauptmann Heinz Schumann, intentionally targeted Sandhurst Road School or mistook it for a factory due to its size. Some believe that the attack was part of a broader strategy of terror bombing, while others argue it was an unfortunate miscalculation in the chaos of war. Additionally, the timing of the bombing, shortly after a British raid on Berlin, raises questions about the motivations behind the attack.
The Tragedy at Sandhurst Road School
The Fateful Day
On the afternoon of January 20, 1943, a tragedy of unimaginable proportions unfolded at Sandhurst Road School in Catford, southeast London. It was a typical Wednesday, yet it would become a day etched into the annals of wartime history for its sheer devastation. At 12:30 p.m., a German fighter-bomber released a single, deadly 500-kilogram bomb, causing catastrophic damage to the school. The attack resulted in the loss of 38 children and 6 staff members, with 32 children perishing at the scene and 6 succumbing to injuries later in the hospital. Adding to the horror, another 60 individuals were injured, many trapped beneath the rubble for agonizing hours.
The Attack
The assault on Sandhurst Road School was part of a larger raid conducted by 28 Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4U3 fighter-bombers, accompanied by Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. These aircraft took off at noon from an airfield in Nazi-occupied France, with orders to strike any target of opportunity in what the Germans chillingly referred to as a Terrorangriff, or "terror raid." The pilot who delivered the fateful blow to the school was Hauptmann Heinz Schumann, born on November 29, 1914, and killed in action later that year on November 8. Schumann piloted a Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4, armed with a single 500 kg SC500 bomb.
The intent behind Schumann's target choice remains a subject of debate. Some speculate whether he mistook the towering school building for a factory or deliberately aimed for it. Reports from the time describe a large building targeted and destroyed, initially identified as a block of flats. Additionally, the raid was seen as a retaliatory measure following an RAF bombing of Berlin just three days prior, ordered by Hitler himself.
The inefficiency of the warning system compounded the tragedy, as air raid sirens failed to sound before the German planes arrived. Consequently, many children were in the dining area, enjoying their lunch when the bomb struck. Witnesses recounted that the planes initially flew past the school, only to return and unleash their deadly payload. Another aircraft allegedly strafed the playground and nearby streets, exacerbating the chaos. The same raid saw further destruction in the area: four barrage balloon sites in Lewisham were obliterated, a gas holder in Sydenham set ablaze, and a power station in Deptford suffered three direct hits. Even the President's House at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich did not escape damage.
Deaths and Memorials
The bomb's impact was devastating, claiming the lives of 24 pupils and two teachers in the dining room, with five more children killed on a staircase and nine in second-floor classrooms. The explosion also demolished the staff room, resulting in the deaths of three more educators, with another teacher perishing in a science room. The teachers who lost their lives were Mrs. Connie Taylor, Mrs. Ethel Betts, Mrs. Virginia Carr, Miss Mary Jukes, Miss Gladys Knowelden, and Miss Harriet Langdon.
A poignant mass burial took place for 31 children and one teacher at Hither Green Cemetery, in a civilian war dead plot marked by a rectangular stone surround and a raised tablet inscribed with their names. Over 7,000 mourners attended the service, conducted by the Bishop of Southwark, Bertram Simpson. Today, Sandhurst Primary School honors the memory of those lost with a stained glass window and a dedicated memorial garden.
Aftermath
In the raid's aftermath, an inquiry convened at Lewisham Town Hall to examine the events and evaluate the emergency response. The local Civil Defence services were commended for their swift arrival, particularly the volunteers, Heavy Rescue Squads, REME soldiers stationed at St Dunstan's College, and Canadian forces from Bromley Wood. The inquiry noted the chaos as desperate parents attempted to dig through the debris for their children, acknowledging the impossibility of controlling such an overwhelming situation.
Sources
For additional information, you can refer to the following sources:
- Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham. "Catford, Sandhurst Road School WW2 Names." Lewisham War Memorials. London Borough of Lewisham. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- "Witnesses speak of horrific German bomb raid on Catford primary school." NewsShopper. Newsquest. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham. "World War II Air Raid, Catford Sandhurst School." Lewisham War Memorials. London Borough of Lewisham. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- Camila Ruz (17 October 2015). "The man who kept a quilt for 70 years." BBC News Magazine. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- Bob Ogley (6 February 2013). "Sandhurst School WW2 bombing in Catford remembered." News Shopper. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham. "Sandhurst Road School WW2, War Memorials." Lewisham War Memorials. London Borough of Lewisham. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- "The History of our School." www.sandhurstprimary.lewisham.sch.uk. Sandhurst Primary School. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
For a visual account, visit Bomberguy's YouTube channel, "Sandhurst School bombed; 611 Sqn Pilot Interviews" (20 June 2008).
The coordinates of the event are: 51°26′34″N 0°00′01″W.
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Bombing of Sandhurst Road School
A German fighter-bomber drops a bomb on the school, killing 38 children and 6 staff.
Immediate Casualties
Twenty-four pupils and two teachers die in the dining room; others are killed in classrooms.
Rescue Efforts Begin
Emergency services and volunteers quickly arrive to rescue trapped victims from the rubble.
Inquiry Launched
An inquiry into the bombing and emergency response is held at Lewisham Town Hall.
Mass Burial
Thirty-one children and one teacher are buried together at Hither Green Cemetery.
Memorial Established
A memorial garden and stained glass window are created at the school to honor the victims.
The bombing of Sandhurst Road School occurred on Wednesday, 20 January 1943, at approximately 12:30 PM during an air raid in Catford, southeast London. A German fighter-bomber, piloted by Hauptmann Heinz Schumann, dropped a 500-kilogram bomb on the school, resulting in the deaths of 38 children and 6 staff members, with an additional 60 individuals injured. The attack was part of a larger raid involving 28 Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4 fighter-bombers, which targeted various locations in London, and it is unclear whether the school was deliberately targeted or misidentified as a factory. Currently, the incident remains a significant historical event, with memorials established to honor the victims, and investigations into the circumstances of the bombing continue to be referenced in discussions of wartime conduct and civilian safety.
