Sheltering in the crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields, during the Blitz

At the sound of an air raid siren, this Sikh family has taken shelter from in the crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields.

This photograph was made at the height of the London Blitz, as Lufwaffe bombs were falling across the city. It's part of Bill Brandt's commission to record life and conditions in London's public air raid shelters. Brandt began work early in November 1940, carrying out a a series of night-time visits to shelters all over London. Within a week, however, he became ill and had to give up his commission. The series was completed by another unidentified photographer and in total 180 photographs were taken. These, together with the survey undertaken by the Ministry of Information at the same time, form a unique insight into life in the shelters during World War II.