69th Bethnal Green shelter disaster memorial service

On March 3rd. 1943, the largest loss of civilian life in a single non military incident during World War II, happened at Bethnal Green tube station in East London. The station was used as a shelter during the war.

300 people were crushed into the stairwell 173 of them died and over 90 were injured, 62 of the dead were children. All crushed to death by the weight of their own bodies.

Unfortunately, the explosions that caused the panic at the stairways was from new secret anti aircraft weapons that were being tested the nearby Victoria Park and not from German bombs

Stairway to Heaven Memorial patron Tommy Walsh, Rushanara Ali MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, East London's London Assembly representative John Biggs and lots of lovely Pearly Kings & Queens were present for the 69th memorial.