Right here, on the wall of this building, we stand before the Roy S. Kerridge Plaque. This simple green plaque commemorates a life cut tragically short in a moment of unimaginable pressure and bravery. Located at the junction of Balls Pond Road and Kingsbury Road, this plaque replaces a previous one, erected in 1950 when the building, Kerridge Court, was completed.
You see, Lt-Cdr Roy S. Kerridge, a member of the Royal Navy Reserve, was assigned to the bomb disposal unit during the Blitz. It was a time of extreme danger as bombs rained down on London. He was a bomb disposal expert, a skilled and courageous man who faced danger head-on, often working in extremely difficult and dangerous situations.
What was Kerridge’s last mission? On September 22, 1940, just a few months after the start of the Blitz, he was tasked with trying to defuse a parachute mine that had landed on Wright Road, just a few blocks from here. The mine was a ticking time bomb, and Kerridge knew that he had only seconds to defuse it. The clock was ticking, and the clockwork mechanism was at work. He had a mere 17 seconds to get himself and his assistant to safety before the explosion.
In that short amount of time, he had the presence of mind to tell his assistant to flee, but he could only get to the exit before the bomb went off. That blast destroyed over 100 homes, and he was killed. His bravery and sacrifice were a testament to his dedication to his duty. His life was lost trying to save others.
Standing here, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by individuals like Roy S. Kerridge during the Blitz. We get a glimpse of a small sliver of his life and a lasting reminder of what people faced in the face of danger. This plaque is a testament to his bravery and a reminder of the perils of war.