15th October, 1915 In a further letter, written on the 8th of the present month, Lance-Corporal Gutteridge says:- “Our regiment has just returned from the trenches, and had a very peaceful time; a change from the bayonet scrap we had on the 26th of September, we coming our this time with a complete roll. The only danger we had was when we relieved the —, and when we were relieved by the —, as they (the Germans) have machine guns sighted on the road that we travel to the trenches…
Year: 2017
Conscription Introduced
Conscription Introduced Within a year of Great Britain declaring war on Germany in August 1914, it had became obvious that more recruits were needed as volunteer numbers began dwindling. The government saw no alternative but to increase numbers by conscription – making active service compulsory. In January 1916 the Military Service Act was passed, imposing conscription on all men aged between 18 and 41 years old. Exemption were given to those who were medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker. It also included Conscientious Objectors (men who objected to…
Pantomime time in Penge
Christmas and the New Year are traditionally pantomime times. On January 5th the Penge Empire were showing Little Red Riding Hood twice nightly at 6.10 and 11.30. The following week a musical comedy from the Prince of Wales Theatre in London was to be presented. In London Peggy Kurton played Evelyn. Whether she appeared at Penge is not known. To see pictures of the Penge Empire click here >
Red Cross Animals
One of the four-footed friends of the French soldiers approaching a wounded man with a bandage in its mouth. Like the famous St Bernard, these Red Cross animals have proved of infinite benefit to wounded and suffering humanity Sourced from the The War Illustrated, 31st October 1914
Serving on the Italian Frontier
Letter set to the Bromley & District Times from Gunner F Andrews, who was serving on the Italian frontier. With pleasure I write these few lines as to the life on the Italian frontier. We left Blighty in the early part of ___, and had a great reception en route. The country is principally cultivated for fruit – grapes, peaches, &c. – the climate being very suitable. The cultivation is mostly carried out by oxen, and they seem to do the work well. The scenery passing through in view of…
15th October 1915
“In a hurry to get the job over and get something to eat” “Dear Sir, – Thought perhaps you would like to have an account of some of the Bromley Boy’s doings, and how they covered themselves with glory. We are billeted in a factory, and on Saturday morning at 6 am we had orders to pack and get ready to march to the trenches. We started out at 6.30, and had not proceeded far before we came under shell fire. We passed some German prisoners that had been captured…
Letters from the front: Harold Parker #2
Corporal Harold Parker, from the Royal West Kent Regiment wrote to his parents at West Wickham. This letter was printed later in 1917. An earlier letter can be read here > I am getting on fine here: am feeling a great deal better already. I expect in a week or two to have another eye, as the one I had in Germany was too small. I expect you have often wondered where I have been and what was the meaning of the delay in my letters and cards. When you…
Teaser the Mascot of H.M.S. Warwick
A lot of ships had pet mascots like Teaser, who was the mascot on H.M.S. Warwick during World War 1. The War Illustrated, 1st June 1918, pg 282
British Soldier saves Canaries
A British soldier with two canaries that he had rescued from a shell-struck house in France, the only living things found amid the ruins. I wonder what happened to them after the war? Source: The War Illustrated, 1st June 1918 (pg 282)
Letter from the Front: Harold Parker #1
Taken from the Bromley & District Times on 9th March 1917, pg 6 Extracts from a letter from Corporal Harold Parker, the Royal West Kent Regiment writing to his parents at West Wickham. I expect you will be surprised when you hear I am in Switzerland; as you all may guess I am very pleased to be here, and a fine reception we had coming through the country. Of course, you know why it is I got here; all the badly wounded are here, especially eye cases this time. We…