Page 661 - Reading Mercury

sense of fellowship, which was evident in a more restricted space, and was such a help
in worship. It would also serve as a memorial to the memory of the family which had
done so much for the spiritual welfare of that part of the town.

st
Fri 21 July
A.R.P. EXERCISES
Winnersh and Part of Wokingham Affected
A section of the Borough of Wokingham and the whole of Winnersh took part in an
exercise on Sunday night. The weather was fine and all arrangements went off
according to plan. Aeroplanes form Woodley paid visits to the practices, and added to
the realism.
In Wokingham the warning signal sounded soon after nine and then a formation of
enemy bombers passed over Section ‘B’ from North-East to South-West and dropped
(supposed) high explosive and incendiary bombs.
No. 36 Sturges Road was hit by a high explosive bomb and collapsed, trapping
casualties alive in the debris; there were two other casualties. Another high explosive
bomb was supposed to have fallen in the centre of Sturges Road at the junction with
Murdoch Road, but to have failed to explode.
The casualties at 36 Sturges Road were dealt with in the appropriate rescue and first
aid parties. Two casualties were treated for burns when incendiary bombs fell in
Howard Road, setting fire to two houses. High explosive also brought down the fronts
of 2 houses in Norton Road and the casualties were treated.
Incendiary bombs in Gipsy Lane and also a high explosive bomb in the same place
were dealt with.
West Lodge, Luckley Road was supposed to have been hit by a high explosive
bomb and to have collapsed. Casualties here were trapped alive, rescued and treated.
Incendiary bombs on Eastheath Avenue and Finchampstead Road were dealt with
and there was a petrol fire when H.E. hit Wimbleton’s garage at Handpost Corner.
After various other “damage” had been done the raiders passed and the signal
sounded.
As an exercise this was an improvement on the previous work. Excellent
cooperation was found and all services appeared to work well together. In Winnersh
much good work was done, aeroplanes from Woodley making the raid more realistic.

Sat 29th July
WOKINGHAM A.R.P.
Exercise For Fire Service
BLAZE IN CONDEMNED HOUSE
Town’s Biggest “Free Show”
Watched by nearly 1,000 people, Wokingham staged its biggest free show on
Wednesday evening, when a house in Cross Street was purposely destroyed by fire.
The house, a double-storey building, was about 100 years old and was condemned as
unfit for habitation. It stood by itself in a cleared site which provided an admirable
view for the spectators.
The decision to burn the house down was made in order to serve the double purpose
of getting rid of it and of giving useful practical experience to the auxiliary fire
service attached to the borough Fire Brigade. There was a slight hitch at the beginning
when the house refused to burn owing to dampness caused by the recent heavy rains.
That difficulty was soon attended to. Large quantities of petrol and oil were poured
over floors and walls.

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