(posted 7125 days ago)Local Online
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/localonline/index.htmKennington heroes of the Blitz
Charlie Rapley, an Air Raid Patrol Warden, was killed in 1941. His sacrifice has recently been recognised by the Government after 63 years.On the night of 19th April 1941, towards the end of the main Blitz on London two Local community Air Raid wardens were on duty in their Post at the Vestry of St Philips at 214 Kennington Road.
Charlie Rapley and Issie Kutz were old friends and joined the ARP service at the start of the war in 1939. Charlie was born in 1901 and Issie in 1905. They had survived the worst that the Germans could throw at London since the start of the Blitz in August 1940.
Air raid wardens have been the butt of jokes and comedy ever since but whilst every one else was comparatively safe in the shelters they were above ground at their posts waiting for bombs to drop in their 'patch'. They would then be the first on the scene and call up the help needed from the emergency services and rescue squads even though the bombs were still falling thick and fast.
These men were as courageous as any front line serviceman. Often being first on the scene they were the ones who made the initial rescues of trapped people. They also acted as guards until the police arrived to prevent looting of bombed premises, an occurrence all too familiar in the blitz.
The Kutz family had a shoe repair shop in Lambeth Walk which was still there years after the war. The Rapley family had lived in the warren of streets between Lambeth Walk and Kennington Road for at least two hundred years. Charlie was living in Tracey Street at the time of his death quite literary a stone's throw from his post. He was a very kind man well liked by all who knew him for his generosity to others in the hard times of the thirties. He was a bookies' tic-tac man and travelled all over the country for the various bookmakers who employed him. He ended up working for William Hill's. An all round sportsman, he excelled at Lollard Street school winning three Kings Medals for excellence.
The bomb landed right on the Vestry and killed the two of them outright, we believe that a 16 year old messenger died from his wounds and also a woman. We know nothing yet about these other two heroes but most posts had a boy messenger who would ride his bike through the bombs and rubble to notify the other services of the situation and what help was needed if the phone lines were down. Women were often on duty at the ARP posts handling all the co-ordinating phone calls and paper work as much on the front line as anyone.
Last month at the request of his family the Home Secretary awarded Charles Edward Rapley his World War 2 Defence Medal which would have been his due if he had survived but the family did not realise that the deceased were still eligible for medals when they were issued after the war. So it has taken 63 years but a local hero has at last been honoured. What of Israel Kutz? Did he get his medal? Somehow I don't think so, does any one else know? Does anyone know where his family are now? Shall we try to find out? Who were the other two heroes, they are owed their due as well. Does anyone know?
If you know someone who lived in the area during the war ask them if they know who the others were, who knows perhaps we might even be able to get a little plaque put up at the site or at the school if it is still there.
You can find out more about wardens and the blitz on the internet. Try looking up our heroes on the Commonwealth War Graves Site.
Material contributed by George Rapley, brother of Charlie, and Peter Spearink, his nephew, 11 October 2004.