WAR OFFICE NOT TO BE QUOTED, 28/8/40 - No. 1. THE "HEAVIES" IN ACTION. In spite of the fact that- the war in France and Flanders was a of swift the howitzers and of a Heavy Regiment of war manoeuvre guns the Royal Artillery, which used to carry out training in the roughest parts of Dartmoor, found no difficulty in getting in and out of action as quickly as field guns. This regiment, a regular army unit, tracing its history back to the siege of Gibraltar, was so closely associated with Plymouth before the war that it had established almost a local connection. The West Country may be proud of the fact that it took part in every action of the Dunkirk campaign. Its first battle provided the regiment with its best target; The B.E.F. was awaiting the attack of the enemy on a defensive position situated along the River Dyle, east of Brussels. The Germans were already in contact with our forward troops. A heavy Battery Observation Post, hidden among wooded slopes of the river’s west bank, kept a sharp lookout over the country on the other side. In the valley below there was desultory machine gun and mortar fire. An open hillside beyond the town of Wavre which formed a target for occasional German shells seemed empty and lifeless but one of the lookouts observed a small cloud of dust rising from a fold in the corn-fields. A study of the map showed that there was a valley along which ran a farm track through a wood overlooking the town. Something was going on in that valley where the puff of dust had beenspotted. Something worth shooting at was evidently about to use the wood as a hidden assembly place. Orders were given and two batteries of heavy Howitzers were ranged on to a convenient point some considerable distance from the wood. Meanwhile down the sunken road a continuous stream of vehicles, tanks and lorries, flowed on until well over a hundred were gathered in the imagined security of the wood. When fire was opened the Germans were taken completely by surprise. A second salvo of eight shells arrived before the first of the enemy were to be seen leaving their hdiing place. The Battery Commander had time to drop another round of gun-fire into the concentration before the target became too dispersed to be worth further expenditure of ammunition. This Heavy Regiment had many other good targets during the retreat tobDunkirk but never again such a "gunner’s dream” as this. MILITARY AFFAIRS. AIR MINISTRY No. 1514. 28/8/40 - No. 2. AIR MINISTRY AND MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY COMMUNIQUE. Enemey activities overthis country during last night consisted of a number of dispersed and indiscriminate bombing attacks in many districts, including the London area, At two towns in the South-east and at two towns in the North of England damage was done house to property and' there were casualties including some persons killed. In the London area the damage was very slight and no casualties have been reported; Attacks in other parts of the country also caused only slight damage but resulted in casualties in a few cases. Shortly before midnight an enemy bomber was shot down into the sea by our anti-aircraft guns. 28/8/40. No.3 "McCONNELL'S SQUADRON" The Prime Minister has sent the following telegram to Mr. John W. McConnell, proprietor of "The Montreal Star" whose gift of one million dollars to provide increased consignments of aircraft from Canada was recently announced by the Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook "I learn of the act of generosity with which you honour your nation and sustain our common cause. May* I express my admiration of a magnanimity matched to this hour of purpose and resolve. Hard-tried and enduring the people of Britain know well that their brothers are numerous, powerful and true”. The aircraft will be known as ’’McConnell’s Squadron”. MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION. Air Ministry No. 1516 28/8/40 - No. 4 AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUE Enemy activities this morning have been almost entirely confined to two attempts to penetrate our defences in the Thames Estuary and in Kent. In both cases our.fighters have intercepted the enemy and broken up his formations. Early reports of these engagements show that six enemy aircraft have been shot down by our fighters. 28/8/40 - No. 7 ENGLISH M.P. BROADCASTS IN DUTCH Sir Edward Campbell, M.P. , parliamentary private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, broadcasting at six o’clock this evening in the Dutch programme and speaking in Dutch said:- I am pleased, to have been asked to say a few words to my Dutch friends, for I forget the many kindnesses I received from Dutch can never people during my 21 years’ residence in the Netherlands East Indies. My family connection with the Netherlands East Indies goes back many years and firm the MacLaine Watson and Co. - of which I was a partner, - was started by my great-grandfather (who arrived in Java from Scotland about 1812), about 1827? so it is today more than 100 years old. My grandfather arrived in Java about 1845, and my mother was born in Batavia in 1849* My wife too was bom in Java, and. five of our children were bom there too. I arrived in Sumatra in 1900, and in Java in 1901, and well I remember joining in the celebrations, inSemarang, of the wedding of her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina, with Prince Hendrik, in February, 1901. Later, too, my wife and I took part in the celebrations connected with the birth of Princess Juliana in 1909» I revisited Batavia and Soerabaja when I flew to Australia for the British Government in 1935* I am one of the few foreigners who served (in Soerabaja) first in the Schutterij (Home Guard) and then in the Brandweer (fire brigade) which was then compulsory for all foreigners. In I visited the Netherlands, and of ancient and 1910 saw many your beautiful buildings in the Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft, Arnhem, Utrecht and other places. It makes me sad, and it must be even sadder for the Dutch people, to think that many of these places have been wrecked and ruined by the Germans, and that many of you have lost your homes, your families, and everything that is dear to you. It must have been a wrench for your great Queen to leave the Netherlands with her government. But we, and the Nether landers above all, must be profoundly thankful that she did. To the many Dutchmen come over here, who have - soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians, we bid hearty welcome. a I hope that they will all be as happy here as the terrible circumstances permit. Let and that it will not be very long before they return us hope pray can to their friends and relations in Holland, to rebuild and restart the great world for many Dutch institutions, which have been renowned throughout the whole centuries - places of education and culture for which the Netherlands were famous. We are allies, and are together fighting for ntvilisation and freedom, two important things uhich Hitler and his friends seem to have forgotten all about, though they are things -hich the Dutch people and we think are worth living and fighting for. Neither you wanted and all that ask is that the nor we war, we peoples of the world should be allowed to live their own lives in their own way. By mere coincidence I heard from my brother-in-law in Ottawa a few days ago, and he said that he was taking lunch with the Earl of Athlone, Governor General of Canada, and had met; there Princess Juliana, who seemed to be well and happy, He spoke tf her great charm, but added, that her thoughts seemed constantly to be with her sorely tried country. On Saturday the 31st of August your gracious queen celebrates her birthday. I be to wish her to May permitted a happy birthday, and express the hope that she will be able to spend her next birthday in her own country, surrounded by her loyal Dutch subjects. Long live the House of Orange, long live the Netherlands. