The Thames at War

This illustrated WWII history pays tribute to the engineers and emergency repair teams who saved London from flooding during the relentless air raids.

Between 1940 and 1945 London suffered persistent Nazi air raids, bringing widespread destruction both day and night. Meanwhile, there lurked another devastating threat: the possibility of widespread flooding if the Nazi onslaught ever breached the Thames' river defenses.

The Thames at War sheds light on the vital role of the London County Council emergency repair teams and the unsung achievements of their leader, Chief Engineer Thomas Peirson Frank, who time and again saved the capital from drowning. Historian Gustav Milne also explores the fate of London's docks and bridges, as well as the ships, boats and barges lost in the estuary and tideway.