BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Evening Star, Issue 23679, 12 September 1940, Page 9

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

DAMAGED BY DELAYED ACTION BOMB TERRIFIC EXPLOSION IN GARDENS KING AND QUEEN ABSENT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 11. . (Received September 12, at 9.50 a.m.) A delayed-action bomb which fell in the grounds of Buckingham Palace exploded in the early hours of yesterday. Considerable damage, including hundreds of broken windows, was done to the_ Palace by the force of the explosion. The bomb fell in the Palace gardens close to the garden entrance and the Belgian suite, and buried «. itself in the ground while last night’s raid was in progress. It exploded with terrific force, wrecking the steps and stone balustrades on the north side of the Palace. Among the hundreds of windows shattered were those of the King’s private apartments. Pieces of masonry were thrown completely over the top of the palace, and fell in the inner quadrangle, while other pieces smashed the glass roof of the entrance to the Grand Hall. The King and Queen were spending the week-end at Windsor when the bomb fell, but when the King returned to London yesterday morning he was told of the occurrence, and this morning he and the Queen and Mr Churchill inspected the crater and also the damaged part of the Palace. The Belgian suite, near which the bomb fell, was occupied by King Haakon of Norway, The bomb is believed to have been of 2501 b, and made a crater 10ft deep by 20ft wide, forcing up stone slabs of the terrace, and breaking the huge columns of the swimming pool building. Masonry was sent flying into the air. Splintered glass fell over the wide green lawns, and small pieces of masonry fell on the roofs. Broken glass showered the picture gallery, and the Chinese room was slightly damaged. Workmen were to-day busy in clearing up the debris.