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 28/8/40 - No. 8 The B.B.C. holds no general publication rights • in this material Which is issued to assist the Press in reporting the talk.- TO BE CHECKED AGAINST DELIVERY.' LET'S FACE THE FACTS /(No. 4) Broadoast at 9.20 - 9.35 p.m. in the B. S. C. Home Service (recorded from Canada.) ONE Impressions of Forty Days of History in the Making by FREDERICK GRIFFIN (from Ottawa) I shall give you tonight the impressions of a newspaper man who was privileged to watch;from'the side-lines of history during forty days which changed the world. For no matter how the world goes, it can never again be the...nice • agreeable world we used to know. I suggest that’ s the* first-fact, we’ve all got to face if we hope to save any of the values or. virtues we claim,to prize. It was'my privilege’- and a fearful one it was to see the passing - of the old’world in England .during those fateful forty days in May and Ju©.’©, when -theprops of • the world as we knew it'cracked and collapsed with -what seemed a terrible finality. } •. /. ’ The finest memory I.have of those days is’of the British'people’s unflinching and.unwavering spirit. There was fear, no panic, no V no . defeatisrm » The bus conductors were still their courteous'and cheery selves;, the London bobbies' with-their”'gas masks and steel helmets, remained imperturbable symbols of law and decency. The day Paris fell, the London taxi-drivers thanked you just as kindly, : for*a tip; in the shops -.the clerks were as • attentive as ever. I shall'always remember the philosophical liftman .at'my hotel, whp'kept reading ’’Gone-With the Wind” between trips and German victories; we often chatted. • One day when things were just'about "at their worst he .said objectively K ’’You - know, Sir, the British funny people”. ..I asked, him why; ’’Because”, are a he said? in a Cockney voice I dare not try to mimic, ’’Because, you got to knock ’em. down and kick ’em before.they’l.l start,.to fight. then - watch ’em”. Such was the ..spirit - and it was everywhere, high and low. No longer did people speak of muddling through, but of winning through. All of a sudden the British became.positive■about it. Another memory - never to be erased - is how England appeared against such a background of tragedy. It was never, in living.man’s memory,-more beautiful than in May and June. Never had there such serene and cloudless The sky was blue, like our Canadian sky; the sunshine was bright; as Canadian sunshine; the countryside was rich with growth. In the parks•of‘Londonthe grass, the trees, the flowers, the birds, the nameless people taking their customary ease, the countless lovely -children at play - all made a picture, of security and peace behind the bulwarks of. a stable world. ■■ When we arrived? London gave little more .evidence of ,a nation at war than Montreal or Toronto, Few restrictions were apparent, except of gasoline and Butter was gossip. was scarce, hut generally there little proof of shortage. The "balloons of the defence "barrage, and the had Blackout, were the only obvious signs of what up till then "been a leisurely war of continental siege and sea "blockade. That was England on the verge; that, remained England in the vortex; that, I can assure you, is Great Britain today. /There - 2 - There was little change in the basic picture as the crisis deepened. There were more balloons, more sandbags, more barbed wire in public places. As .the threat to Britain grew, a kind of hardness, not noticeable before, crept into the picture. People the spoke little in public, laughter, was stilled; no woman smiled. People with set faces listened to the 8.8.C, broadcasts. Yet almost the only time during those -weeks that the British voiced emotion was the day Italy entered the war that day I heard Englishmen curse - openly and deeply. An unforgettable memory of those days is of that awful week-end when France gave in. Will any of us who were in London then ever be able to wipe from his mind that Sunday when Prance died? That’s the central fact in this whole historic-' cataclysm, .Ttbs not a pretty or a pleasing fact, but in this series of broadcasts we’re supposed to face the facts'* so let’s face them. You remember that a few years ago Mr,- Baldwin, when he was Prime Minister, said that Great Britain’s frontier was now on the Rhine: it was then, in the early days of Hitler, but to-day Great Britain’s frontier - the frontier of the British is the Straits of Dover and the Empire - oh English Channel. At its narrowest scarcely 25 miles separate Britaih from an onslaught by the massed machinery which Hitler used in his land drives on the continent. So a fact we must all face is this: not three thousand miles of ocean any longer separate us and Canada from the Nazi- Fascist legidns, but a mere 25 to'so miles of English Channel, plus the British Navy, the Royal Air Force, the. British Army and thh thousands of magnificent Canadian and Anzao soldiers in Great Britain’s front line,. Thus the British people accepted freely and uncomplainingly the duties and rigours of a Democracy at bay: suddenly realising that they had taken too many goodly things for granted, they decided with a fierce and indomitable will to work for them, fight for them, suffer for them, and die for them. Which brings us to a fact or two I only wish I had the to drive home to those fellow-Canadians who power may still be thinking smugly that everything will work out all right somehow. One is this. In Spain in the civil war I saw Democracy murdered by Democracy. The people Of Spain, fighting a military rebellion backed by Hitler and Mussolini were riven by strife; they were uncertain, 3 divided, wasteful sf purpose and of strength. They never did get a united front; and so they were beaten, We gust learn from the totalitarian states how to organise, how to how to the strength for a purpose. But in sersre, use popular common order to beat must, at this late date in war, match their mass them we devotions however impelled, we must as a Democracy discipline ourselves so that all of us in our hearts minds and acts are contributing one hundred por cent to the national effort. We must give up our leisure, our comforts liberties and our rights as free yes, even our - citizens in order to forge ourselves into a single mighty weapon against 'this evil system which wo hate. Under our own system we can win back those liberites from our government afterwards. Don’t let us make the mistake of the Spanish people- they feared to lose a liberty which they had not learned to use, and ended up by losing all* Salute to England/ TWO SALUTE TO ENGLAND BY MISS FLORENCE REED (f'pom PORTLAND, MAINE, U.S.A.) Is it possible to have a nostalgia for a place one has never seen? I wonder: I only know I wanted to go to England* And the wanting continued, And then, one day - one day the miracle happened* Incredible, we were going at last at long, long last -- we were going* Wo were sailing on an English boat; and then we were actually sailing 'next Saturday’* Oh, how indescribable, how exciting, how intoxicating that first crossing* The thrill of it; and then one afternoon, the seventh day out, I thought I saw far off a faint lineNo, there was nothing; on theyes horizon* - yes there was the very thinnest, faintest, thread where before - there’d been nothing but sea* Breathlessly I asked, "Is it -is it -it isn’t England? Now, don’t tell me it’s England"* It was! Well, no dressing and going in to dine for me that evening not likely*’ On deck I remained, gazing, gazing, until nightfall cheated my eyes and I could no longer see it* Then next morning my two feet actually on London pavements* I really think it turned my head a little - the magic of it - the incredible magic.’ Buckingham Palace; Actually, unbelievably Buckingham Palace, where THEY lived.’ I went and stood for hours on end, hoping against hope; I actually tried to open a conversation with one of the immovable Guards standing rigid in bis little box -- but that got me exactly nowhere, since he merely looked over my head, and kept right on being rigido I still have strong doubts that he was alive. And then the Houses of Parliament the Abbey - the hush of the Abbey; Bond Street, Hyde Park, Piccadilly and all of it - every blessed foot of it -- the cutest, incredible fascination of seeing it - actually seeing it, after all the wishing* And oddly enough, each time I’ve gone overseas always the same o And then, the English countryside J Bear Heaven, the beauty of it the of it, like other the green no green anywhere; hedgerows, the birds, the fantastic beauty of the trees which seem to have stood in exactly THAT spot since the of Time. P beginning And all ~ all exactly as I d pictured it* And that was the miracle for me the feeling that I’d seen it all before* None of it was in the least strange or new’ to I wish I find out the me, might answer to that* I seemed to have come back to familiar places* And then the week-ends in Bucks - at the home o'f precious English cousins I had novel’ before met® And- topping* it all, a gratuitous nightingale hospitably thrown in, first My\very nightingale’ And then the pink and white May tree.s in blossom, and the luncheon at Marlow, and punting on the Tharpes, °f things, Burnham Beeches; The wonderful things that • were <£one for me;! Well, nobody knew, and, after all, it didn’t matter, And. the weekends at Oxford and Cambridge: and another ine at d.ovely little Broadway with its age-old and so attractive inn, the Lyjgon ArdJS. And all of it all of it the beauty, the the charm, - - was England* And back of it all 9 the thing you sense, you feel, you inhale with every breath of English air, the endLcss tradition - the timeless aristocracy of that rooted in tradition, the very soil* And the calm casualness of all the surface complacency so characteristically English: out under it, deep down under it all, the iron spine - solid, confident, self-reliant, so th&t one feels there always was England, there always must he England and there always WILL be England.' And it is this that enthuses American hearts not only to cheer you on, not only to pull for for you, you, to pray to welcome with open arms your children, bur to/aive and give, and lend and send, because blood IS thicker than wafer: and after all, you ARE the Motherland. J PT | And how altogether beautiful and heart-warming it will be for us over here to keep your children, fathers and mothers of England; tohave the joy of looking after these small future fathers and mothers,and cherish them, and love them, and, I am afraid , feel exceedingly loth, when the time comes, to part with them when you have made Home safe for them to return ß And not alone for your own childre but have straightened out again into human decency and sanity a Europe so.wickedly, so needlessly turned into shambles by an insane barbarian so' that all the tragic children,, vagrant, wandering, lost to hearth and home, and to all dear familiar faces, shall be restored to accustomed normal happy childhoodo And this is England’s part o This is England's magnificent destiny 0 It lies tightly in her completely capable hands, do not doubt it do not listen to one poisoned word that would have it otherwise: because under God there is not the smallest doubt of it - you know it - believe it o Then carry on, England* Every American heart is with you for God and the Righto Carry on' We salute you; England, incapable of a shameful peace, England, who., fighting the fight alone, shall win alone o England - ’’This earth of majesty: this seat of Mars; this fortress built by Nature for herself against infection and the hand of war; this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England” 6 Ameri salutes you’ MINISTRY OF INFORMATION., 28.8.40 No. 10 TO BE CHECKED AGAINST DELIVERY THEY CANNOT BE BEATEN Mr George Hicks M*P* broadcasting the poscript to the nine oclock news tonight, said*- The fiery furnace of war has effected remarkable changes in our slives and our modes 'of living* Only yesterday it seems that we were engaged in a hum-drum, routine saunter across the chequer-board of nights and days. Now we find ourselves in a tumult of-upheaval and peril, compelling the emergence of strength, capacities, loyalties and braveries previously undreamt of* There’s young Tom.- Dick and Harry® Boys we knew, Boys whom we watched as they grew up from childhoods We thought we understood them* We were under the impression that they had been molly-coddled* That they were not as tough as we of the last war generation® That they were self-willed. and self centred, lax in their of course, disrespectful to their That they were too immersed in the modern distractions - sport, cinemas, dances, etc., - to take a real, earnest, serious view of things. How amazingly mistaken we were. What can we say of those lads now? I am sure we feel, as startled as a hen would fee"! , who, thinking whe was hatching a brood of chicks, suddenly found she had hatched a brood of eagles, From out of a coherent, homely world daily work and evening of pleasures - a world of family life and tasks in store, office, set factory, mine or mill - a world of ordered living, where the lamp shines at nightfall the table, and is unbroken in comfortable upon sleep beds - a world of love and hopes - those lads issued forth to become soldiers, sailors and airmen in a world of monstrous struggle and storm. They speedily adapted themselves to this new world of danger and terror as though it was a natural element o By some strange alchemy they discovered within themslves illimitable reserve of endurance, courage and daring. The war gave them a mandate of stern duty, selfless devotion and ruthless adventure 0 They have giv&n and are giving themselves in complete abandonment to the fulfilment of that mandate. As our young airmen have spiralled up, out of the dark clouds which . closed again beneath them, out of the whiter billows, into the matchless blue of the there to stake heavens, soaring towards the sun, all in desperate the spirit fighters encounter; so of all our young - soldiers, sailors well airmen has out of the realm of as as - risen, .mundane things, traffidrings of peace-time, out of out of the petty the {j’*ys of home and the old dear delights and pastimes, into a blazing region of service and self-sacrifice, there to chance all, give all, in combat with the enemy* Can they be beaten? The The lion young eagles ° are fledg'ed, cubs have learnt how to bite and claw, of Britain now are The lads fighting men® No horrible weapon hellish in this most or device, hideous of all will dismay their to wars, spirit or stay their course victory®, We are confident of that o That confidence is powerfully buttressed by the reports I receive in respect to the workers® My job enables me to have intimate knowledge of the work proceeding on Government buillding contracts all wer the country® The workers lam associated witli - building and iv 11engineering craftsmen and labourers - are curbed by their modesty, They hate xuss They toil hard, o and bead 1 hunger cold, itique, hardships of all kinds, without shrinking. Danger only calls .orth their fortitude Their quiet in the midst of appalling courage o perils / perils is a thing to marvel at. They exult in the risks tjey run* I could speak for hours, and then tell of but a fraction of the deeds of heroism, performed as part of the day’s work, by building operatives, by gangs of navvies, and by groups of workers hastily gathered together, in the hush hush places* I could tell of work on coast defences carried on under constant air attack; of such jobs as that of unloading the mines to be laid between Dover and Calais while the bombs were dropping all around; of front line trenches being dug while the enemy