AIR RAID ORDEALS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21418, 12 May 1941, Page 9

AIR RAID ORDEALS

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE AMAZING SPIRIT OF PEOPLE “SPLENDID AND UNBEATABLE” Something of life in London during enemy air raids is conveyed by extracts from a letter from Mr C. S. Paterson, of Middlesex, to Mrs F. E. Rapps, Ulster Street, Hamilton. “I am thankful to say that we are all safe and sound, so tar, and in our own homes—and we have much to be thankful for,” writes Mr Paterton. “What you read of the people here is quite true. They are splendid and unbeatable! Bereaved, homeless, miserable though thousands are in tne bombed towns, yet they carry on their jobs with grim determination and an unshaken belief in the righteousness of. their cause, even though bombs fall nightly and invasion is threatened. “Have no fears, if the Nazis try to take our country they will fail—and don’t forget, we too have plans to rid the world of this evil thing. Of course, rationing of food and the shipping difficulty mean that the housewife is daily faced with kitchen problems. Frances has to use all her skill to make our 2s 4d worth of meat last out and to eke out our other rations, but, as I have said to her, I have never risen from our table dissatisfied; and my appetite, as of old, is pretty good! Bombs Down the Drive “We, like so many others, have been bombed. One Sunday morning last November a whole stick of bombs came right down our drive, one landing on the coalhouse of the next house, but only breaking our windows and blowing in our doors. Fortunately Frances was in the (indoor) shelter, but I was in bed. and on hearing the first bombs fall, retired complete with bedclothes under the bed! Thifs we didn’t get a scratch, but the following few hours were hectic!

Frances had to get out her firstaid Kit (she is one of our local party and our flat a F.A. post), and since, besides being in charge of the A.R.P. in this district, I am also incident officer (one who takes charge of A.R.P. affairs when bombs fall), I dressed with all possible speed in the dark, for we daren’t show a light, because of broken windows, and ran out to ‘do our stuff.’ We were thankful that although much damage was done, we had only one serious casualty; all the wardens were on top form, and things went like clockwork, much to my relief —and just a little pride in the men. Office Wall Blasted Out “The previous day I had a much worse experience when from a cloudy sky an enemy bomber dropped five heavy bombs in daylight all within a radius of 30 yards round my office at the goods station where I now work. Part of my office wall was blasted out, but only one man was slightly cut by glass. I’d heard the first bomb falling and shouted, “Down,” and all, except one, went flat “Outside the damage was bad, and 27 men were killed and 70 wounded. After clambering out and checking up on my people, I turned to firstaid and rescue work. It was pretty bad, and I never thought to have to do so much at one time. However, reinforcements came quickly, and 1 was glad to get home. Then I found I had fallen in front of the firegrate at the office, and my face, hair and clothes were black with soot. It took three lots of bath water to reduce me to normal! So you can see why it was that I was in bed and pretty fagged on the Sunday morning following! “Other and less serious adventures have overtaken us since, but apart from the difficulty of sleeping on nights when the barrage is heavy, we are none the worse. There is plenty of humour in our lives. For instance, the other night two of the local wardens were on patrol when overhead our gunners hit an enemy plane, causing his load of bombs to fall all in a lump. These two, hearing the first crack, dived into a newly-erected street shelter and lay prone for a minute or two until the noise ceased; they then rose to find that the shelter still lacked a roof! None laughed more heartily than themselves—-later on. London Carries On “There is an amazing lot of London left and business goes on day after day very much as usual. Manchester was very badly hit last December, and our old church at Whally Range has been severely damaged and has had to close. The minister and his wife had their house wrecked by a land mine—nasty thing this! —but fortunately escaped unhurt. Our church here has been pretty fortunate so far, and generally there is a good attendance at the morning service. Of course during the winter months the second service was held at 3 p.m. because of the black-out. “Last Sunday we all joined in the Day of Prayer, and if we can interpret this day as a sign of repentance for the past lack of faith and godliness. then I believe that our intercessions will be answered, and righeousness will flood not only our country and Empire, but the whole world. Our faith is being tested but, God willing, we shall be refined throught the fire of affliction, and more fitted in years to come to serve Him who so truly has proved to us our Refuge and our Strength.”