BOMBED LONDON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 190, 14 August 1941, Page 7

BOMBED LONDON

N.Z. SURGEON RETURNS THROUGH THE BIG RAID After having been absent for over a year, studying the latest in orthopaedic’ and war surgery in both Brtitain and America, Dr. A. Gillies has returned to Wellington, where life is rather less exciting than it was in London during the period he was there. That period included one of the biggest raids that London has yet had, when over 1000 people were killed and three times that number injured, and Dr. Gillies had a very strenuous night’s work. But preparations had been made for an even larger number of casualties, said Dr. Gillies when discussing his experiences, and .although no fewer than eight hospitals were hit by bombs that night, there were more than enough beds, so efficient was the organisation. "It was really a privilege to have been in London,” he added. "The people’s morale is really superb.” Four-fifths Unscathed.

Roughly speaking, he said, one could say that about four-fifths of London was unscathed. Many other towns, ol course, displayed plenty of evidence of Nazi air raids, but the countryside as a whole showed remarkably few traces. Railway and other services were carried on almost normally, although trams immediately after heavy raids were naturally apt to be late sometimes. During the daytime people carried on as usual, raid or no raid, disdaining to seek shelters when an alarm went. Many people, however, preferred the security of shelters at night. These shelters had been greatly improved, regarding both ventilation and sanitation, and now there was no danger of epidemics. Trained nurses were always present in them and doctors paid regular vistis.

Asked what he considered the most trying part of an air raid, Dr. Gillies said that perhaps it was the droning overhead of the invisible bombers when one was kept awake by the noise of the anti-aircraft barrage. As the bombs whistled down one wondered where the next one would land, but one very soon adopted a fatalistic attitude toward them. American Help. A feature of the war organisations in Britain was the vast amount of help being given by Americans. Their philanthropic efforts had been magnificent in hundreds of way. Besides equipping hospitals, they had provided ambulances anti mobile canteens, as well as radio sets to relieve the monotony of shelter life. Although food rationing in Britain was strict, there was really nothing much to complain about, said Dr. Gillies. The community kitchens provided a splendid three-course meal for ninepence, and these were very popular. Any parcels of food sent from New Zealand, however, were very welcome. “There is no doubt about Britain’s efficient organisation to meet every new problem as it arises," concluded Dr. Gillies, "and by no means the least efficient aspect is that phase of it which has prepared a warm welcome for Hiller's invasion when, if ever, it is attempted."