27 June 1944 - Vera Manchik-Stevenson, first official Women's World Chess Champion (since 1927), represented Russia (1927), Czechoslovakia (1930–37), and England (1939), who was widowed the previous year, still holding the title, her younger sister, Olga Menchik-Rubery, and their mother were killed in a V-1 rocket bombing raid which destroyed their home at 47 Gauden Road in the Clapham area of South London. According to some sources, Kent was the place of their death.[1][2]
Jorgen Moeller, Danish master, died in Denmark. Nordic Chess Champion (1899 and 1901), the Moeller Attack in the Giuoco Piano and the Moeller Defense in the Ruy Lopez.
Nikoly Rudnev, Ukrainian master, died probably in Uzbekistan.