WEDDINGS 1944 and 1960

Only the church tower, portal and Kentish rag external walls, were left standing, of this once glorious Early English Revival building by James Fowler. Built in 1876 it had been destroyed by fire bombs in an air raid during 1941.Therefore, Joan and Fred were married in the Church Hall, which had been transformed into a fine temporary Church. While the wedding went well not all of the photographs could be developed, which meant that Joan and Fred had to return to the Church later in the day to have the pictures taken. Note the debris on the ground around the feet of the Bride and Groom, a reminder of the devastation caused in Walworth and Kennington during the Second World War. Joan was soon back in her ATS uniform and Fred back at the bakery in Wimbledon where he was a baker and pastry cook. He was also in his Home Guard uniform ('H' company, 54^th Surrey, (Wimbledon) as a few days later, on Tuesday the 6^th June 1944 the Allied invasion of Normandy, Operation Overlord was launched. They were therefore fortunate that their wedding took place. Joan's military pass was authorised by her Commanding Officer so she could attend her special day.