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People sheltering in air raid shelter. 30th September 1940 first two people
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People sheltering in air raid shelter. 30th September 1940 first two people
People sheltering in air raid shelter. 30th September 1940
first two people on their honeymoon Lance corporal & Mrs Knightley
Original Caption. Lance-Corporai Herbert K. Knightley (front left) and his bride, Miss Irene Bavin (front right) in their bridal chamber. They settled down
to sleep after relatives had drunk their health.
Bombed out of her home twice in a fortnight, a twenty -year-old bride spent the first night of her wedding with her soldier husband in an underground air raid shelter at Heston (Middlesex). The parents of both the bride and the bridegroom sat at their side. The girl was Irene Bavin, of Southwell-road, Camberwell. A few hours after th e wedding she and her bridesmaids took off their silk dresses, put on day frocks, and went to the shelter. The young husband, Lance-Corporal Herbert Kitchener Knightley, twenty-four, of West-way, Heston, blushed when the 200 men, women and children in the shelter called out good wishes as the bridal party walked down the steps. Then, while A.A. guns boomed outside, relatives drank their ! health as they sat on benches along the walls. " It is not a bit like I imaged my wedding night would be a few weeks ago, " the bride told me before she and her husband settled down for the night, with travelling rugs around their shoulders. We re Lucky But I suppose we were lucky to have a wedding at all. My family and I were bombed out of our home at Brixton. Then we moved to a relation nearby, and were bombed out of their home, too. So we came to live with Herberts mother. She turned to her husband. But we are happy dear, aren t we? Yes replied Lance -, Corporal Knightley, " and still keeping our chins up." The bride did not know until the previous day whether the young soldier would be able to get leave for the wedding, although the date had been fixed and the bands read. " I m not particular on going to the shelter " Lance Corporal Knightley said. but it is better for Irene. " I expect most of our honeymoon nights will be spent here, but she is coming away with me at the end of the week for a few days. " Said his mother: " I lost a little daughter in the air-raids on London during the last war. I did not dream that my son and his wife would have to spend their wedding night
Edward Dean
Daily Mirror
Mirrorpix
London
Greater London
England
Media ID 21527212
© Mirrorpix
Air Raid Shelter Sleep Subterranean Subterrania The Blitz Underground Wedding Day
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this poignant print from September 30,1940, we see Lance Corporal Herbert K. Knightley and his bride, Miss Irene Bavin, seeking shelter in an air raid shelter during their honeymoon. The newlyweds were forced to spend their first night together underground due to the relentless bombings that plagued London during World War II. Bombed out of their homes twice within a fortnight, this young couple found solace and safety in the arms of each other amidst the chaos of war. Surrounded by their parents and approximately 200 others seeking refuge from the constant threat overhead, they settled down for the night with traveling rugs draped around them. Irene's dream wedding had been shattered by the harsh reality of war, but she remained optimistic and grateful for what little they had. Despite losing everything they owned in the bombings, she expressed her happiness and love for her husband as they faced uncertain times ahead. Lance Corporal Knightley admitted that spending nights in shelters would likely be a regular occurrence during their honeymoon period. However, he reassured Irene that they would soon escape together for a few days away from it all. This powerful image serves as a reminder of both the resilience and sacrifice exhibited by countless couples who endured unimaginable hardships during wartime. It captures a moment frozen in time when love triumphed over fear and uncertainty – a testament to human strength even amidst adversity.
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