AIR RAID SALE IN LONDON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 234, 6 November 1940, Page 2

AIR RAID SALE IN LONDON

London's first "air raid sale" brought hundreds of woman bar-gain-hunters to the bomb-scattered, fire-scarred stores in the fashionable West End shopping centre. Oxford Street, although closed to traffic and strewn with broken glass and tumbled masonry, was filled with shoppers. They climbed over debris, inspected bomb-soiled goods, and bargained with shopkeepers through smashed windows. Many women returned home disappointed because badly damaged shops were closed. One large store, where "1000 employees had been offered the day off because the departments were a mass of tumbled masonry, was able to carry on because the whole staff! announced that they wanted to "help tidy up " Although gh:ss was still falling and the departments were deluged with water, they carried on their duties. Many shops whose garments, rang ing from cami-knickers to the lat-t est winter coats, were strewn about the pavements, sold the damaged goods cheaply. In one instance, a woman who re-, covered a dress from among the debris sought out the show-owner and offered to buy it for half-price.