planes dived and machi’ e-gunned; of clearance or construction work when explosion was imminent; of the chap, for instance, who, when a section of the work \ .lit and a fire was started, volunteered to go and unload the magazine in the fire, did it, and then returned through the fire 1 and saved his ’dumper; of strange little working camps in the secret depths of the countryside, so remote that the men cannot do anything but work, or see anybody or buy anything; or experience anything but danger* Their spirit is unconquerable. This bestial war has changed them, also. These sailors, airmen and. workers cannot be beaten soldiers, Tonight they bivouac on the very borders of human destiny* Tomorrow they will set the world free 28/8/40 - No 11. KENT PROHIBITED AREA EXTENDED The area in Kont to which entry for holiday or pleasure other opposes is prohibited is being extended to include parishes of the adlow, Pembury, Capel, Brenchley, Horsmonden and Lamberhurst, all a the rural district of Tonbridge* The prohibition comes into effect at midnight on the night of igust 30/31• MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY. 28/8/40 - NO: 13. VISCOUNT CALDECOTE INSPECTS AN R.C.AoF. SQUADRON The Dominions Secretary, Viscount Caldecote, paid an informal visit this morning to an R«C.A*F* Squadron somewhere in the South of England* Accompanied by Rear Admiral Bromley, he was met on the parade ground by the Acting Officer-Commanding the R,C*A.F. in England, Wing Commander A*P, Campbell. He inspected the squadron and addressed a few general remarks expressing appreciation of their work and bearing* The squadron was originally an Auxiliary Air Force Squadron formed and based at Winnipeg, Manitoba* Following the outbreak of war it was moved to Ottawa, Ontario. Wen this first unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force went overseas, many of the original ..members of the Squadron .accompanied it. Training continued at Ottawa until June, 1940, when the Squadron was ordered to proceed overseas as a training squadron and. reinforoe-* ment -pool* The Commanding officer ..was in a Fighter Squadron in - the .last. war, having joined -several years previously. The personnel in the squadron is drawn from all parts of'the Dominion. Many of them were with other auxiliary squadrons in time, there is still large percentage of the peace although a original squadron from Winnipeg, Following the inspection, Viscount Caldecote toured the hangars and was particularly interested in the aircraft used hy the Squadron Later he lunched with the officers. DOMINIONS OFFICE. PRESS SECTION 28/8/40 - No. 14 SUSPECT CARGOES: WARNING TO SHIPOWNERS & MASTERS Shipowners and masters of vessels are warned that goods which have been loaded in German or Italian vessels, or in vessels under the control of the German, Italian or French Government, or of any Government in territory under enemy occupation or control, are suspect, and cannot be safely shipped unless covered by a British Navicert or other British export pass issued after they have been unloaded. Ships which load any goods not so covered are not entitled to ship Navicerts and are liable to diversion and seizure, and, 9 if holders of Ship Warrants, to withdrawal of the Warrant and its attendant advantages* MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC WARFARE. 28/8/40 - NO: 15. THE ITALIAN- ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Home Secretary has appointed an Advisory Committee (a) to consider the cases of Italians interned under th,e Prerogative powers who come within one or other of the categories of eligibility for release set out in the White Paper (Command 6223) and to advise the Home Secretary whether any such Italian who applies for release can be regarded as so friendly and well disposed towards the Allied cause that he can be released without prejudice to the national interest, and (b) to consider the cases of persons of Italian origin or associations detained under Regulation 188 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, who make objections against the Order authorising their detention and to advise the Home Secretary thereon.. The Committee will consist of:- The Right Honourable Sir Percy Loraine, G.C.M.G. - Chairman* Mr. Charles Harold Bateman, C.M.G., M.C. Mr. Richard o’Sullivan,0 ’Sullivan, K»C*. • Professor Harold Cooke GUtteridge, K.C. HOME OFFICE, 28/8/40 - No l6. PRICES OF UNCONTROLLED FOOLS. The Ministry of Food announces that arrangements have been made with the Board of Trade for Local Price Regulation Committees to investigate complaints of the prices of uncontrolled foodstuffs, that is, those for which maximum prices have not been prescribed. The Committees when acting in this capacity will be known as Local Food Price Investigation Committees. The Regional addresses of the Committees can be obtained at any Post Office. The procedure in regard to uncontrolled foodstuffs will be similar to that followed by the Local Price Regulation Committees in respect of other goods of which the prices are not regulated. The reports of the Committees will be sent to the Central Price Regulation Committee who will communicate with the Ministry of Food. The Ministry of Food, has invested, these Committees with power to examine traders’ books and accounts where necessary.. The principal foods for which maximum prices have been fixed are:- ham, butter, eggs, canned salmon, cheese, bacon, jam, condensed milk, cream, dried fruits, dripping, herrings, lard, meat, milk, oranges, potatoes, sugar and tea. MINISTRY OF FOOD. AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUE NO. 1 518 28/8/40 - No. 17 Last night R. A. F. bombers attacked military objectives in Germany, Italy and enemy occupied France. In Germany the targets included the docks at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven: a transformer station at Kelsterbach (near Frankfurt): the Messerschmitt factory at Augsburg: oil tanks and supply depots at Mannheim and several aerodromes. In Italy the Fiat works at Turin and the Marelli Magneto factory at Sesto San Giovanni were again attacked* In enemy occupied France, oil tanks in the Gironde Estuary, near Bordeaux, at Pauillac, near Brest, and at Cherbourg were bombed* One of our aircraft is missing* AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO. 1522 28/8/40 - No. 18 THE FOLLOWING BROADCAST, DESCRIBING A PARACHUTE DROP, ”, WAS MADE BY AN R. A. F. OFFICER LAST EVENING(WEDNESDAY 28th AUGUST). I want to tell you of a fight a few days ago, off the South Coast, not only because of the two Messerschmitt fighters which I am very pleased to have sent into the sea, but because of the parachute descent afterwards - my first and one of the most - enjoyable experiences in my life. •’ It was a lovely evening and the wind was warm about us as we passed through the slip-stream of our aircraft, to our cockpits. We were to patrol the coast at 101,000 feet and we reached the patrol line at this height in seven minutes *- I could see for miles and a thin layer of cloud 1,000 feet above us, shaded our eyes from the sun. SIX AGAINST TWELVE. We were flying east when three enemy aircraft were seen flying west, in the clouds overhead. I told our leader that ± would climb with my flight above’the clouds and investigate! As I did this, twelve Messerschmitt 109 fighters emerged from the clouds. Still climbing, I made for the sun and turned and gave the order for my flight to break up and attack. In a moment, our battle began - our six Hurricanes against the enemy’s twelve. The eighteen aircraft chased round and round, in and out of the cloud. I chose my first opponent. He seemed to be dreaming and I quickly got on to his tail and gave him a short burst which damaged him. I flew in closer and gave him a second dose. It was enough. He dived, out of control, and I followed him down to 6,000 feet. TELL-TALE PATCH There I circled for a minute or two and watched him dive vertically into the calm sea. There was only the tell-tale patch of oil on the water to make where he had disappeared. I opened my hood for a breath of fresh -air and looked about the sky. There was no sign of cither the enemy or my own flight. I was alone, so I climed back into the cloud which was thin and misty. Three Messerschmitts, flying in line astern, crossed in front of me - so close that I could sec the black crosses on their wings and fuselage. I opened fire on number three in the formation. W went round, and. round, in decreasing circles -as I fired.