A BIG FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 304, 1 October 1940, Page 6

A BIG FIRE

IN CENTRAL LONDON. AFTER RAIDERS HAVE PASSED. ’PLANES OVER IRISH SEA. (Unit'ed PreßS Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, September 30. Heavier attacks than usual were delivered against London by the German air force last night, when large numbers of bombers, for the most part flying singly, w e re over the city at a great lyrfght. The damage done was not very great, but a big fire was caused in the central district, which lit up a huge area. Fire fighters eventually got the fire under control by 8 a.m. to-day.. Elsewhere in Britain the main German attacks were delivered on the Jersey side, where commercial premises were( damaged. A Hurricane squadron which has the distinction of being the first squadron to shoot down enemy machines over the English Channel was instrumental yesterday in saving Liverpool from an air raid. The squadron of nine fighters was on patrol over the Irish Sea when it observed a squadron of nine Heinkei bombers flying in towards Liverpool from the south-west. On seeing the Hurricanes the Heinkels wheeled to the west and then turned again south and made off to their base. One Heinkei crashed in the sea, another was so seriously damaged that it is unlikely to have reached its base, and the remainder were compelled to jettison their bombs so as to make good their escape. Raiders set a garage on fire on the south coast, where a few people were killed and others injured. During the night the Germans made several attempts to start fires by dropping incendiary bombs in the outskirts of London. A hospital in one of the western suburbs of London was bombed, • and also a school and two churches. None of the patients in the hospital was hurt. They were rescued by the nurses, who Avorked until dawn. One bomb fell on a block of offices in an East Anglican coast town, Avhere workmen were making repairs. Six of the workmen, were killed. Another bomb fell on a chapel Avhejve a\. service Avas being held. All the AvindoAvs Avere bloAvn in, but there: Avere no serious casualties.