Second Lieutenant Francis George Wake Merchant Killed in Action Second Lieutenant Francis George Wake Marchant served with the 3rd Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and was the only son of Frank and Torfrida Marchant, of Woodside, Keston (Hayes), Kent. Born in London on the 4th March 1897, he was educated at Ludgrove and Eton. Having proceeded to Sandhurst in May, 1915, Francis obtained a commission in the Royal West Kent Regiment on 19th October, 1915 and immediately volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps. After 5 months training went overseas…
Tag: killed in action
Arthur James Smith
Presumed Killed Lieutenant A.J. Smith In June 1940, Mrs Smith, 58 Freeland Road, Bromley, received news that her husband, Lieutenant A.J. Smith, The Buffs, was missing, believed killed. He was serving in France in May of that year, and when last seen was wounded. A communication has now been received by Mrs Smith stating that her husband is presumed to have been killed in action in May 1940. Lieutenant Smith, the son of Mr. W. Smith, 28 north Road, Bromley, served in the last warm and was wounded. In 9123…
Private AG Sales
Killed in Action Private A.G. Sales, of the 3rd Monmouth, who enlisted on August 30th, 1914, went to the Front on May 11th 1915, and in the engagement at Ypres was badly wounded, sustaining fractured ribs. After being treated in hospital in France, he was sent to Herne Bay, and on becoming convalescent was at his home in Dartford in June for a fortnight’s furlough. He returned to France in August, 1915, and met his death on December 29th, being killed by a shell. His widow, who lives at 6…
Private Harry Gordon Symonds
Private Harry Gordon Symonds was a member of the 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, and died on the 5th March 1916, at the age of 30, and is commemorated at the Loos Memorial in France. He was the son of the late General Jermyn Charles Symonds (Royal Marines) and Susan Campbell Kennedy Symonds. The following article appeared in the local newspaper: Private H. Gordon Symonds, Middlesex Regiment, half-brother of Mr J. D’Arcy Symonds, of Suffolk Road Nursery, Foots Cray, was killed in action last March. He was previously wounded in the…
Lieutenant Gerald E. Combe
Lieutenant Gerald Edward Combe was the son of Herbert Walter and Mildred Eleanor Combe, of Bromley, Kent. He was killed in action on the 27th May 1940, aged just 23 years, and is commemorated at Le Grand Hasard Military Cemetery in Morbecque, France. Killed in Action Lieutenant G. E. CombeLieutenant Gerald E. Combe, of The Queen’s Own, Royal West Kent Regiment, previously missing, is now officially reported killed in action in Belgium in May, 1940. He was the younger son of Mr and Mrs H.W. Combe, of Elmbank Hotel, Sundridge…
William Noel Hickmott
Lance Bombardier William Noel Hickmott was the son of Thomas William and Beatrice Hickmott of Bromley. He married Amy Rabbeth in 1932 and had four children; William (1932), Sheila & Maureen (1935) and Ann (1937). William was part of the Royal Horse Artillery, 2 Regiment (Servie no. 1089687). He died on the 9th May 1943 and is buried at Massicault War Cemetery in Tunisia. After William’s death, Amy married Timothy O’Brien in 1945. Lance-Bombardier W. N. Hickmott Mrs W. N. Hickmott, 19 Mosul Way, Bromley Common, has been notified that her husband,…
Sergeant-Pilot Harold Ian Maxwell
We have with regret to record the death on active service of Sergeant-Pilot Harold Ian Maxwell, R.A.F., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Maxwell, formerly of Firgarth, Edward Road, Bromley, and now of Newlands, Plaistow Lane. Friends and neighbours unite in offering heartfelt sympathy to them. Mr. Harold Maxwell was born at The Avenue, Grove Park and educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate. In business he was first of Sweet and Maxwell, law publishers, Chancery Lane, London. During the Munich crisis of 1938 he joined the R.A.F. as…
Heroes of the A.F.S. – Five Young Men Killed on Service
On the 19th March 1941, five local firemen lost their lives whilst on duty during the London bombings. The London Fire Brigade had been under intense pressure from the many fires caused by enemy bombs and had to frequently call in reinforcements from outlying areas. It was on this fated night at West Ham that the Coney Hall Auxillary Fire Service was called to action. On convey to a fire in Silvertown their truck was obliterated by a land-mine explosion, killing five of its crew. (Charles) Wesley Drew, Dennis Gerald…
Flight-Sergeant Charles Sydney
KILLED IN ACTION Flight-Sergeant C. Sydney. St Mary Cray. Flight-Sergeant Charles Sydney, aged 25 years, third son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Sydney, of Derry Downs, St. Mary Cray, was killed during a combat with the Germans on September 27. When a boy, Flight Sergeant Sydney went to St Mary Cray Council School, and at the age of 11 years won a scholarship which admitted him to Bromley County School, where he stayed until 15 years of age. He was then accepted in the Royal Air Force for training at…
Private Ernest W. Brigden
Private Ernest W. Brigden was serving with the Worcestershire Regiment when he was killed action in November 1914, aged 22. His family had lived in the Crays (Bromley) for some years and then Swanley for 6 years. Information sourced from the Bromley & District Times 1914-1920 Researched using the FREE database at www.militaryancestors.co.uk