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We have 40 letters my Grandmother wrote to her airman son describing the situation at the Elephant during the period from May 1940 to April 1941. She describes the bombing, and its effects on the services and public transport. This is one of her letters:

My Dear George,
I am writing in case you hear Newington Butts has gone up in smoke and are wondering if we are all right. Well we are quite all serene, but ye gods what a night. First of all Friday evening a bomb dropped on the Elephant, Rockingham Court got most of it but haven't heard if there were any casualties. Grace* had to go round on her way to work. Then on Saturday evening they bombed the Surrey Docks. You could see the the smoke and flames for miles. I suppose that made a fine landmark for they came over again at half past eight and then the balloon went up. An incendiary bomb dropped on Waines the big furniture people right opposite us. You know they always had their windows full of mattresses, curtains etc. Then there was pandemonium let loose. Police whistles going, shouting to the people to get out. It was blazing fast in a few minutes. All the fire engines seemed to be at the Dock fire only a few A.Fs** rolled up. Then they couldn't get any water for over half an hour. I have never seen such a blaze. It spread to Tuckers and two or three shops further along. The coffee shop in Crampton Street went up but Cohen's on the corner is still intact. They saved a little furniture piled it up in front of our place, but it was such a little it was hardly worth while. Waines is completely burnt out and still smoking. We were so intent watching from the landing window that we didn't give a thought to bombs. Then a bomb went on the Elephant and in quick succession on Gabriel Street, Mears Road*** and somewhere near Manor Place Baths or so it looked, when another fire started there. It seemed bombs all around us. Three times I thought the door was coming in. But our worst trouble is that we have no water, have to go to the neighbours. I saw Mr Scilly this morning he said that the corner of the buildings where Rowlands the dairy is, is in ruins and part of Kennington Road. Talk about Nights of Gladness. Well darling thank God we are all safe and we now have an armed guard patrolling outside our house. But as far as I can hear no one was hurt. We are just going to have a walk round as we all have headaches. Being up nearly all night I suppose. The others are not quite ready so will proceed. Glad you received parcel. I posted it on Saturday so it took long enough. I am like you got a bad cold. Do take care of yourself my dear. I am not sorry you couldn't come home, you would almost have certain to been out and with bombs dropping I should have worried to death. In any case you would have spent most of hour time in a shelter and had no sleep. I will try and get the address you want or some of them. So long for a little while.
Have been for a walk round and had tea so starting letter again. We have been bomb gazing but not standing about in the way. Woolworths in Newington Butts have no windows left. Gabriel Street hasn't a whole pane of glass in it. The school at the end is badly damaged and lots of windows gone that end of Brook Drive. The Kennington Road buildings are open to the four winds of heaven and though the dairy is intact one of the houses just past the buildings is just not there any more only a pile of rubbish and a gap. Well after this I am going downstairs whatever Leila**** says. I shall remind her this flat has a wooden staircase. I have written in detail about the raids because I was afraid you might hear accounts that were not true and worry. As regards other news there are none. I managed to get Grayce a bedstead so that's that. Now with lots and lots of Love and kisses
Your Loving
Mum and Grayce xxx
Meant to have posted this Sunday evening about eight. I had a stamp and was just going across o the P.O. when sirens went. We were in passage till six o'clock this morning but we are all safe though bombs dropped all round us.
Just received yours so I will send 5/- in this towards fare. I was going to send it on Thursday but you might not get it in time so will send it now and not pay my rent till Thursday.
Love Mum
Do be careful in raids on your way home. They really are serious here in London.

*Grace, also spelt Grayce, is the daughter.
**Auxiliary Fire Service
***Unable to find Mears Road, Gabriel Street has since disappeared.
**** The lodger.

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