VISITOR FROM ENGLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24783, 6 December 1941, Page 7

VISITOR FROM ENGLAND

BOMBING EXPERIENCES An interesting personality visiting Dunedin at present is Miss Jane Hall, of London, the representative from the London salons of' the Cyclax Beauty Preparations. Miss Hall, who left England last September, has been in New Zealand since February of this year, and will have to remain here till after the war. The experience of being bombed out of her flat in London and of making a precipitous rush downstairs with the roof collapsing behind her is one of her most terrifying recollections. For two months and a-half she did not have one night's rest without having to go to a shelter. The most fearful raid occurred when 90 bombers came over and attacked the convoy in which she was to sail, as it was lying in midstream prior to setting out. Screaming bombs were used in this raid, and the noise was one of the most torturing features of the raid Bombs fell on either side of the 28 ships, but not one registered a hit. and almost incredibly not a ship was damaged. It would be foolish, said Miss Hall, to say that the people of England are not afraid—the noise and horror of the raids grip the heart with a withering fear—but the raids only serve to strengthen their resolution never, never to yield. One never sees any evidence of hysteria, and it is a recognised principle amongst all classes not to talk of matters which could, in any : way, injure the war effort. Rationing in England is really severe—tomatoes were 10s a pound, and lemons 12s 6d a dozen, when she left. It is possible Ho live, but there are no ex r tras, even for the wealthy., The regard in which the Dominion troops were held in England, said Miss Hall, was remarkable. When the first troops arrived in England, upon which, up till that time, disaster after disaster had fallen, such was the warmth of their welcome that the families of England took them straight into their homes and hearts.