* I was e lucky again. I had. the pleasure of seeing my bullets hit him. Pieces of his wings flew off. Black smoke came from just behind, his cockpit. He dived, and I fired one more burst at him, directly from astern. AMMUNITION GIVES. OUT. We were doing a phenomenal speed - then my ammunition gave out just - as the other two Messerschmitts attacked me. I twisted and turned, but they were too accurate. I could hear the deafening thud of their bullets. Pieces of my aircraft seemed to be flying off in all could directions: my engine was damaged and I not climb back to the cloud where I might have lost my pursuers. Then came a cold stinging pain in my left foot. One of the Jerry bullets had found its mark, but it really did not hurt. I was about to dive to the sea and make escape, low down, my when the control column became useless in hand. Black smoke my poured into the cockpit and I could not see. I knew that the time had for to come me depart. 2 Everything after this was perfectly calm. X was at about 10,000 feet, but some miles out to sea. I lifted my seat, undid my strap and opened the hood. The wind became my ally. A hand - actually, the slip-stream catching under my helmet - seemed to lift me out of the cockpit. It was a pleasant sensation. I was in mid- air - floating down so peacefully - in the cool breeze. I had to remind myself to pull my ripcord and open my parachute. When the first jerk was over I swung like a pendulum. This was not so pleasant, but I soon settled down and I was able to enloy a full view of the world below - the beach, some miles away, with soldiers - and the long lines of villas in a coastal town. There was no sensation of speed. But the ripples on the water became bigger - the soldiers on the beach became nearer. THE ENEMY WAVES I had one minute of anxiety. As I floated down, one of the Messerschmitts The circled round me and I was just appeared. pilot a little alarmed. Would he shoot? Well -he didn’t. He behaved well. He waved to and then dived towards quite opened his hood, me the sea and made off towards France. The wind was still friendly. It was carrying me in towards the beach. I took out my cigarettes and lit one, with my lighter - without any difficulty. Ages seemed to pass. I threw away the cigarette as I came nearer and nearer to the coast. I could hear the all-clear sirens and, passing over the houses - on the sea front, I could see the people coming out of their shelters - people looking up at me. .1 had descended to about. 1,000 feet. I began to sway a little and I could hear my parachute flapping - like the sound of a sail in a small boat. The soldiers’-faces were quite clear, but I must have looked English, even at one thousand feet - which was comfortingo JOURNEY’S END For the first time since enemy pilot circled around me, the I became anxious. Was I to end my escapade by being banged against a seaside villa? It did not seem possible that I could reach the fields beyond. The journey .ended in a cucumber frame - after I had pushed myself free of a house., with my foot. And now I come to a pleasant recollection - in spite of my foot and my painful landing. The people in that seaside town were wonderful. A woman appeared with a cup of tea - in one second. Then a policeman with a whiskey and soda. I drank the whiskey and soda first - then the tea. A blanket appeared - then the ambulance. I remember one amusing incident as I was lifted into the ambulance. A little boy of seven came over to mo with cigarettes,and he said, "Good luck, Sir. When I grow up I’m going to be an airman, " too. 28/8/40 - No 19 Air Ministry Bulletin No. 1523. THE FOLLOWS ACCOUNT OF A HUDSON’S ADVENTURES WAS GIVEN TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY 28th AUGUST,) IN A BROADCAST BY AN OFFICER OF THE R.A.F. COASTAL .COMMAND. I was the pilot of a Hudson reconnaissance aircraft of the Coastal Command which attracted the unwelcome attention of sevenlbsserschmitt 109’s over the North Sea. The fact that I’m here to tell you about it now is the best possible tribute to the skill of my crew and the fighting qualities of the American-built aircraft we were flying, We were patrolling near the Danish coast early in the flying just afternoon, below the clouds at about 2,000 feet when we sighted two enemy supply ships ploughing along in heavy seas. We decided to attack. of Those you who have seen Hudson aircraft, or their civil counterpart, the Lockheed 14, would hardly believe that these converted air-liners could do dive bombing attacks. It’s rather like an omnibus in a T.T. race. But they can do it - 'and quite. Successfully, as the enemy no doubt realises by now. So I put the nose down, straight for one of the ships, and we dived 1,000 feet. We released the bombs as we pulled out, and they fell a few yards ahead of the target. I was busy climbing and turning for another attack, and the observer saw the bombs swamp the ship in foam. They exploded just under its bow, and must have damaged it considerably. There was some A.A. fire at us, but it was weak and inaccurate. REPEAT PERFORMANCE We came round again for a repeat performance, and started another dive. Just as we were whistling down, nicely, I got a bit of a shock. Coming towards us from the east was a formation of seven enemy fighters Messerschmitt 109’s. They were in ”V" formation, and looked to me like a swarm of angry bees out for trouble. I decided that was no place for a solitary reconnaissance aircraft, and increased my dive down to sea level. The seven fighters closed .on us, and then the fun began. My crew-immediately went to action stations. I opened up the engines as we switchbacked and skimmed over the waves. Each time we turned, the wing-tips were almost in the water. The Messerschmitts camo up, four on one side of us and three on the other. They were a good deal faster than us, and kept flying inium at our beams, delivering head-on attacks. Our guns were blazing away, and I remember looking behind me into the smoke-filled cabin to see how things were going. THE CARRIER CARRIES ON One thing sticks in my mind. It was our carrier-pigeon, slung from the roof in its basket, looking down at all the racket with a very upstage expression. The pigeon seemed to be saying "I suppose all this is necessary, but please finish it as soon as possible,” However, the fighters were still going strong and so were we! I kept track of their approaches by glancing over my shoulder. Each time a Messerschmitt approached I gave a slight movement to the controls which lifted us out of the line of fire, I could see the cannon shells and bullets zipping into the water 9 splashing and churning up foam. .. 