THE PEOPLE AND AIR RAIDS

Evening Star, Issue 23727, 7 November 1940, Page 14

THE PEOPLE AND AIR RAIDS

STORIES OF A WEEK The sirens continue to sound, the raids become longer—six and seven hours at a stretch —and the spirits of the people remain entirely undamped (says the London ‘ Observer ’ of September 1). . Here are some of the week s stones of calmness and resource: — A North London policeman, faced with an incendiary bomb during Tuesday night’s raid, filled his helmet at’ a pond and clapped it over the bomb, which promptly went out. * * ♦ * Extract from letter written by a London woman aged 90, after the recent air attack on Croydon; “ Last evening’s raid did us no harm—in fact, Hitler would be shocked to learn that, an contraire, it caused us personally much entertainment. . , . The villians will probably be around again to-night, as they want to get the aerodrome. Their attempt has helped our Fighter Fund, which is something that arch-fiend did not expect.” * ♦ * ♦ The audience at a Wagner concert in Queen's Hal! last week remained in the building for eight hours. Wagner gave way to jazz and community singing. Woman in North London at height of raid: “T liked last night’s searchlights better. These patterns aren’t so good.” ♦'• * * Members of a London chess club are annoyed at having to stop playing wlicn the sirens sound. “ Chess,” said one. “ requires concentration, and while playing we can’t really spare attention for things going on outside.” . • • * During Monday night’s raid Welsh soldiers' who entered a shelter near the Haymarket delighted other inmates by singing 1 Sweet and Low.’ “ It was wonderful,” said a woman. “.I forgot that I was hungry.” ■*• * * When the manager of a London cinema announced the raid from the stage on Wednesday night, he began; “ f suppose yon know why J am here ...” The audience roared with laughter. # » • • During a raid on a south-eastern district a one-armed warden, who had just been injured at his post, helped to rescue a two-year-old boy. ! .... Two women who had been bombed out of their homos twice within a few days said : “ Wind up? Not at all; •we’re looking for other bouses, and if they hit those as well we can always move again.” • • . • Londoner on Wednesday night: “ Clock stopped? Never mind. You can set it when the sirens go in a minute.” * • • # People in a London air-raid shelter last week organised a sweepstake on the time of the “ All clear.” * * • • A woman/crawling out of a shelter found her house had toppled down around her. Asked whether she had been frightened, she replied, smilingly: “ It’s all in the game.” « » * « A newspaper contents bill seen in the City to-day: “To-day’s Menu! Siren Soup, Heinkel Hot-pot, Jaguar Jelly.”