Forum Topic

V1 or V2 bomb in Lateward road

Does anyone know of the WW2 bombs that landed on Lateward road and Brook road?According to the latest references, the only two high explosive bombs landed in Mafeking avenue and Breamar road/Griffin Park.But I recall at school a photograph being shown of the devastation caused by a V-Bomb landing on Lateward road/Brook road.All the evidence seems to exist, the flats were built in 1962 on the bombsite and 2 houses are currently being built on the rest of the bombsite and the rears of houses in Grosvenor road show evidence of shrapnel repairs.But no record seems to exist at the library or online. Was it a V1 or a V2.All that seems to exist is the archive of the V2 that fell on Staveley Road in Chiswick .

Raymond Havelock ● 3992d11 Comments

This website shows the V2 incidents at Packards on the Great West Road and Staveley Road, Chiswick...but no mention of Brentford.Doodlebugs (V1s) caused plenty of damage and there were plenty of those in West London (I recall!).https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms%3Fauthuser%3D0%26vps%3D2%26ie%3DUTF8%26msa%3D0%26output%3Dkml%26msid%3D208360238474826482719.00045e8ff5d5ea3507b5e&aq=&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.970501,38.056641&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=51.518144,-0.026093&spn=0.299094,0.878906&z=10

Jim Lawes ● 3990d

Many thanks for that.A friend has had a look in the Library 'bomb book" and all seems to be accounted for except the section of Lateward road. The bit that runs from the corner of Brook Road on the south side for about 100m.The flats were built on the bombsite in 1960.But all references to the fate of the original houses and the alleyways that linked Grosvenor and Lateward roads are missing post 1944.Someone must have recollections or even pictures.Thanks for all the input thoughTony.

Anthony Waller ● 3991d

The Brook can still be seen at Little Ealing lane where it meets Junction Road next to the Catholic School. It source I believe is Scotch Common . I know it travels under Junction Road and at the corner of Enfield Road it cuts across the back gardens and all way under Enfield Walk and the A4 to Brook Road

Robert Ayres ● 3991d

In recent times the Brook could be heard and seen in Brook Road North between the short row of houses and the main part of the Alfa Laval (old Brentford Nylons) building.The exposed flow of water was obviously covered over during the current development. The Forum has mentioned the Brook many times in years gone by and Forum Search will lead to some of the threads.

Jim Lawes ● 3991d

Neil is quite right about the Bombing Records at Chiswick Library (Local Studies Section).Here is a message I posted on the Chiswick Forum on 6/12/2012 on the subject."If you visit the Local Studies Section of Chiswick Libraryyou will find there a Blue Book containing pages and pages of "bomb happenings" in Chiswick (Brentford as well?) during WW2.It was produced by the Civil Defence group in the area..and significantly the entries are all beautifully handwritten in date order. The size of the bomb is described too.In addition there is an Index of addresses and (the Brentford addresses) should be easily found.Back in September 1944 my Father, who was in the local Home Guard because he worked at Chiswick Works, took me to see the big hole in the road...and general destruction..a day or two after the event. Remember it well.

Jim Lawes ● 3991d

The old borough's full listing is avaialble from the Local History section of Hounslow Library. Speak to James Marshall at the library. The only one that was kept semi secret was the Staverley bomb as it was the first. The photos that were issued at the time were doctored to show th damage as less than it was.Re the Brook. The 1860's OS map clearly shows the route of the brook, and yes the basements of the houses have flooded. My house 65 Brook Rd flooded when Brentford FC built the wendy house and after very heavy rain the basements would get damp or have a small amount of water in them.

Neil Chippendale ● 3991d

I have bumped an old thread about this subject in 2010 to 2012

Paul Allen ● 3992d

A V2 rocket fell on the Packard factory on the Great West Road on 21 March 1945 with heavy casualties. JL

Jim Linwood ● 3992d

Many Thanks Reg, It's the same stuff I had seen. Very good though.For some reason, there is no mention of Lateward road.The damaged inflicted to the rears of  Nos 3 to 14 Grosvenor road and some evidence still reveals today. But no records seem to exist apart from planning permissions to redevelop bombsites in Lateward road in 1959.I am wondering if it is because it was a V2 or a V1 and that it was kept as classified information for some days before the then government had to tell the public what was happening.Staveley road was also hushed up in terms of exactly what had hit it for some days until V2s started coming through in numbers.

Raymond Havelock ● 3992d

I'm a bit intrigued by the 'brook' of Brook Road South (and presumably Brook Road North). Was the brook artificially, for want of a better way of putting it, made to run underground at one point in history? If so, why would this be? Does the brook still run underground and is it true that cellars in Brook Road South sometimes still flood? etc. Just interested!

Anne England ● 3992d

Some information about bombs on Brook Road, Mafeking Avenue and Clifden Road:http://www.brentfordhistory.com/2013/01/23/brook-road-south-the-war-years/

Reg Ghosh ● 3992d