Set off at 7o'clock in the dark.
Carriages fairly well lighted but put into darkness at each station.
Arrived at London at 9.30. A huge hole at Waterloo made it impossible to get out the ordinary way. Went down towards Lambeth Bridge. Terrific damage in St. Thomas' Hospital. Thought of the nurses there.
A hole in the Archbishops Wall at Lambeth Palace. Walked up Millbank and passed the Houses Of Parliament. All seemed well there. Whitehall looking shabby and many of the Government offices bombed out. Went into the United Services exhibition. The most interesting exhibit- the electrically heated silk ........... of the German flares and the packed and open parachutes. It is a big thing to go in such a little space.
Walked along the Mall. Some of the embassies bombed out and at Buckingham Palace a large band playing. Half the windows there patched up with cardboard.......................................................
Walked through Green Park into Piccadilly. Great destruction in Piccadilly. Not as much destruction in Oxford St. as I had expected to see. In New Oxford St. the destruction tremendous. Craters everywhere making the streets smelly.
How bravely the shops carry on. Went into St. Mary Woolnoth and heard an address from Professor Cromstead on " What Christ means to me". The lovely playing of "He that shall endure to the end".
Walked over London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Not much destruction in the docks. The Tower hit at one corner. Pudding Lane where the Great Fire broke out again in ruins. Shall we rebuild as worthily as they did? The Monument to the Great Fire standing there. Went into St. Paul's. The majestic old Cathedral with the round .................. altar. Yet it seemed immensely .......... and quiet. Edward said it will be hard to picture a Christmas tree without and within.
Went into Gammages. A huge 500lbs bomb ....................................... from the neighbourhood. Did a little shopping in Gammages.
Went on the Underground. The spaces marked for sleepers on the platform. A cruel smell and vile air. What sights. Remember them. The last thing I saw was an exhibition in Charing Cross of local prints. The lovely flowers. Ah! brave old city. But how much more can it stand.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten