Staff-Sergeant J.W. Filby

Staff-Sergeant J.W. Filby News has been received that Staff-Sergeant J. W. Filby, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J. Filby, 11 Turpington Lane, Bromley Common is among the missing in Singapore. A native of Bromley, he was educated at the Church School, Bromley Common, afterwards going to the Beckenham Trade School. He joined the East Surrey Regiment in April, 1933, and went to the Far East in 1938, going first to Singapore and then to Shanghai with the British troops, he returned to Singapore, and later went to Malaya. The…

Thomas Holloway

Sergeant Thomas Holloway Chislehurst Sergeant’s Letter Sergeant Thomas Holloway, R.A.F., of 11 Church row, Chislehurst, who has been a prisoner of war in Germany since May 1940, has written home to his mother in Chislehurst giving of how he and his new found friends spent Christmas Day in a German prison camp. In his letter he said that they had a grand time on Christmas Eve decorating their hut and setting up a fine Christmas tree adorned with fairy lights, tinsel, and the usual decorations. About 250 communicants attended a…

Prisoners of Singapore (WW2)

Singapore Prisoners of War During World War II, following the Fall of Singapore in February 1942, the Japanese military held some 50,000 Allied Soldiers, predominantly British and Australian in a Prisoner of War camp in the Changi area. During the first few months there was little news, then came the reports of the missing. Finally, after months came reports of men being held as prisoners of war. Personally I found it very upsetting. The first reports came sometimes over a radio broadcast or in the form of a postcard. In…

Bert Whitehead

Prisoner of War Private Bert Whitehead Private Bert Whitehead, son of Mr and Mrs J. Whitehead, 13 Holbrook Way, Bromley, is a prisoner of war in Germany at Stalag XXB 34. He is 23 years of age, and has had three birthdays away from home.  His parents hear from him regularly, and he appears to be well and cheerful. Born in Bromley, Private Whitehead was educated at Bromley Common (Holy Trinity) School, when Mr E.C. De’Ath (now a member of the Town Council) was head master, and afterwards at Raglan…

Driver A.E. Stagg

Prisoner of War at Stalag, Germany Driver A. E. Stagg Mr and Mrs Stagg, of 23 Pope Road, Bromley, have received news that their son, Driver Albert Edward Stagg, aged 22, of the R.A.S.C. is a prisoner of war at Stalag VIIIB, in Germany, where many other of our local lads are confined. Driver Stagg is an old boy of Raglan Road school and before the war he was employed in the outfitting department of the South Suburban Co-Operative at Chatterton Road, Bromley and later at Sevenoaks.  He was called…

Prisoners of War: 1942

Prisoners of War Do you know anyone here?These are men of the Royal West Kent Regiment who are prisoners of war in Germany.  Second from the right in the back row is a Farnborough boy, Private R.T. Clarkson, son of Mrs Clarkson, 81 Hugh Street, Farnborough. Source:Bromley & District Times, 23rd January 1942 (page 5) Also see:In a German Prison Camp: Oct 1941Officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment: 1940Is your Boy here? Oct 1941

Is Your Boy here? Prisoners of War, 1941

This group photo of soldiers being held in a prisoner of war camp in Germany in 1941, was published in the Bromley & District Times in the October, in the hope that some readers might recognise the men featured. It does featured one Lance-Corporal Eric Arthur Eagles, of the Royal West Kent Regiment who resided at 70 Cumberland Road, Bromley, who had been reported as a prisoner of war in Germany.  In the photo Lance-Corporal Eagles is standing at the back on the extreme left. Source: Bromley & District Times, 31st…

Royal West Kent Regiment: Prisoners of War

In a German Prison Camp A group of officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment at Camp Oflag VII., C,. Germany, received by Mrs Haynes, mother of Captain P.F. Haynes.  They are (left to right) back row: ____, Captain H.J. Langdon, Captain R.E Moss, ____, Second-Lieutenant R.G. Bensted, Captain T.T.W. Stanyon, Second-Lieut. Lee. Front row: Captain P.F. Haynes, Captain D.H. Andrews, Lieut.-Colonel E.A. Sharpin, Lieut-Colonol William Nash, Lieut.-Colonel R.L. Clay, Major I. Pilditch, Captain C.B. Selby-Noothroyd. Source: Bromley & District Times, 10th October 1941 (page 6)

Gunner Horace Charles Baldwin

One fears for the prisoners taken by the Japanese. Gunner Baldwin was being held in Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia). Gunner Baldwas was the son of of Henry Charles and Martha Baldwin and grew up in Farnborough, Kent.  He was married to Winifred Elizabeth Maria (nee Carter) and had one son, Colin.  Sadly Horace did not survive the war.  He was a prioner of war onboard the Tamahoko Maru when it sank  on the 24th June 1944.  He was 31 years old. The ship had been part of a Japanese convoy leaving Koshiki…

Private E. Brooker

Prisoners of War Private E. Brooker News has been received that Private E. Brooker of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, son of the late Mr James Brooker and Mrs Brooker, of 19 Chatterton Road, Bromley, is a prisoner of ward in Japanese hands at Camp Malai. Private E. Brooker joined His Majesty’s Forces in 1940 and was in Singapore when it capitulated and no news had been heard of him for 15 months.  He was educated at Raglan Road and Bromley Common Schools. Private Brooker has two other brothers serving,…