International Stores was noted as “The Biggest Grocers in the World”. During the war they were able to stay in business by employing ‘lady grocers’ – they used local newspapers to advertise this, like this one that appeared in the Bromley & District Times in February 1917: “Nearly 2000 of our men are in the Army, but we have an able and willing staff of lady grocers to attend to you” Women were essential workers during the war, but after the war they were expected to give up…
Year: 2017
Private Sidney Thomas Miller
Another of our brave young heroes to pass silently to rest, as a result of wounds received whilst fighting his country’s enemies, is Sidney Thomas Miller, son of Mr & Mrs Miller, of Vauxhall Place, Lowfield Street, Dartford. Admitted on March 15th to hospital in France, suffering from severe shrapnel wounds in his left arm and leg, and having already had to have the arm amputated, he lingered for thirty hours, and then passed quietly away on March 16th, and was reverently buried, with a cross to mark his last…
Food Economy during wartime
During war time local stores would help customers visualise what they could spend their money on in adverts. Here ‘Worlds Store’, located in East Street Bromley and High Street Orpington promoted their Dried Fruit Salad to readers. “One pound of World’s Dried Fruit Salad costs sixpence… makes 12 large portions”
French Army Dogs
French Army dog masked ready to take a message through a gassed area Source: The War Illustrated, 1st June 1918, pg 282
Word of warning from the London General Omnibus Company
The London General Omnibus Company often created adverts like this in local newspapers to help inform readers about the dangers of the road, titling them as “Nursery Rhymes for the Present Times” This one for instances warns of the dangers of sitting on the kerb: “Little Miss Muffet, instead of a tuffet, Sat on the kerb one day; Along came a lorry, and now she is sorry, Her feet having got in the way” Taken from the Bromley & District Times, February 1917
Lieutenant Arthur Gerard Tapp
The Military Cross has been awarded to Lieutenant Arthur Gerard Tapp, R.F.A. (Royal Field Artillery), for gallantry in the field. Lieutenant Tapp is the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Tapp, who lived for many years in Highland Road, Bromley, before taking up their abode at Horley, Surrey, and a grandson of the late Mr A M Tapp, who for 40 years resided at Shortlands up to the time of his decease last year. Lieutenant Tapp received his commission in the R.F.A. in April, 1915, when he was only 18…
Advert for LSD? Surely not in the Bromley Times!
Like the large letters L.S.D? No, drugs had not been legalised. This refers to pounds (L) shillings (S) and pence (D). This advert was posted in the Bromley & District Times, 1st January 1917 [page 2] to promote the Mutual Loan Society. Might make people look twice when reading today!
Fritz the Ship’s Mascot
Two sailors , on board one of the American naval units in British waters, with “Fritz,” their ship’s mascot. The War Illustrated, 1st June 1918 pg 282
Who Said War Prices?
Taken from the Bromley & District Times on 5th January 1917 [page 2], this advert is promoting World’s Stores on East Street, Bromley and High Street, Orpington, who say they “Have enough for everybody”. It certainly would not be pre-packed. A customer would ask for what they wanted to buy. The butcher would get some, weigh it and wrap it up in paper (no plastic bags in those days) and work out the cost – usually in his head. The mental maths of shop-keepers, particularly greengrocers, was phenomenal. …
Lieutenant Thomas Edward Coney Fisher
Lieutenant Thomas Edward Coney Fisher of the East Lancashire Regiment was a gallant young officer, who fell while leading his men into action on the first day of the great British offensive last year (the Battle of the Somme). Lieutenant Fisher was the elder son of Captain E Fisher, Royal Jersey Militia, and Military Representative to the Shoreditch Tribunal, of Jutland Bank, Vale Road, Bickley. He was for some months reported “missing” after the operations on July 1st, but on November 20th last he was reported as having been killed…