CHEERFUL LONDONERS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 8

CHEERFUL LONDONERS

“HITLER NIGHT” FACED COCKNEY ADAPTABILITY (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 18, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 17 Soon after 8 p.m. Londoners had their fifth air raid warning of the day and heavy anti-aircraft gunfire was soon heard in Central London as well as in the suburban districts. Citizens, heartened by Mr Winston Churchill’s tribute to their courage, again settled down to a “Hitler night” with the adaptability for which the Cockney spirit is renowned. Every variety of communal amusement is now resorted to by neighbours sheltering together while “they are overhead,” and it is difficult for an onlooker to realise, in the words of a neutral observer, that the Germans fondly imagine that they are terrorising these patient, cheerful and undaunted people. A Ministry of Home Security communique issued at 11 p.m. states: There was enemy activity on a small scale on Tuesday until early afternoon. Although bombs were dropped in widely scattered districts in South and South-east England there was little damage but a small number of people was killed or injured in south-west London. At Portsmouth a church and several houses were hit and a small number of people was injured. Large Waves of Raiders At about 3.15 p.m. several large waves of enemy aircraft crossed the coast of Kent, flying in the direction of London, and a large force was dispatched to intercept the enemy. No major battle took place but contact was made over Kent. The enemy promptly scattered and did not penetrate further inland than Maidstone. Present reports show that before the enemy reached safety our fighters destroyed five and two were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. It is now known that only 11 of our pilots were lost in Sunday’s air battles.