Unseen colour video released of London blitz
Updated on 06 September 2010
New colour footage has been released showing the widespread devastation caused by the German bombing attacks on London 70 years ago. One historian tells Channel 4 News how the attacks changed the face of the capital.
The amateur footage shows streets and buildings destroyed by the bombings, including the burnt out John Lewis store on Oxford Street.
Despite being reduced to a shell, the film shows signs which declare the store 'open for business'.
The film also features Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill inspecting civil defence workers in Hyde Park.
The 20 minute video, which covers a series of events from 7 September 1940 to 10 May 1941, was shot by Marylebone's Chief Air Warden, Alderman Coucher.
His granddaughter, and former Lord Mayor of Westminster, Carolyn Keen, recently discovered the film after it was hidden in an attic for 70 years.
"I had no idea just how striking the images would be and how much they would serve to act as a reminder of the terrible damage inflicted on London during the blitz," Ms Keen said.
Historian Neil Bright told Channel 4 News he hopes the new footage will highlight the significance of the attacks and how the blitz shaped the city.
"It changed the face of London. Almost 30,000 Londoners were killed, which is half the deaths nationwide. Many others went to stay with relatives and never came back. The population of the city went down considerably. Several areas which were bombed out had to be completely rebuilt," Mr Bright said.
The film has been digitised by the Westminster City Council, which has released it on a website to mark the 70th anniversary of the blitz.
The Council's blitz project has also digitised a detailed local authority map, which pinpoints every bombing incident in Westminster.
Westminster Council says the rare footage is hoped to help people remember all those who were affected by the sustained bombings by Nazi Germany.
"It goes some way towards keeping those memories alive and reminding us of the huge contribution so many brave people made, both at home and abroad, to ensure good came to triumph over evil during those troubled times," Westminster Councillor Steve Summers said.
Historian Juliet Gardiner told Channel 4 News the newly released colour video was "an immense addition of our understanding of the blitz."
She said it also showed the true scale of the devastation caused by the attacks: "It was a very depressing experience. People were absolutely heartbroken sometimes when they came to the capital and saw the extent of the damage. People could not believe how much damage could be wrought in one night."
"The blitz lasted for nearly nine months, night after night on many occasions, there were very few let-ups. People got completely exhausted".
