91热爆

Diary extracts Nov 1940 Part 2

Mr B R Northrop has given his permission for these extracts from his father鈥檚 diary to be added to this 91热爆 website

1.12.40 Colder than ever today. Several warnings today. Southampton was heavily bombed last night. Reports that German troops are massing in French Channel ports preparing for invasion of Britain. The R.A.F. give these ports a great deal of attention. A couple of warnings in the evening and several planes went over and guns firing.

2.12.40 Nothing to report. Southampton was again heavily bombed last night - must be in ruins. Heard some of our bombers going out about 7.30 p.m. and after 11 p.m. heard distant gunfire - possibly Dover.

3.12.40 Thousands homeless in Southampton. Tonight guns opened fire and 6 p.m. and many planes went over for about one and a half hours - then silence. All Clear at midnight. On duty 2 till 4 but nothing doing.

4.12.40 We shall get an extra allowance of sugar - 12 ozs instead of 8 ozs and tea 4 ozs instead of 2 ozs for Christmas week only. Siren went about 6.15 p.m.- some planes over but very few.

5.12.40 Nothing to report. Birmingham had a heavy raid on Tuesday night.

6.12.40 No warnings today at all in London. Short warning in late evening.

7.12.40 Bristol was raided last night. No warnings today or tonight.

8.12.40 Went to Walthamstow - (my grandparents). London no people about, streets were deserted - arrived back about 6 as shells commenced bursting. Got home and went out to chop wood for fire. Two incendiaries fell very near. Rushed indoors to get under table. Bombs fell at Tadworth and started fires there. Another fire a little later started at Banstead and Croydon. Aeroplanes were coming over continually. These planes numbered hundreds and flew very low. The first part of the evening they met practically no opposition from AA guns. Later a few shots were fired. Still coming over at 12.15 a.m. when we went to bed.
9.12.40 Heard that AA gunfire in London last night was most intensive ever, also London鈥檚 biggest raid. Berlin claims aeroplanes left everyone of their aerodromes in France, Belgium and Holland and that 700 tons of HEs and 100,000 incendaries were dropped on London last night. 11 45 p.m. here and no warning yet.

10.12.40 Nowadays in London we get any kind of food we want in restaurants and tea rooms. There is plenty of food. No warning today.

11.12.40 Came home from London at 4 p.m. Warning as we were at home having tea. Low flying planes made it necessary to get under table every now and again. Planes went over in fair numbers and regularly for some time. We heard only one bomb fall and that caused the sideboard to rattle.

12.12.40 Planes came over fairly frequently, then quietness, followed by many planes between 11.30 p.m. and midnight. Heard one incendiary bomb fall at 11.50 p.m.

13.12.40 One short warning at 8 p.m. - no planes or guns heard.

14.12.40 No aeroplanes or guns but a short warning.

15.12.40 Sunday An early warning tonight - a few planes went overhead and the gunfire was heavy for a time, then silence and finally all clear at 10.30.

16.12.40 Important discovery of new serum to fight diphtheria. Went to the dentist and heard that bombs fell in Epsom last night.

17.12.40 No air raid warning at all.

18.12.40 People killed by bombs - 6954 in September, 6334 in October and 4588 in November. No warnings yet - 10.30 p.m.

19.12.40 Tonight short warning, few planes and some gunfire. All Clear sounded early.

20.12.40 6 p.m. warning whilst on train coming home at Belmont (to Epsom Downs}
Two planes went over as I was crossing the downs. Both very low. Several went over when I got home and between 11 and 12 p.m. many went over. Most seemed west of us travelling NW. Bed at midnight and many raiders till going over.

21.12.40 Saturday Much aerial activity but no warnings. Went to Banstead |(by bus) as warning sounded. All clear sounded soon after. Warning at 5.45 p.m. Planes came over for an hour or more - all seemed west of us. Almost silent at 9 p.m. and now at midnight no planes heard for the last hour.

22.12.40 Sunday Early warning tonight but little gunfire and few planes.

23.12.40 Tonight some planes followed by more later on.

24.12.40 Tonight no warning sounded at all.

25.12.40 (we went to Walthamstow to my grand parents) No raids today or tonight anywhere.
26.12.40 Again no raids tonight.

27.12.40 - Back at Tattenham Corner - It would seem there was a truce over Xmas official or unofficial although the lull in aerial activities was credited to weather conditions being bad. Tonight a few planes went overhead and a few nearby 鈥淎ll Clear鈥� just before midnight.

28.12.40 No raid warning here tonight.

29.12.40 In the evening many planes went over in a short time. Sky glowing in the direction of London.

30.12.40 Last nights raiders dropped hundreds of fire bombs over the city. Hoses were still pumping water from the Thames. No raids tonight at all.

31.12.40 No raid tonight.

1.1.41 No raid warning until; 7.45 p.m. followed by all clear in about 20 minuets. Then warning about 11 p.m. Some planes went over but very few. All clear 8 a.m. Thursday morning.

2.1.41 Very few planes over this evening - all clear before 12 p.m.

3.1.41 Two short warnings before 11.45 p.m. Then quiet.

4.1.41 Saturday - went to Walthamstow. On return trip London Bridge station still burning. We heard explosions of dangerous building shells being dynamited.
A plane went over tonight at 7.30 p.m. followed by sirens. Few planes - little gun-fire. Awakened early Sunday morning by heavy gunfire and noise of planes. All clear sounded at 8.15 a.m.

5.1.41 Tonight after one day of aerial activity and one day light warning (very rare nowadays) there was an early warning. Very few planes heard (about 3) up to 10.40 p.m. and some gunfire. Britain lost its first fighter plane since December 5th.

6.1.41 First time for a long time daylight raids by lone raiders. Some bombs were dropped on London.
7.1.41 Heavy gunfire in the city 1.30 to 3 p.m. Planes could be heard very distinctly apparently very low. Bombs were dropped in many places in and around London.
Again no air raids tonight yet.

8.1.41 No daylight raids today. Again no raiders over tonight.

9.1.41 German planes came over this evening at irregular intervals, few planes and long lulls. Heavy gun fire at times. Two big bombs fell close to here. One did not explode. Most planes very low, one was certainly in trouble. Most activity about 11 to 12 o鈥檆lock.

10.1.41 No day raids. No raiders this evening yet - 11.15 p.m.

11.1.41 Air raid commenced at tea time although very few went over, we heard a fair number flying to London. Raid all over by 11 o鈥檆lock.

12.1.41 Tonight some raiders attempted to bomb London, there was a warning until nearly midnight. Very few planes passed this way
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13th 14th and 15th January 1941 No air raids or warnings..
16.1.41 Early evening warning followed by all clear soon after two planes went over. At 10.30 one plane went over followed by warning.

17 & 18.1.41 No raids.

19.1.41 Warning just after 6 p.m. - all clear shortly afterwards. Women between 16 and 60 are now liable for conscription in Civil Defence duties.

20.1.41 All males in industrial areas between 16 and 60 are now compelled to do 48 hours per month in Civil Defence duties. Those not doing these duties will be compelled to serve as fire bomb fighters in their place of work or business, outside of office hours.
No raid tonight or on 21st. 22nd. 23rd 24th. 25th or 26th No mention of raids on 27th 28th

29.1.41 We had a raid tonight. Few planes but they came early and went home before midnight.

30.1.41 - no warning tonight.
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I am told that the grocer in the war, whose shop was at Tadworth, Ted Andrews, lives in Lywood Close Tadworth - the first house perhaps.

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