PEOPLE UNDISMAYED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1940, Page 5

PEOPLE UNDISMAYED

MR & MRS CHURCHILL CHEERED SIX FAMOUS CHURCHES SET ON FIRE. FLAGRANTLY INDISCRIMINATE ATTACK. (British Official Wireless?) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, December 30. “In last night’s flagrantly indiscriminate attack on London,” states a communique, “there was nowhere any attempt to single out targets of military importance. Some of the city’s most historic buildings were destroyed or seriously damaged. Much of this damage was seen by the Prime Minister and Mrs Churchill when they visited the scene today. When their presence became known, they were accompanied by a great crowd of cheering Londoners. “Good old Winston! Give it them back and remember we can take what we have had and more!” was shouted by city workers. Firemen and members of demolition squads rested from their labours to cheer Mr and Mrs Churchill. No fewer than six famous churches were set on fire. The ancient hall of the Girdlers’ Company was wrecked. St Paul’s Cathedral was hit by incendiary bombs, but was saved by the prompt use of stirrup pumps by the Cathedral staff. Incendiary bombs which fell on the roof of the Guildhall were similarly extinguished, but later flames from the burning church of Saint Laurence Jewry spread across a small courthouse, which remained undamaged, and set fire to the roof of the Guildhall, with disastrous results to the building, .which was erected between 1411 and 1435, and to the cost of which the famous Lord Mayor, Sir Richard Whittington—the “turn again” Whittington of the nursery rhyme—contributed. It was named the Guildhall because the medieval guilds met there.