A CAST bronze plaque was unveiled in Penge on VE Day to commemorate the town's bravery during the Second World War.

A picture of a fireman on the plaque, which is set into paving at Empire Square, off the High Street, recalls the town's plight during bombing.

When VI "flying bomb" rockets were targeted on London, in the summer of 1944, people said a square mile of Penge was hit by more flying bombs than anywhere else. The Beckenham and Penge Advertiser reported: "Walking through the streets it looks as though a large battle has been fought here.

"All that remains of many houses and buildings is a pile of rubble.

"Others have their roofs and walls blown away and even during the blitz no place could have suffered more damage."

John Curran, chairman of the Crystal Palace Environment and Streets Work Project Group, which pushed Bromley Council into creating the plaque, said: "There's still a bit of an East End community spirit in Penge which reflects what was going on then during the bombing."

Councillor John Holbrook, who unveiled the plaque, said: "Remembering the past and the struggle the people of Penge endured through the war is important as we can be inspired by their determination to keep going in the face of adversity."

May 15, 2002 10:00