227949 Gnr. Thomas Henry Hatchett British Army 15th Btn. Durham Light Infantry (d.16th Dec 1944) On 16th of December 1944, the Rex Cinema in Antwerp, which was packed full of people, was the subject of a direct hit by a V2 rocket, which killed some 290 Allied personnel, together with many Belgium civilians. One of these people was my grandmother's cousin, Harry Hatchett, of the Royal Durham Light Infantry. Is there anybody out there who has any more information about this incident or could perhaps help with recollections?
Update: Ten minutes before the rocket fell I was one of four friends who had stopped outside the cinema wondering whether to go in. I remember it was showing a Gary Cooper western which I had not seen. One of our party went in. For some unknown reason I decided to go to a cinema across the street showing a film of which I have no memory. The other two walked on.
I had barely sat down when there was an explosion and the roof fell in. I staggered out to see a scene of devastation across the road. There was nothing I could do that was not being being done so I walked away. I never saw my friend again.
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