BUCKINGHAM PALACE ATTACKED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 290, 14 September 1940, Page 5

BUCKINGHAM PALACE ATTACKED

FIVE BOMBS DROPPED THE CHAPEL WRECKED ’ l THEIR MAJESTIES IN SHELTER (United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 13. An air raid warning was sounded, for the third time to-day, in mid-afternoon, but lasted only a few minutes. The Air Ministry and Ministry for Home Security in a communique, after the second raid which was the subject of a fourhour warning, says: “ Following last night’s ineffective attacks, in which bombs were dropped on London at random through heavy clouds, a small number of enemy aircraft to-day deliberately bombed a number of conspicuous buildings in various parts of London, irrespective of their nature. It is feared the enemy succeeded in killing or injuring a number of civilians. - “ Buckingham Palace was attacked, several bombs falling within the precincts, one of which damaged the Palace Chapel. „■ Their Majesties were in residence but fortunately escaped injury. Three members of the Palace staff were injured. “Incendiary bombs also fell in Downing Street but did no damaged” > The following telegrams passed between the War Cabinet and the King to-day: “ The War Cabinet offers hearty congratulations to their Majesties on their providential escape from the barbarous attack made on their home and Royal persons/’ v The King in a message to the Prime Minister replied: “The Queen and I are so grateful to the War Cabinet for its kind message. Like so many other people we now have had personal experience of Gentian barbarity, which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight to final victory.” In the attack on the Palace the enemy dropped five bombs in rapid succession. Two fell on the inner quadrangle, the third hit the private chapel, and the remaining two fell in the roadway between the Palace gates and the Victoria Memorial. Their Majesties were in a shelter and members of the staff were also in shelters beneath the Palace. The Royal Chapel, which is wrecked, is in the south wing, close to the Ambassadors’ entrance. The bombs which fell in the quadrangle caused two large craters, burst a watermain, shattered windows and pitted walls. Soldiers from Wellington Barracks assisted in extinguishing the fires. Their Majesties/ after walking through the cellars talking with members of the staff, inspected the wrecked chapel—British Official Wiwless.

DELIBERATE attack.

MESSAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND.

STICK OF BOMBS DROPPED. ROYAL. TOUR CONTINUED. This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON,, September 13. The ’plane which bombed Rackingham Palace dropped a stick of bombs across the famous square. Two fell in the areas of houses, and two on a roadway. One nearly hit a well-known' peer’s house. ‘ A spotter on a nearby building said the ’plane which bombed the Palace came out of the clouds right over the Palace. It was not indiscriminate bombing but a definite attack. Soon after the raid their Majesties, apparently unshaken, left the Palace to continue their tour, arranged yestorday, of London’s areas in which the damage by bombs is heaviest.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ESCAPE.

STRENGTHENING OF LOYALTY

WELLINGTON, This Day.

His Excellency the Governor-General (Vi'lcount . Galway) sent the following message to the King in connection with the bombing of Buckingham Palace:

"The Government and people of Now Zealand join me. in tendering to your Majesty and the 1 Queen most sincere congratulations on having escaped injury in yesterday’s air attack on Buckingham Palace. All in this Dominion continue to pray these critical days for your Majesties’ safety and wellbeing. The indomitable spirit of the people of London during the recent raids has been the admiration of all, and yesterday’s attempt on your Majesty’s life will hut serve to strengthen the nation’s loyalty to your Ma jesty and the Throne, and to knit more closely those tics which bind the Mother Country and the Dominions overseas.”

INCENDIARY BOMBS DROPPED.

’PLANE DIVES FROM CLOUDS.

HOUSE OF LORDS DAMAGED.

(Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 13

A twin-engined ’plane which bombed Buckingham Palace was seen diving from the clouds. As he came over the Palace the pilot appeared to cut off his engines, and the whistle of bombs and explosions wore, heard in rapid succession. Pieces of stone and masonry fell on'Buckingham Palace Road. One piece of stone smashed an olocti ic light lamp in the centre of the road. The pilot then restarted his engine and disappeared in the clouds. One bomb completely wrecked the Royal Chapel. Their Majesties’ Royal apartments and shelters wore situated on the opposite, side of the Palace, in the north Wing. Three members o! the staff, whose shelter, was near the wrecked chapel,' were slightly injured. Bombs which fell in the roadway started a fire, which was quickly extinguished. Other incendiaries fell near the Palace.

STRUCK BY AN INCENDIARY. BOMB (QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED. (/Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. Among the notable buildings damaged by Nazi bombs in the recent raids is the House of Lords. An incendiary bomb struck the House of Lords, hut the damage was slight, and the bomb was quickly extinguished.—British Official Wireless.

ENEMY BOMBER DESTROYED.

FOULS BALLOON CABLE.

(Received This Day, 10.4 b a.m.) LONDON,* September 13. The Air Ministry announced this evening that in the course of the last *■ liGinv raids on Britain an cnernv bomber fouled a balloon barrage cable and was destroyed. —British Official v\iieless.