DAMAGE IN BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 5

DAMAGE IN BRITAIN

EFFECT OF NAZI RAIDS ATTACKS ON PORTSMOUTH SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED (Official Wireless) (Received August 13, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 12 An Admiralty, Air Ministry and j Ministry of Home Security communique states: Enemy bombing attacks which began over the Kent coast this morning later extended to the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, where large forces were employed. An attack on his Majesty’s dockyard met with little success. Some bombs were dropped on the outskirts of the dockyard area, setting fire to a store and causing minor damage to a jetty. Two small armoured service craft were damaged and subsequently sank. In other parts of Portsmouth the railway station was hit and a number of buildings, including a brewery, set oil fire. The casualties caused included 6ome deaths, but these were not numerous having regard to the large number of bombs dropped. In the Isle of Wight a church and some houses were damaged and a few people were injured. Later reports have also been received of the attacks on the coasts of Kent and Sussex. Bombs were dropped at a number of points and slight damage was caused to several Royal Air Force aerodromes. Some houses and other civil property were also hit. The casualties in this area were very light, although several cases of fatal injuries are reported. The enemy has been heavily engaged at all points by our defences, which again inflicted serious losses, with few casualties to themselves. An Air Ministry communique issued at 8.15 p.m. stated: In today’s engagements round our coasts the total number of enemy aircraft so far known to have been destroyed is 39. Nine of our fighters are missing. It is now known that 65 German aircraft were destroyed in yesterday’s air battles. Ships Bring Down Planes An Admiralty communique states: Information has been received that five enemy aircraft were shot down by anti-aircraft fire during an action between His Majesty’s ships and enemy aircraft yesterday. The first enemy aircraft was shot down by H.M.S. Windsor. His Majesty’s trawler Edwardian shot down a second enemy aircraft. The anti-aircraft fire from the ships was so intense and so accurate that it is imposible to state with certainty which vessels shot down the other three planes, but it is most probable that the trawlers Edwardian and Peter Carey each accounted for at least one of them. There was no loss of life in the Windsor or the Peter Carey.