A Day That Shook Chelsea

On the 80th anniversary of the last bombing incident of the war, this talk explores the challenges faced by the Royal Hospital Chelsea and the resilience of its community.

About the event

In January 1945, a V2 ballistic missile struck the Royal Hospital Chelsea, causing extensive damage and claiming lives among In-Pensioners and staff. This poignant moment in history will be explored by Martin Cawthorne, author of the recently published The Royal Hospital Chelsea at War.

Using rare archival materials, Martin Cawthorne will detail the tragic events of the attack, highlight miraculous escapes, and reveal the devastating aftermath, shedding light on an often-overlooked chapter in the Hospital’s history.

About the speaker

Author Martin Cawthorne spent a career in finance before he began volunteering at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. He worked on a project to digitise part of the institution’s archive collection while undertaking a master’s degree in Historical Studies at the University of Oxford, for which he researched the Hospital’s wartime history. Martin is now recognised as the expert on the institution’s wartime story and works with the Royal Hospital Chelsea on a number of heritage and outreach projects.