9 Not that we were unscathed! Four holes suddenly appeared inthe window above my head, and and bullets shrapnel were coming into the cabin pretty steadily 0 I was flying in my shirt sleeves, and had hung my tunic in the boack of the cabin. When I took it down afterwards there were four nice clean bullet holes the sleeves and side, I I hadn’t through back, was glad been in it! -2- OPERATOR WOUNDED From the continuous rattle of our guns, I thought we had sustained no casualties, but after about 20 minutes when I looked back I found that the wireless operator, who is a veteran of the last war, had a bullet wound in the arm9 But he carried on until the enemy broke off the engagement. Up till then, I hadn’t had much chance of front using my guns. But a change in tactics by the Nazi fighters gave me a chance of getting in some bursts. The seven Messerschmitts weren’t getting much change from side-on attacks, so they began to come from ahead. That just what I wanted. turning them I was By my Hudson at got home several hundred rounds. By this time we were climbing up towards the scattered clouds, where the fighters still continued their attacks and turned the battle into a grim sort of hide..and seek. At last we shook them off, and were able to take stock of our position. The fight had then lasted just over half an hour. The vdreless operator cane to have his wound dressed by my navigator, and the to rear .gunner asked permission leave his turret. When he came forrard we found he had been wounded in the leg... and, like the vdreless had carried without saying anything about it. operator, on • EMERGENCY LANDING-, They had seen most of the~fight, and as their wounds were being bandaged I shouted noise the luck?” The above, the engines, ’’Any of gunner held up finger one pointed then straight downwards and grinned. Then he held up another and pointed slantingly down. This meant, that' one Messerschmitt had gone down for certain, and he had seen another gliding down to the sea apparently out of control. The wireless operator confirmed our successes.. W e had a long slog back to England - about two hours in a. damaged aircraft. In spite of the hard towsing I had given the engines they were behaving perfectly, but I know we would have trouble with the undercarriage. Sure enough, when we tried to put it down to land, it would only go halfway e We signalled to the staff that sent all the to the back of the we were going to make an emergency landing. I crew machine to ease the trim. Then we came in. The wheels supported us a little, and we O.K, landed quite sweetly* The wounded members of my crew are ' ‘ . Air Ministry Bulletin No. 1519. 28/8/40 - NO: 20. AIR MINISTRY NEWS SERVICE R.A.F. RAID ON KIEL A swift attack on the Naval Dockyard at Kiel was carried out by heavy bombers of the R o A O F. last night* Pilots and taking part in the raid, described on their return how crews, bombs straddled the Mole and were seen to burst in other parts of the dock area. following one attack, culminated in a huge fire with a mass Heavy explosions, of black rising from it, suggesting that an oil store had been set on fire. smoke Fifteen minutes after leaving the target area members of another crew could still see the fire which had resulted from their bombing. Yet another raider reported ’’Five large fires started”. In the face of a fierce’barrage of anti-aircraft fire, at tines blinded by the concentration of of the bomber pilots came down to 800 feet over searchlights, one the docks to drop his bombs* Here is his own dramatic story of the raid frcm.start to finish: ’’Going out the weather was fairly good and we came out about fifteen miles North of the south. There target, managed to get a good ’pinpoint* and then turned and flew of while going down to the target, enemy activity any description we were was no no ’flak' and no searchlights. -We flew along at about thirteen..thousand feet and then came round slightly east of the .target. then seemed to be in the ’’One searchlight picked us up and we centre of the biggest collection of anti-aircraft bursts searchlights I have and ever seen,. They all came ..on. at once.-.just as though somebody had pushed over a switch? We flare but with all "Wo flew on, taking- ordinary evasiveaction. dropped a this ’flak’ coming up we didn’t have time to wait and see what happened, ”We had worked it all out before we took off, and I was manoeuvring to try to get the target in between us and though unfortunately-the moon was the moon, only just coming up and wasn’t very bright, consequently of little help. From my height I could definitely make out the shape of Mole. There was no mis- down in dive to 800 feet. taking it. I decided to take the odd chance and we went a all ”1 trying to 'keep' the target just underneath the nose of ; the aircraft ; the time. We dickens of speed. I-estimate we were doing about 350 -• got up a a • When got down to about 8,000 they had about I's searchlights m.p.h. the clock. we ’flak’ on us. The heavy ’flak', had been coming up. all the time, and -now the light ; I much before. started. It just came straight up at us: have never seen so The "I thought, we couldn't go back having got so far, so we just carried on. lower we went the more intense the flak’ became. ' How and then I was able to catch a glimpse of the Mole in front of us. It was impossible to say for certain whether which there was a ship there or not; I saw a long dark shape to the west of it certainly looked like a ship. "We just carried on diving. I gave the order to release the bombs at 800 shot down to one hundred feet over the Mole and just feet. Then straight away we than At times I was above the water. There seemed to be more searchlights ever. blinded. It was impossible to see the results of the bombing. straight ahead. One "Suddenly, in front of me I saw a lot of trees coming up of the searchlights flattening but to try to catch us, had illuminated them, just for me to see them. I grilled the aircraft up, and we went over the top. in time did every The troublewas wedidn‘t dare go up too high because as soon as we gun But all the guns in the place started opening up. I tried going up to 300 feet. incredible. We went down low in the area seemed to be banging away at us. It was again and flew over the town at about 100 feet. fire the "The front and rear gunners, were blazing away at the points of on ground. They used up about 3,000 rounds between them. We must have stayed over forwards trying to the town for about ten minutes, just charging backwards and head get away. Practically all the time we were at about 100 feet I was trying to in front of us. west, but as soon as I did that they put up a terrific barrage /I 2 ”I just hoped to get out of it but I must say I never really expected that we would. We went souths zig-zagging all the time. We got about 15 miles away and then, although we were being shot at, we Were able to gain height. As We Went up we had to take violent evasive action all the time. Finally we got away”. Another bomber, which started five large fires in the area, had by contrast carried out a high level attack and met with little anti-aircraft fire over iel. The pilot said he got the impression that the ground defences were "lying doggo" thinking that if they kept quiet the bomber would not locate the target. - "We ran into it on the way back” he added. "They opened up all the way down. Eventually we got towhat we thought was a safe point. We had just started to open up the coffee and sandwiches when everything began again. We had made a slight miscalculation and were slap bang over Still we got away with it all right". These attacks formed only one phase of the night’s operations. Another force of bombers attacked the important transformer station at Kelsterbach, near Frankfurt. One of than scored a direct hit on the works. "The whole target appeared to explode and large fires were seen until the target area was out of sight”, reported members of the crew. Describing this attack, the pilot -- an "old hand” with over 30 raids over Germany to his credit said: "there was no trouble getting there: a certain amount of anti-aircraft but nothing to worry about. We went milling around two or three times at fairly low height: then suddenly I saw the target come shooting up in front of us. "There was no time for anything else. So I pulled the jettison release to get the bombs off as quickly as possible. They went down in a salvo. After that, we went straight down to 100 feet and then got up as quickly as we could. I couldn’t see what happened myself, but the rear gunner said that the bombs had burst on the