​​On the morning of 18 June 1944, a packed congregation was in attendance at the Guards Chapel. The service was conducted by Chaplin Reverend Ralph Whitrow and there was a mix of military and civilians in attendance. The service was to remember those who had recently taken part in the Normandy Landings and those who were still fighting in the battle. 

​The choir had just started the Sung Eucharist at 11:20 when a V1 flying bomb, on a trajectory heading straight through the chapel roof, nose-dived through towards the western end. The impact of this direct hit saw the destruction of the whole roof. The supporting walls and concrete pillars collapsed and destroyed the portico of the Chapel’s western door. With the detonation of the V1, tonnes of rubble fell onto the congregation who had gathered that morning for the service. 

​121 military personnel and civilians were killed and 141 were reported as seriously injured. Estimates of 400 to 500 wounded were reported by the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) assessment at Westminster. Over the next 48 hours rescuers worked to try and find any survivors amongst the rubble. 

​The V1 attack on this day was the most serious of the Vengeance weapon attacks on the capital. Surrounding buildings were damaged and the only part of the chapel left standing was the apse. A new chapel was built on the remains of the former chapel. Amongst the rubble were the remains of some two thousand memorials of the Guards history that were contained within the original chapel. They were damaged beyond repair but remain within the foundations to this day. 

​Today, the Guards Chapel contains commemorative panels both inside and outside the building that remember those who were killed here on 18 June 1944.