BOMB DAMAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23968, 19 May 1941, Page 6

BOMB DAMAGE

VICTORIA LEAGUE

SERVICE CLUB

NEW ZEAL ANDERS KILLED

(0.C.) LONDON, April 04 The King George and Queen Elizabeth Club for men of the Dominion Forces, a branch of the Victoria, League, received two direct hits during the big raid of April. One of the most popular service hostels, there were some 200 men.from all the Dominions staying there for the night, including some 40 New Zealanders. There were many casualties. Four New Zealanders were killed and a number taken to hospital, one or two seriously injured. Among those killed was M iss Gertrude Drayton, the secretary of the Victoria League, who was well known in the Dominion. Her body was recovered from the ruins three days later. The Dead and Injured The New Zealanders killed were:— Sergeants R. L. Robinson and M. D. Simonsen, R.N.Z.A.F.; Able-Seaman J. N. Murphy, R.N.V.R. (N.Z.), and Leading Airman K. N. Campbell, Fleet Air Arm. The injured included: —Able-Seamen • M. Thurlow, J. Brent. R. L. Campbell • and R. A. C. Cheynd; acting-Leading Airmen \', H. Hatchard, L. J. Pickard; Private J. I). Wright. Leading Airman K. N. Campbell was a nephew of Dr. R. M. ! official secretary to the High--Commi's- . I sioner. They had met for lunch on | the previous day, and Mr. Campbell | had invited his nephew to spend the i night with hint at his home at Highj gate. As the airman, however, had to I catch an early train the following morning, he was unable to accept the j invitation. Thrown From Their Beds The hostel was hit some time after midnight, when the raid had been in progress for about five hours. Several of the men were in their beds, and others were in the basement. The force of the explosion wan so great that many were thrown out of their beds through the windows t-o the court below. Floors were torn away and a number of men fell some distance through the crater. One of these was R. L. Campbell, who dropped two floors. For the remainder of the night and into the early hours of the morning men searched frantically for their friends among the ruins, and a number of the injured was removed to the Ministry of Information, near by. Several days passed before it was possible to discover the total number of killed and injured. The records of the men staying for the night were ! burned during the fire which followed i the explosion, and there was no means 'of knowing exactly how many had | been in the hostel. Meeting With the Queen I The building will have to be com- : pletely demolished. It will be a great j loss to tile men; of the Forces. Several ! New Zealanders had the opportunity ! of nu-eting the Queen there last sum- | nier, and, with men from all parts of j the Empire, had their photograph | taken with her in the courtyard, which | bicame the death bed of manv who j were hurled through the windows. | Several New Zealand airmen met the ' Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, j at the hostel shortly before he sailed i for New Zealand. The room in which ' ! lie chatted and was photographed with them was completely wrecked. Another building which was damaged was the Royal Empire Society, in Northumberland Avenue, well known to hundreds of New Zealanders who have visited London. It was declared open by the King when he was Duke of York, and it contained presentations from all parts of the Empire. Part of the Overseas League buildings also suffered severe damage.