had middle of the target and that a great'deal of the place simply went up in smoke and flames”. Besides these objectives, attacks were also made during the night by other sections of the raiding force on the aircraft factory at Augsburg t where Messerschmitts are and the. oil refinery at Mannheim. assembled, on At Augsburg several direct hits with heavy bombs were registered on hangars, and one large explosion was observed a few minutes after the last of the bombs had been dropped. The fires could be seen twenty minutes after the last of the attackers had left the scene. Hits were also obtained on the oil refinery at Mannheim, Another important source of oil for Germany was badly damaged during an attack on the oil tanks at Bee D’Ambes at Bordeaux, Several fires broke out among the tanks and fires were also seen in other parts of the target area. Oil tanks were also set on fire at Pauillac, near Brest. Off the coast south of Brest, one ofthe bombers encountered a Dornier 17 which was flying at 2,000 feet with its navigation and cockpit lights on. The bomber at took up a parallel course and attacked the enemy. once Soon after the first burst flames were seen coming from the starboard engine of the Dornier and the enemy aircraft began rapidly to loose height. The bomber continued the pursuit but broke off the engagement after the Dornier had entered the defended area at Lorient. When last seen the Dornier was flying very low with flames still caning from its starboard, engine* 23/8/40 - No. 21. AIR MINISTRY NO. 1525 AIR MINISTRY AND MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY COMMUNIQUE. Large numbers of enemy aircraft again attempted to penetrate our fighter defences during this afternoon. Few bombs were dropped except in one town on the Thames Estuary, where some damage was done and a small number of casualties caused. Reports received up to 8 p.m. show that 24 enemy aircraft have been shot down by our fighters. Twelve of our aircraft have been lost, but the pilots of four are known to be safe. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN No. 1520. 28/8/40 - No. 22. Air Ministry News Service. CHERBOURG OIL TANKS BOMBED. The pilot of a coastal command aircraft, one of a squadron which bombed the oil tanks Cherbourg last night (Tuesday) made at three approaches to the target before releasing his bombs, As soon as he came in for his first attack, he was caught and held by many searchlights, and there was heavy and accurate anti- aircraft fire from the ground. He ’’retired out to sea”, to use his own words - and came in again eleven minutes later. The searchlight caught him again, and this time shrapnel scored a hitin the fuselage of his aircraft. He flew out to sea again and circled there for half an hour. Then he came in once more, only to be caught by the lights. This time he circled round for ten minutes, searching for the target. He found it, let go a stick of bombs, started a big fire, and flew back to England. Another pilot tried, at first unsuccessfully, to find the oil tanks. But finally, flying very low, he found and "bombed them just as the searchlight caught him. Anti-aircraft fire followed him four miles out to sea. The dull red glow of the fires started by the squadron was visible when the pilots were well on their way home. N AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN NO. 28/8/40 - o. 23. Air Ministry News Service KENT COAST ATTACK Twice during this morning (Wednesday) Spitfires and Hurricanes of the R. A.F. Fighter Command flew to attack enemy raiders over the Kentish Coast.. Reports received up to 5 p.m. show that they destroyed 14 of the enemy and badly damaged many more. First attack in which approximately 100 of the enemy fighters and bombers were concerned came at about 8.30 a.m. Here is what J of our pilots had to say afterwards about their own share of the fighting, : “I dived on a Dornier 17. Large pieces broke off from the wing and I saw it go down. ”1 fired on three Heinkels 111 over the sea. I broke away and came up again.. This time I found only one of the Heinkels. I gave itseveral long bursts and after breaking away a second time I saw a parachute descending. And the third, a Messerschmitt 109, was attacking me when I fired at close range. The Messerschmitt turned over and dived straight down, The second wave of about 120 bombers and fighters followed shortly after midday. This time the lower part of the Thames Estuary, as well as the East Coast, was included in the scope of the enemy raid attempt. Here are two more descriptions by individual pilots: ”We sighted two formations of Dornier 17", said one, "with Messerschmitt 109’s escorting them, We split up to attack them* Most of us were unable to watch the result of our fire, but we know that we got one of the Dorniers and one of the Messerschmitts at any rate”. And the other: - The Dorniers were in six groups of five aircraft each... Above them were the fighters. After our first attack, we all in turn dived through the bombers firing as we dived, and then climbed to attack again”. The later accounted for two pilot’s Hurricane squadron Dorniers definitely, and damaged others. A second patrol of Hurricanes which had attacked the same , formation a few minutes earlier, shot down two of the Dorniers and lad tWo* of the escorting Messerschmitts 109s. AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN No. 1526. 28/8/40 - No. 24. Air Ministry News Service. MESSERSCHMITTS LOOK FOR TROUBLE. R.A,F. Fighter Command pilots caught their biggest "bag" of today (Wednesday) during the afternoon when more than 100 enemy fighters approached the South-East Coast about 5 o'clock. Some of the Messerschmitts dived into cloud as soon as the Spitfires and Hurricanes which were pursuing them, came in sight. Others were "milling around", as one British pilot said "looking ready enough for a fight". They got their fight, and ten of the Messerschmitts were shot down. Several more, in addition, were believed to have been destroyed, although their loss could not be proved. After the fight, four of our pilots were missing. The result of the afternoon’s fighting was to bring the enemy’s losses to-day up to 24. A sergeant pilot of a Spitfire squadron fired three hursts at a Messerschmitt 109 and saw it plunge straight down into a cloud-bank, beneath him. A second sergeant pilot, flying below the%clouds, saw the Messerschmitt fall through and break up in mid-air. A pilot officer of the same squadron saw another Messerschmitt 10® catch fire and go down in flames. Yet a third Messerschmitt was seen to turn half over and "skid down". But a Hurricane squadron, which in nine days’ fighting ver France destroyed 59 of the enemy, did the greatest damage. They saw four of the Messerschmitts crash or fall in flames under their machine-gun fire and they seriously damaged another three. ON MULTI-BROADCAST AT 11.59 P.M. DURING AIR RAID WARNING, 28/8/40 - No. 25. CAIRO OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. The following communique was issued from British G.H.Q. Cairo, , ight: - Cairo, August 28. Sudan: On 26th a mechanised patrol of British and Sudanese troops successfully raided the Italian frontier post of ADARDEB. The enemy post was left in flames and many casualties were inflicted. On 27th enemy aircraft raided KHASAN-EL-GIRBAH without causing any casualties, Palestine: Yesterday afternoon HAIFA again Bombed, with negligible damage. There were a few oasualties amongst civilians, but none fatal. OTHER FRONTS:Nothing to report. ISTRY OF INFORMATION. Wednesday, August 28, 1940. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. NEWS BULLETIN NO. 87. CANADA’S DEFENCE IN THE ATLANTIC. A separate command for Canada's defence forces in the Atlantic and area along the approaches of the St, Lawrence river has been established, and Major-General W.H.P. Elkins, C.8.E., D. 5.0., whose charge will include also Canada's troops now on duty in Newfoundland, has been appointed to the post. This development represents a major step in the defence of what Colonel J.L. Canadian Minister of National has described "our most vulnerable Ralston, Defence, as area". Issued by the Dominions Office Press Section. M.0.1. 