Nuisance Raids Over England

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1941, Page 6

Nuisance Raids Over England

LONDON, January 2. The first bomb of 1941 crashed in London early yesterday morning. It was a heavy, high explosive missile and shook one of the business districts. Raiders were heard over London a few minutes before midnight. Anti-aircraft guns opened fire, then the single, heavy bomb crashed. Elsewhere attacks were confined to a few incendiary bombs in eastern England, although raiders were reported over several Midlands and north-west-ern points. First Since Sunday. The first alert to be sounded in the London area since Sunday was given at 10.30 last night. Two high explosive bombs crashed in areas previously struck and caused casualties and considerable damage, especially in one section, which suffered earlier. Apparently the bombing was the work of a lone nuisance flier. He was met with heavy anti-aircraft fire. Raiders appeared later over Liverpool and other Merseyside towns for several hours. One bomb demolished a block of buildings. A lone raider destroyed several cottages in a north-Wales village. The occupants were slightly injured. 10 Days’ Interval. A nuisance raid took place over the west Midlands last night after 10 days of complete immunity. A number of planes passed over at wide intervals, but there is only one report of bombing, namely, three high explosive bombs dropped on one town. Incendiary bombs were dropped af several points in eastern England, but were promptly extinguished without causing damage. It is reported from Dublin that an unidentified plane last night dropped four bombs between Drogheda and Julianstown, County Meath, 30 miles north of Dublin.

It is believed that some damage was caused. A plane was also heard over Killiney, near Dublin. Another Dublin message says it is officially stated that three people were killed and two critically injured when bombs were dropped on Knockroe, near Borris, County Carlow. An incendiary bomb found near the Curragh racecourse was identified as German. Buried Under Debris.'' Rescue squads are searching for six persons who are feared to be buried under the debris of an office building, which was shattered when a heavy bomb burst, killing ,a warden and critically injuring several other people. The bomb was dropped at midnight during the second of three raids, which were mostly of the nuisance variety. The Air Ministry reports: “Several enemy planes were active over widely separated districts in England .and Wales last night. A few bombs were dropped and some houses were damaged in North-West England. Manchester Damage. “In the London area; a small number of people were killed and some injured. Elsewhere little damage was caused, and there were few casualties.” Buildings damaged during the recent raids on Manchester include the Cathedral, Free Trade Hall, Royal Exchange and Cotton Exchange. One bomb fell in the grounds of the Cathedral, .and flung down the great door at the west front, and damaged the choir stalls containing 15th century woodwork and also the regimental chapel.

The Free Trade Hall is in ruins. The- dome roof of the Royal Exchange collapsed while fire-fighters were working there.