alarm

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7.9.40 [George Orwell]

September 7, 2010 in air raid, alarm, all clear, bombs, Churchill, gunfire, newspapers, Political, siren, War-time by orwelldiaries

Air-raid alarms now frequent enough, and lasting long enough, for people habitually to forget whether the alarm is on at the moment, or whether the All Clear has sounded.  Noise of bombs and gunfire, except when very close (which probably means within two miles) now accepted as a normal background to sleep or conversation.  I have still not heard a bomb go off with the sort of bang that makes you feel you are personally involved.

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29.8.40 [George Orwell]

August 29, 2010 in air raid, alarm, bomb, bus conductor, Hitler, Political, siren, Spain, War-time by orwelldiaries

Air-raid alarms during the last 3 nights have totalled about 16-18 hours for the three nights. . . . . . It is perfectly clear that these night raids are intended chiefly as a nuisance, and as long as it is taken for granted that at the sound of the siren everyone must dive for the shelter, Hitler only needs to send his planes over half-a-dozen at a time to hold up work and rob people of sleep to an indefinite extent.  However, this idea is already wearing off. . . . . . For the first time in 20 years I have overheard bus conductors losing their tempers and being rude to passengers.  E.g. the other night, a voice out of the darkness: “’Oo’s conducting this bus, lady, me or you?”  It took me straight back to the end of the last war.

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