1. FOR THE PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT. The Minister of Aircraft Production acknowledges with gratitude the following gifts towards the purchase of aircraft:- Hudson Steam Fishing Company ... ....£5000.0.0. Geoffrey Gilbey .... £14*0.0. Mrs. Roy Foster, Harrington Gdns.<, London .... £100.0.0, The British Central Cleaning Company, Ltd., 8-9, Carlisle St., W. 1 e .... £25.0.0. The employees of same £5-7.6. Mrs. Parnell, Wanstead .... £25.0.0. The Misses D. & R. Fishley, Hampstead Gdn. Suburb • • • .... £20.0,0. Girl Probationers, Central Telegraph Office, London . .... £1.15.0. The Misses Tumpowsky, West End Lane, N.W. 6 .... £2.2.0. The Ministry of Aircraft Production, M.0.1* 2» ANONYMOUS GIFT FOR R.A.F. The Secretary of State for Air acknowledges with gratitude a gift of £lO received by The National Provincial Bank Limited from an anonymous donor, to be used at the Minister's discretion in the best interests of the Force. Royal*Air Air Ministry Bulletin N0.1515* M.0.1. 3* THE HARVEST. Harvest is practically over in the early districts. It was too much to hope that the com would be gathered under such satisfactory conditions as the hay, and yet far it has been of the easiest harvests since It has made the minimum so one 1921• demand labour, vdiich is reason why the help of many volunteers, whose aid upon one would have been invaluable in a difficult year, has not been called for. Except perhaps in the North, the next fortnight should see the wheat and oats completely cleared. The Government's reserve supply of machinery, including tractors and binders, the of the small has been useful in getting in crops, especially on some grass farms that were previously growing no com at all. It is early yet to speak of yields, Certainly the straw is on the short side. But reports in various parts of the country suggest that the yield of grain will probably be up to the average. With a considerably larger acreage under corn, Britain oats and barley. will produce a large tonnage of grain this year, particularly the fields have been cleared, and sometimes before the last stooks Immediately have been removed, tractors have got to work to cultivate the stubble. This is a but also such measure of defence against hostile aircraft that may attempt to land, is the best insurance for clean tilth. The loaded waggons rumble early cultivation a off over the stubble, bearing the harvest of 1940. As the last ones go, the tractors lumber the to till the soil for the of 1941 War or no war, bombers through gates crops • farmer turns his to the future and the land on. or a clear sky, the eyes .goes Ministry of Agriculture c M. 0.1. 4* CYPRUS GIFT. total of The "Cyprus Post" has collected a further sum of £1,500, making a £4,000 for the purchase of a Cyprus Fighter plane. The Secretary for the Colonies has acknowledged this gift expressing the grateful thanks of H.M. Government, Issued by the Colonial Office Press Section. M. 0.1. 5. Wednesday, August 28th* 1940* MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NEWS BULLETIN NO. 88. CONTINGENT FROM NEW ZEALAND. large contingent of New Zealanders, consisting of pilots, air gunners A and naval airmen, arrived yesterday in the United Kingdom for service in the Royal Navy and the Fleet Air Arm* The men were officially welcomed at the port of arrival by the High Commissioner (Mr*W.J*Jordan), who advised them of the duties they vd.ll be called upon to perform and of the facilities available to them through the New Zealand War Services Association whilst they are on leave* Dominions Office Press Section M*o*l* 1* MIAMI GIFT TO WAR OFFICE Mr* John Scott, of the Magnolia Company, Miami, Florida* has sent Mr* Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for War, 50 dollars as a contribution towards the cost of the war* In a letter to Mr. Eden Mr* Scott writes, ’’The headlines over the radio listen good* but I guess both sides are catching ’hell’. Enclosed is a drop for the big bucket*” War Office M*o*l*2* CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT The Minister of Aircraft Production acknowledges with warm thanks the following gifts towards the purchase of aircraft:- Mr* and Mrs* Jesse Frank, Upper Erooke Street, W.l......... (United States citizens, presented in memory of their parents) SHr» Alf*red Herbert .. £5,000 The British oomniunitv of MartallanfSf'i Chile. .. £500. (towards the cost of a Spitfire) Womens Wantage Branch of the British Legion Section of the • * £58-4-10. Captain Sir Bernard Eckstein, Old Lands Hall, Fairwarp, Sussex (to be called Fairwarp, a Spitfire) ......... .. £5,000 Ministry of Aircraft Production M*o*l*4« M. 0.1, News Bulletin No. 88 - Page 2 CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL HERBS It has been decided by the Ministry of Health to give encouragement, under the scheme indicated below, to the further production in this country of belladonna, digitalis, henbane and stramonium. Owing to the closing of some foreign sources of supply, much interest, both professional and amateur, has recently been shown in the growing and collection in this country of all kinds of herbs. Many proposals have been advanced, ranging from suggestions for collecting wild plants by botanists, teachers, schoolchildren, etc., to arrangements for extended cultivation by existing firms, private gardeners and so forth. The various proposals and the whole needs of the situation have been discussed at the Ministry with representatives of the various interests and in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, In the result, it is felt that extended production on an organised scale may well be limited to the four herbs named above, and that the scheme should be on a commercial basis. The essence of the scheme is that the present commercial firms should extend their cultivation and drying plant. Farmers and owners of large private gardens who wish to engage in the cultivation of the herbs recommended to operate in close are association with commercial firms to that the is ensure properly harvested and crop dealt with. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will advise on the problems relating to production and method of cropping. Accordingly, farmers and private gardeners who are desirous of growing the herbs are advised to get into touch without delay with the Wholesale Drug Trades Associa- tion, 28, Gordon Square, W.C.I. Ministry of Health. M. 0.1. 5. DRIED VEGETABLES, The Ministry of Food announces that until further notice no licences will be granted for the importation of dried vegetables or vegetable powders. Production in this country should be sufficient to meet requirements. Ministry of Food. M. 0.1. 6. DIRECTOR OF MARGARINE AND COOKING FATS RE-APPOINTED. Mr. J.P. Van Den Bergh, who held the post of Director of Margarine during the previous -period of Margarine Control, has been re-appointed to the Ministry of Food as Director of Margarine and Cooking Fats on the resumption of control. Mr. Van Den Bergh is a Director of Lever Bros., and Unilever, Ltd. Ministry of Food M.0.1. 7» NEVI ZEALAND'S HELP FOR THE R. A-,F. Mr. The following message to the Prime Minister has "been received from Fraser, Prime Minister of New Zealand: "The people of Southland, New Zealand, the southernmost province of the Empire, asks the British Government to accept as a gesture of loyalty £21,000 for the purchase of two fighter aeroplanes, one of which they hope may be named "Southland” and flown by a Southland or New Zealand pilot.” The above gift is part of a fund of £lOO,OOO which is being raised by public New Zealand for aircraft. Dominions Office Press Section. M.0.1. 8» subscription in