History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

Tony Meehan the second of five children, was born in New End Hospital Hampstead on 2 March 1943 and he grew up in West Hampstead. His father Daniel Meehan was born in Tipperary, and his mother Mary (May) Donnelly was from Carlingford Lough. They came to London and were living at 142 Iverson Road in West Hampstead when a V2 rocket landed at 4pm on 8 Jan 1945 behind No.114. The huge explosion resulted in four deaths and 64 people went to hospital. The Ham and High has a story about the incident: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/heritage/remembering-the-v-2-rocket-that-struck-west-hampstead-70-years-ago-1-3920170 The rocket badly damaged 152 houses and caused minor damage to about 1,600. The Meehans’ house was one of those damaged but not destroyed. John their oldest son, suffered a wound from the blast and they had moved to No.1 Cavendish Mansions in Mill Lane by 1948. At this time Tony went to Beckford School, and joined the local Hampstead Scouts. Tony in the 11th Hamp...