This wonderful article, published in the local newspaper, shows that even business rivals were determined to carry on no matter what the enemy throw at them during the severe bombing of England in World War 2. It is this spirit of determination to carry on that Hitler will never defeat. Good Will Among Rivals Sir Waldron Smithers, Member for the Chislehurst Division, writes to The Times : Sir – I have received a letter from a young Naval officer from which I send you an extract :- “My father…
Tag: Chislehurst
Ten Planes Brought Down during 1940 air battle
Another week of heavy bombing was felt over London in early Autumn 1940. While thousands of people travelled to work in London one Friday morning, enemy aircraft and British fighters fought in the skies overhead. The Bromley & District newspaper reported that 10 German planes were brought down in the London area. This report was published on 4th October 1940 and the Friday mentioned is possibly be the previous Friday – the 27th September. Over Chislehurst ad Orpington Two near Biggin Hill It was officially announced that ten German planes were brought…
Second-Lieutenant Terence Thorpe-Woods
As reported in the Bromley & District Times on 6th September 1940, another soldier is reported as a Prisoner of War. Prisoner of War Second Lieutenant Terence Thorpe-Woods, son of Mr H. Thorpe-Woods of Quantocks, Willow Grove, Chislehurst, who has been missing in France since May 21, has now been officially reported as a prisoner of war in Germany. He was a member of the staff of the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, and was gazetted to the Queen’s Own Regiment at the beginning of the war. Are you a…
Lieutenent L M Powell
Second Lieutenant L.M. Powell, of Chislehurst was killed in action on 17th June 1915. He is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database as being part of the 3rd Battalion. attd. 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Please do contact me if you have any further information about this soldier. Source: St Mary Cray, Orpington District Times, 7th January 1916. Found using the FREE search at www.militaryancestors.co.uk and the www.cwgc.org
Private Ronald Young Hedderwick
Ronald Young Hedderick was the son of Robert Munter Hedderwick and Isabel Corbet Hedderwick, of Woodlands, Chislehurst, Kent. Born in London. He was a member of the Honourable Artillery Company, Ronald died on the 16th May 1915, aged 27, having just woken up. He stretched, exposing his head above the parapet and was picked off by a German sniper. He was one of 1,001 causalities buried at Voormezeele Enclosre no.3, in West Vlaanderen, Belgium. His grave stone is inscribed with the words “HE FOUGHT HIS WAY TO EVERLASTING LIFE MET BY HIS GOD’S…
2nd Lieutenant Ferdinand Marsham-Townshend
The younger son of the late Hon Robert Marsham-Townshend, of Frognal, Sidcup, Ferdinand Marsham-Townshend was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. He died on the 16th May 1915, aged 35. At first he was missing, but his body was found and buried. Cut off with a party of Scots Guards he preferred death to surrender. His body was identified by a letter found on his person addressed to his mother. A Memorial Service was held at Christ Church, Down Street, W London. A description of the service and attendees is given…
Miss Beatrix Batten
It’s always nice to see women receiving awards for their efforts. Here we have Miss Beatrix Batten, Commandant of Abbey Lodge V.A.D. Hospital, Chislehurst awarded the M.B.E She was born in April 1886 and lived with her parents and sister at Foxdeane in Lower Camden, Chislehurst. Her father was a solicitor. Known as Trixie she graduated from Girton College, Cambridge. She volunteered with the Red Cross in 1913 and rose to become Area Commandant. She was awarded the Red Cross War Medal for over 1000 hours of unpaid work during…
National War Bonds – invest every shilling you possibly can!
No sum can be too large! Another example of an advert, often seen in local newspapers, encouraging local people to invest ‘every shilling’ they could, so they can buy their towns ‘own’ gun to help their boys on the Front line, by investing in National War Bonds and War Savings Certificates to help pay for the war. FIRE your Money at the Huns Join the throngs of patriotic investors who all this week have been hurrying to lend their money to their country. Draw out your savings and buy War Bonds. Back up…
Where they have succeeded Chislehurst will not fail – War Weapons Week, 1918
Help us to win Our Gun Adverts like this were often featured in local newspapers encouraging local people to invest their money in National War Bonds and War Saving Certificates to help buy weapons. This advert was a chance for Chislehurst to show that they could save as much as other towns to invest in National War Bonds and War Savings Certificates to help pay for the war. Other districts have achieved as much – districts no larger, no richer no more patriotic than ours. A total of £12,500 savings was wanted from Chislehurst in…