Lest we forget.

This picture was taken 70 years ago today .

St Paul's Cathdral - designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren (Architect) after the Great Fire of London destroyed much of London in 1666. A remarkable building standing proudly above blitzed London.

I originally posted that photo because the memory was pretty poignant to me as I lived just around the corner from there in Farringdon Road. On the night it happened, although I was huddled down the basement shelter and we couldn't see it, the word went round that St Pauls had been hit. Every one was dismayed and some cried, it meant so much to us Londoners. It was a symbol of hope. Imagine our joy and relief when coming up from the shelter in the light of morning to see it still standing, despite the appalling destruction surrounding it.Apparently a huge bomb had indeed penetrated the structure but had been successfully removed by the bomb disposal squad of the Royal Engineers. When detonated in a safe area it blew a 100ft crater in the ground . Without doubt it would have demolished the Cathedral. The officer who defused it was later awarded the George Cross and there is a plaque to his honour in the vestry for all to see .
Our American friends may like to know that the cathedral is home to the American Memorial Chapel, dedicated to the 28,000 Americans who died in the war, that were based in , or operating from, the British isles. This was built entirely with funds donated by the British public as an expression of gratitude for their help in those dark days .

For anyone who may like to check, I enclose a link to the book of remembrance listing the names of the 28,000, available on line.
http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Cathedral-Hist ... ial-Chapel