quotation within quotation

Tang, good q. Over here that sort of thing is still a bit controversial

Please elaborate, dalehileman.

We do it both ways Tang

Common British style uses single quotes (‘) for initial quotations, then double quotes (“) for quotations within the initial quotation (although you will see the reverse). Notice that although two sentences end with the word 'here', there is only one full stop:

'I was just sitting down for lunch when Mum said "Come here".'

Thanks, contrex.

Which sentence below, which ends in "Fire" is correctly punctuated in British English?

‘I was just sitting down for lunch when someone yelled “Fire!” '
‘I was just sitting down for lunch when someone yelled “Fire"!'

The first.

Thanks, contrex.
1.'I was just sitting down for lunch when Mum said "Come here".'
2, ‘I was just sitting down for lunch when someone yelled “Fire!” '

The last word in sentence #1 ends with double closed inverted commas, a full stop and then a single closed inverted comma -- here".'

The last word in sentence #2 ends with double closed inverted commas, an exclamation mark and then double closed inverted commas and a single closed inverted comma -- "Fire" '

It needs a final full stop.
‘I was just sitting down for lunch when someone yelled “Fire!”.'
The exclamation mark is part of what was said (or, rather, *how* it was said), so it is inside the inner quotation marks. To use an exclamation mark inside the inner quotation and a full stop inside the outer quotation is not considered a duplication of final punctuation, as two full stops would be.

Thanks, contrex.
1.'I was just sitting down for lunch when Mum said "Come here".'
2, ‘I was just sitting down for lunch when someone yelled “Fire!” '

The last word in sentence #1 ends with double closed inverted commas, a full stop and then a single closed inverted comma -- here".'

The last word in sentence #2 ends with double closed inverted commas, an exclamation mark and then double closed inverted commas and a single closed inverted comma -- “Fire!” '

It appears that because of the exclamation mark in the second sentence, the placement of the closed inverted commas has to be changed.

Am I correct, contrex? Thanks.

See my post above, where a full stop is visible after "Fire!".

I see, contrex. Without the full stop, the placement of the punctuation marks in the second sentence would appear to be inconsistent with the ending punctuation marks of the first sentence.

Did you read and understand my remarks about avoiding duplication of punctuation?

Thanks, contrex, I understand.

An exclamation mark within the quotation marks doesn't constitute duplication of punctuation as would a full stop.