Staveley Road facts for kids
Staveley Road is a street located in Chiswick, which is part of the London Borough of Hounslow. This road holds a significant place in history because it was where the very first V-2 missile successfully hit Britain during World War II.
Contents
The V-2 Missile Attack on Staveley Road
Staveley Road itself was built between 1927 and 1931. It was part of a larger housing project called the Chiswick Park Estate.
What Happened on September 8, 1944?
On Friday, September 8, 1944, a powerful V-2 missile was launched from a place called Wassenaar in Holland. This missile traveled a long way and landed right on Staveley Road. It hit near the spot where Staveley Road meets Burlington Lane.
The explosion was very serious. Three people lost their lives, including a young three-year-old girl. Nineteen other people were hurt. The force of the blast created a huge hole in the ground, about thirty feet wide.
The Impact on Homes and People
The explosion caused a lot of damage to the houses nearby. Eleven homes were completely destroyed and could not be lived in anymore. Another fifteen houses were badly damaged and needed a lot of work to be fixed.
Luckily, some people had already left the area before the attack. This was because of the war. The sound of the explosion was so loud that people could hear it six miles away in central London.
Government Response and Public Knowledge
Soon after the missile hit, important government officials arrived at the scene. They came to see what had happened and to help. At that time, the public did not know about these new V-2 missiles. The government did not tell people about them until November 10, 1944.
