docks

You are currently browsing the archive for the docks category.

10.9.40 [George Orwell]

September 10, 2010 in air raid, bomb, Cheapside, cinemas, Criterion, delayed-action bomb, docks, fires, Greenwich, Holborn, homeless, Huesca, incendiary bomb, letters, London Bridge, Madame Tussaud's, Marylebone, milk, naval college, newspapers, noise, Old Kent Road, Political, power, screaming bombs, shelter, shops, south London, Spain, telephone, Thames estuary, theatres, traffic, trams, unexploded bomb, War-time, Westminster Bridge, Woolwich by orwelldiaries

Can’t write much of the insanities of the last few days.  It is not so much that the bombing is worrying in itself as that the disorganisation of traffic, frequent difficulty of telephoning, shutting of shops whenever there is a raid on, etc., etc., combined with the necessity of getting on with one’s ordinary work, wear one out and turn life into a constant scramble to catch up lost time.  Herewith a few notes on bombs, etc.:-

Read the rest of this entry »

3.9.40 [George Orwell]

September 3, 2010 in air raid, bomb, Cardiff, casualties, deaths, docks, newspapers, Political, Ramsgate, strike, War-time by orwelldiaries

Yesterday talking with Mrs. C., [1] who had recently come back from Cardiff.  Raids there have been almost continuous, and finally it was decided that work in the docks must continue, raids or no raids.  Almost immediately afterwards a German plane managed to drop a bomb straight into the hold of a ship, and according to Mrs. C. the remains of seven men working there “had to be brought up in pails”.  Immediately there was a dock strike, after which they had to go back to the practice of taking cover.  This is the sort of thing that does not get into the papers.  It is now stated on all sides that the casualties in the most recent raids, e.g. at Ramsgate, have been officially minimised, which greatly incenses the locals, who do not like to read about “negligible damage” when 100 people have been killed, etc., etc.  Shall be interested to see the figures for casualties for this month, i.e. August.  I should say that up to about 2000 a month they would tell the truth, but would cover it up for figures over that.[2]

Read the rest of this entry »