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A bomb shelter built in London, WW1
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A bomb shelter built in London, WW1
Children posed by the doorway of a bomb shelter built by a man (a City merchant according to The Graphic) to provide protection for his family during air raids in 1917. The shelter was constructed out of reinforced concrete 3 1/2 feet thick with a roof made of steel girders and further protection from sandbags. It was fitted with electric light and sunk two feet into the ground. It was made for a cost of 50 at a suburban house in Hither Green, South East London. Although bomb shelters were a familiar feature of the home front during the Second World War, this photograph testifies to the novelty of such an idea during the war of 1914-18. Date: 1917
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Media ID 14158666
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Bomb Civilian Civilians Concrete Doorway Kids Protected Protection Raid Raids Reinforced Shelter Shelters Suburban
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the determination and resourcefulness of civilians during the First World War as they sought to protect their families from the threat of air raids. Taken in 1917, the image shows a group of children posing by the doorway of a bomb shelter built in a suburban house in Hither Green, South East London. The shelter was the brainchild of a local City merchant, who spared no expense in constructing it for his loved ones. The shelter was built using reinforced concrete three and a half feet thick and boasted a roof made of steel girders, providing robust protection against the devastating effects of explosives. Additional layers of sandbags were added for extra security. The shelter was also fitted with electric light and sunk two feet into the ground for added stability. Bomb shelters were a relatively novel concept during the First World War, with the focus of the home front primarily on rationing and morale-boosting activities. This photograph serves as a testament to the innovative spirit of civilians during this time, who were willing to go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their families. Despite the novelty of such structures during the First World War, they would become a familiar sight during the Second World War as the threat of air raids became an ever-present reality. This powerful image offers a poignant reminder of the resilience and resourcefulness of the civilian population during times of conflict.
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