Whilst scanning through The East End Then and Now there is a large section on the Blitz in the East End including street fighting training for NW Europe. "As thoughts began turning towards the problem of invading Europe,as the operation would inevitably involve intensive street fighting.It was vital to give the troops as much experience as possible in as realistic an area as possible.This is where the East End came into its own for down in the dock areas there were acres of real bombed streets far better than any purpose built training ground . The West Ham 1st Division Street Fighting Wing of Eastern Command took over several roads abandoned in Tidal Basin the exercise depicted here taking place in June 1942."
Hi, Thanks for posting that. I had wondered where it was located after reading a report of the Royal Navy doing a trial of their flame throwing vehicle, the Cockatrice, there in 1943. Does it mention the Limehouse Street Fighting School, located near Limehouse Causeway, in the book ? Regards Danny
Thanks for that and scanning the pics, had never heard of the unit before. It would be interesting to confirm the existence of the Limehouse School. I wondered if units from all over the UK, when taken to the docks area of London, might assume that Tidal Basin is Limehouse (due to the fame or infamy of Limehouse globally) You get a perfect view of the Tidal Basin area from the new cable car over the Thames
Hello Clive, Thanks for taking the time to look through the book. AHD the Limehouse Street Fighting School did exist. It was off of Limehouse Causeway. There are a few photos around of 3 Commando taken when they were training there. In the background of one photo you can see part of a block of flats. Similar flats were still there when I lived in the area. Accommodation was in the Ilford area, MR 877063. Address was - Street Fighting Wing, 34 The Drive, Ilford. Regards Danny Pre war map showing the area I believe the Street Fighting School was in. MR 812998 Photo of the Cockatrice in action at West Ham in 1943.
