invicta primary school

Invicta primary school marks 82 years since bombing that killed 15 people

The Charlton Champion

Invicta school memorial service

On Monday morning, staff and children at Invicta primary school joined firefighters past and present to mark 82 years since its original building was hit by a German parachute mine, killing 12 firefighters and three civilians. The school was being used as a base for the Auxiliary Fire Service at the time. Local war historian STEVE HUNNISETT was there – he takes up the story.

This year, the ceremony fell on the exact 82nd anniversary of the original incident, which occurred at 9:20 pm on 14th November 1940.

Ironically, the casualty list was so high because it was a rare quiet night in London, with the main thrust of the Luftwaffe’s attack being directed at the city of Coventry. As a result, instead of the resident firemen being out on calls as they would be on a “normal” Blitz night in London, they were still at the school, awaiting their first call of the night. The mine largely destroyed the school and instead of being the rescuers, the firemen of Invicta Road found themselves in need of help from the colleagues at other neighbouring fire stations.

Twelve firemen were killed, including Arthur Grant who had just weeks earlier been awarded the George Medal for carrying a live bomb from the assembly hall of the school into the playground, where it later exploded. Also killed were three civilians, including Charles White the school caretaker.

Firefighters line up by the memorial

Present at the informal ceremony was Stephanie Maltman of the charity Firemen Remembered, who originally placed the plaque back in 2017. Also present were re-enactors representing the Auxiliary Fire Service and the Army, who fielded many questions from the pupils, including the school’s “History Hunters”, a group of children who specialise in the study of history. The History Hunters laid a poppy wreath at the memorial, as did a group of present-day firefighters from White Watch at East Greenwich Fire Station, who later to the delight of the children present, allowed them to inspect their fire engine and aim fire hoses across the school playground!

Children learning about the Blitz

Thanks to Steve and Invicta Primary School for the photos.

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Invicta Primary School marks 79 years since wartime bombing

Darryl Chamberlain
Fireman Harry Dixon’s family joined East Greenwich’s White Watch at the ceremony

Children at Invicta Primary School gathered this afternoon to remember the 15 people who died when the school was bombed during World War II.

Year 2 children joined White Watch from East Greenwich Fire Station for the short ceremony, 79 years to the day after the then Invicta Road School – which was being used as a fire station – was destroyed by a parachute mine which fell into trees opposite the school before exploding. Twelve firefighters and three others died.

Among those at today’s ceremony were members of the family of Harry Dixon, one of the firefighters who died that night.

Steve Hunnisett led the ceremony at Invicta Primary School

Local historian Steve Hunnisett led the ceremony, which came as the Year 2 children spent a day learning all about World War II. Steve was also on hand to talk to the children about the war, showing them shrapnel, an air-raid whistle, a gas mask and other items; while the firefighters also took questions from the children.

The plaque was installed at the school in 2017 by Firemen Remembered, an independent organisation devoted to raising awareness of the work of the fire services during World War II. It is on a Victorian wall at the back of the playground, the only remaining part of the original school. The replacement 1950s buildings were demolished in 2016 when the current school opened on the site of the old playground.

You can read more about the bombing of Invicta Road School on the Blitzwalkers blog.

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Greenwich firefighters remember Invicta school bombing

The Charlton Champion
Invicta memorial
Firefighters and pupils at the Invicta memorial this morning (photo: Steve Hunnisett)

Last year, The Charlton Champion visited Invicta Primary School in Siebert Road to see a memorial plaque unveiled to commemorate the 15 people killed when it was bombed in 1940. This morning, firefighters returned to remember the dead. Local war historian STEVE HUNNISETT was there.

A simple and informal ceremony this morning saw the present day firefighters from Greenwich Fire Station honouring their Second World War counterparts, twelve of whom were killed at Invicta Primary School on the night of 14 November 1940 when the school was in use as Station 54X of the Auxiliary Fire Service.

Ironically, it was a quiet night in London, with the main focus of the Luftwaffe’s attacks being the city of Coventry. It was because of this lack of activity in the capital that the firemen based at Invicta Road were still at their station when the parachute mine that was to destroy the school drifted down. The explosion buried the men under tons of rubble and apart from the twelve firemen, three civilians, including the school caretaker, were killed.

This morning’s wreath laying was carried out by Richard Melrose, station manager at Greenwich Fire Station and the Watch Manager of White Watch and was the third such ceremony since the plaque was installed by the charity Firemen Remembered in March 2017.

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Invicta Primary School remembers 15 killed in wartime bombing

Darryl Chamberlain

The unveiled plaque in the assembly hall

A plaque remembering the 15 people killed when Invicta Primary School was bombed in World War II was unveiled last week at a special ceremony.

12 firefighters and three others were killed when the then Invicta Road School – then being used as a fire station – was destroyed by a parachute mine on the evening of 14 November 1940. The bomb fell into trees opposite the school before exploding.

Among those who died was fireman Arthur Grant, who was in line for a George Medal for his bravery in preventing the school being destroyed in an earlier attack.

School caretaker Charles White, who stayed behind after the children were evacuated to the countryside, also died.

The plaque is erected in the playground

The plaque was revealed to pupils at special assemblies last Thursday, where children sang wartime songs and read their own poems before reading out the names of those who died.

Visitors to the school can now see the plaque on a Victorian wall next to the playground, which is the only surviving remnant of the original school buildings. Firemen Remembered, which made the plaque, is an independent organisation devoted to raising awareness of the work of London’s fire services during World War II.

The replacement 1950s buildings were demolished last year after the school moved into new accommodation on the site of its old playground.

There’s more about the bombing of Invicta Road School on the Blitzwalkers blog.

Invicta school plaque

Former Invicta Primary School pupil? You’re invited to its street party on 19 March

Darryl Chamberlain2 Comments

Invicta Primary School

Recognise yourself in these photos? If you’re an old pupil or teacher at Invicta Primary School, you’re invited to a street party to mark the end of its old 1950s buildings.

Invicta Primary School

Thousands of Charlton children have been educated in those old buildings – among the school’s former pupils is actor Daniel Day-Lewis, who namechecked it and Sherington when he won a Bafta in 2008.

Now former staff and pupils are invited to a street party on Saturday 19 March to mark the closure of the old buildings and their replacement with new facilities built on the old playground.

Invicta Primary School

Invicta Primary School

The old buildings replaced the original school, destroyed by a parachute mine in 1940. Considering it was an infant school for much of its existence, these must be a bit of a squeeze for older pupils.

Invicta Primary School

Invicta Primary School

Here are the new buildings – apparently due for completion in April. The school’s also expanding in other ways, opening a new site in Deptford to replace the old Charlotte Turner School.

If you recognise yourself in those old photos, want to share your memories of the school, or want more information about the street party, drop the school a line at admin[at]invictaprimary.co.uk.