History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

It is 80 years since the Blitz, which lasted from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941. The intense night bombing of London damaged buildings and killed or injured thousands of civilians.  We have discovered that two people from Kilburn were awarded medals for their bravery in 1941. Clifford Stratton Seventeen-year-old Clifford Stratton was an electrical engineer’s assistant who lived at 42 Buckley Road in Kilburn (later in the 1950s and 60s he is shown at No. 48). He had been a volunteer warden for six months. On the night of Wednesday 16/17 April 1941, 685 German bombers attacked London. This was the largest attack since the Blitz began and some planes made two or even three sorties that night. A huge number of buildings were destroyed, and 1,720 Londoners were killed in what became known as 'The Wednesday'. Clifford was part of a team of stretcher bearers who rescued a man and two girls trapped on the fourth floor in flats in Portpool Lane, off the Grays Inn Road Holborn. The bui...