Eglinton Hill

On a crisp autumn evening in 1944, Eglinton Hill bore witness to a tragedy. Eglinton Road, nestled within Eglinton Hill, experienced the destructive power of a V2 rocket. Eglinton Hill became a canvas of destruction. Number 144 Eglinton Road, home to the Wilson family, was obliterated. Three-year-old Lorna Riches, her infant brother Jack, and their mother Leonora miraculously survived. Lorna’s grandmother, Margaret, was spared because she sought refuge in a shelter that night. Eglinton Hill also held the home of Mike Hume’s family at 140 Eglinton Road. Tragically, they did not survive the blast. The rocket’s impact rippled through the close-knit community. An engagement party a few doors down from the Wilsons was shattered by the explosion, claiming the life of the groom-to-be. Eglinton Hill became a symbol of both resilience and loss. Families were torn apart, and homes reduced to rubble. Yet amidst the devastation, acts of kindness and bravery shone through. Firefighters pulled survivors from the wreckage. The Salvation Army provided comfort and aid at Slade School, which served as a rest centre. Eglinton Hill became a microcosm of the wartime experience. The V2 attack left an enduring scar on the landscape and in the memories of those who lived through it. Lorna’s memories of the night are fragmented. She recalls the rumbling, the dust, and a fireman carrying her to safety. She remembers asking about her Nana’s house, only to be told it was “knocked down by the apples and pears”. The resilience of the human spirit is evident in the story of Eglinton Hill. Despite the immense devastation, life went on. Families rebuilt, and the community healed. The memory of that fateful night in 1944 serves as a reminder of the enduring strength and resilience of the human spirit.