There is speculation regarding whether the German pilot, Hauptmann Heinz Schumann, intentionally targeted Sandhurst Road School or mistook it for a factory due to its size. Some believe that the attack was part of a broader strategy of terror bombing, while others argue it was an unfortunate miscalculation in the chaos of war. Additionally, the timing of the bombing, shortly after a British raid on Berlin, raises questions about the motivations behind the attack.
The Tragedy at Sandhurst Road School
The Fateful Day
On the afternoon of January 20, 1943, a tragedy of unimaginable proportions unfolded at Sandhurst Road School in Catford, southeast London. It was a typical Wednesday, yet it would become a day etched into the annals of wartime history for its sheer devastation. At 12:30 p.m., a German fighter-bomber released a single, deadly 500-kilogram bomb, causing catastrophic damage to the school. The attack resulted in the loss of 38 children and 6 staff members, with 32 children perishing at the scene and 6 succumbing to injuries later in the hospital. Adding to the horror, another 60 individuals were injured, many trapped beneath the rubble for agonizing hours.
The Attack
The assault on Sandhurst Road School was part of a larger raid conducted by 28 Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4U3 fighter-bombers, accompanied by Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. These aircraft took off at noon from an airfield in Nazi-occupied France, with orders to strike any target of opportunity in what the Germans chillingly referred to as a Terrorangriff, or "terror raid." The pilot who delivered the fateful blow to the school was Hauptmann Heinz Schumann, born on November 29, 1914, and killed in action later that year on November 8. Schumann piloted a Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4, armed with a single 500 kg SC500 bomb.
The intent behind Schumann's target choice remains a subject of debate. Some speculate whether he mistook the towering school building for a factory or deliberately aimed for it. Reports from the time describe a large building targeted and destroyed, initially identified as a block of flats. Additionally, the raid was seen as a retaliatory measure following an RAF bombing of Berlin just three days prior, ordered by Hitler himself.
The inefficiency of the warning system compounded the tragedy, as air raid sirens failed to sound before the German planes arrived. Consequently, many children were in the dining area, enjoying their lunch when the bomb struck. Witnesses recounted that the planes initially flew past the school, only to return and unleash their deadly payload. Another aircraft allegedly strafed the playground and nearby streets, exacerbating the chaos. The same raid saw further destruction in the area: four barrage balloon sites in Lewisham were obliterated, a gas holder in Sydenham set ablaze, and a power station in Deptford suffered three direct hits. Even the President's House at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich did not escape damage.
Deaths and Memorials
The bomb's impact was devastating, claiming the lives of 24 pupils and two teachers in the dining room, with five more children killed on a staircase and nine in second-floor classrooms. The explosion also demolished the staff room, resulting in the deaths of three more educators, with another teacher perishing in a science room. The teachers who lost their lives were Mrs. Connie Taylor, Mrs. Ethel Betts, Mrs. Virginia Carr, Miss Mary Jukes, Miss Gladys Knowelden, and Miss Harriet Langdon.
A poignant mass burial took place for 31 children and one teacher at Hither Green Cemetery, in a civilian war dead plot marked by a rectangular stone surround and a raised tablet inscribed with their names. Over 7,000 mourners attended the service, conducted by the Bishop of Southwark, Bertram Simpson. Today, Sandhurst Primary School honors the memory of those lost with a stained glass window and a dedicated memorial garden.
Aftermath
In the raid's aftermath, an inquiry convened at Lewisham Town Hall to examine the events and evaluate the emergency response. The local Civil Defence services were commended for their swift arrival, particularly the volunteers, Heavy Rescue Squads, REME soldiers stationed at St Dunstan's College, and Canadian forces from Bromley Wood. The inquiry noted the chaos as desperate parents attempted to dig through the debris for their children, acknowledging the impossibility of controlling such an overwhelming situation.
Sources
For additional information, you can refer to the following sources:
- Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham. "Catford, Sandhurst Road School WW2 Names." Lewisham War Memorials. London Borough of Lewisham. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- "Witnesses speak of horrific German bomb raid on Catford primary school." NewsShopper. Newsquest. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham. "World War II Air Raid, Catford Sandhurst School." Lewisham War Memorials. London Borough of Lewisham. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- Camila Ruz (17 October 2015). "The man who kept a quilt for 70 years." BBC News Magazine. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- Bob Ogley (6 February 2013). "Sandhurst School WW2 bombing in Catford remembered." News Shopper. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham. "Sandhurst Road School WW2, War Memorials." Lewisham War Memorials. London Borough of Lewisham. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- "The History of our School." www.sandhurstprimary.lewisham.sch.uk. Sandhurst Primary School. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
For a visual account, visit Bomberguy's YouTube channel, "Sandhurst School bombed; 611 Sqn Pilot Interviews" (20 June 2008).
The coordinates of the event are: 51°26′34″N 0°00′01″W.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Bombing of Sandhurst Road School
A German fighter-bomber drops a bomb on the school, killing 38 children and 6 staff.
Immediate Casualties
Twenty-four pupils and two teachers die in the dining room; others are killed in classrooms.
Rescue Efforts Begin
Emergency services and volunteers quickly arrive to rescue trapped victims from the rubble.
Inquiry Launched
An inquiry into the bombing and emergency response is held at Lewisham Town Hall.
Mass Burial
Thirty-one children and one teacher are buried together at Hither Green Cemetery.
Memorial Established
A memorial garden and stained glass window are created at the school to honor the victims.