Cadets of the HMS Worcester at their evacuation home, invited girls of the A.T.S. to their dance at end of term The HMS Worcester (1860), was formerly HMS Frederick William, and served between 1876 and 1948, and was an 86-gun screw-propelled first-rate ship of the line in the Royal Navy. On 19 October 1876 she was renamed as Worcester, to take on a new role as a training ship at Greenhithe for the Thames Nautical Training College. She fulfilled this role until her sale in July 1948. She foundered in the River Thames on 30 August 1948,…
Year: 2019
The realities of life during a WW2 air raid
Reports in local newspaper gave a harrowing account of what life was like during the height of the air raids attacks by the German during the Battle of Britain. Whilst it became the norm to take shelter whilst a battle took place high in the sky above, imagine what it must of felt like not knowing what horrors lie outside. Stories of both immense tragedy and sheer heroism filled the newspapers. This example was published in the local newspaper in October 1940. Four Killed in Shelter Woman Buried, but Rescued…
Billy Brown’s Own Highway Code
Billy Brown of London Town was a cartoon character, drawn by English cartoonist David Langdon OBE, who featured on the London Transport posters and in local newspapers during World War 2. Brown’s appearance was that of a City of London businessman of the time, wearing a bowler hat and pinstripe suit, and carrying an umbrella. This example featured in the Bromley & District Times on 20th December 1940. Billy Brown of London Town Billy Brown’s own Highway Code For blackouts is ‘Stay off the Road’. He’ll never step out and begin To meet…
The Lock Brothers
Here the Bromley & District Times celebrated another band of brothers who served on the Front Line during WW2. Their mother, already a widow, must have been beside herself with worry that she may lose them all to this awful war! Three members of the Lock family, late of Bickey, are now of 36 Saxon Road, Bromley, are serving in H.M. Forces. They are sons of Mrs. and the late Mr. Lock William Lock, aged 26, is serving with the Queen’s Royal Regiment. He formerly worked for ten years as a…
Decorated Soldier marries Sweetheart, 1940
It’s always exciting to read about military personnel who were awarded honours for the services in the war. Here I found Pilot-Officer Frank Henderson Denton who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.). The D.F.C. is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy” DFCDistinguished Flying CrossDFCDistinguished Flying Cross Wedding After Decoration Pilot-Officer’s D.F.C.…
Building Your Air Raid Shelter
Step by Step guide to building your own Air Raid Shelter.
Raider Crashes at Bromley, 1940
Three of Crew Killed FOURTH BALES OUT AND SURRENDERS Two Houses Wrecked Crippled some miles away by the accurate anti-aircraft fire of the gunners of London’ barrage, a German Heinkel 111 swooped low over the Bromley district on Saturday evening. The pilot’s efforts to make the machine climb failed, and it lost height rapidly as it flew over the town, to earth finally on two semi-detached houses in Johnson Road, Bromley Common. Four people wee in the two houses that were almost demolished by the plane. They were Mr & Mrs Albert…
What to Do Before Going into Your Shelter
Before, during and after the raid What to do before going into your Shelter – and the help that is ready if your home is hit. Before you leave the house, turn off all gas taps, including pilot jets, and turn off the gas at the main. Leave buckets or cans of water and sand or earth on the front-door step, or just inside the door. Put your stirrup pump, if you have one, where it can easily be seen, Draw back curtains and raise blinds in upper rooms so…
Mothers Save Your Children!
In order to keep civilians safe during the Second World War, the Government set up an operation to protect people, especially children, by evacuating them away from the towns and cities which were of high risk from aerial bombing and moving them to areas thought to be less at risk. Operation Pied Piper, began on 1 September 1939, and officially relocated more than 3.5 million people. There were further waves of official evacuation and re-evacuation from the south and east coasts in June 1940, when a seaborne invasion was expected,…
Adding comfort to your Air Raid Shelter
Air raid shelters were not the most lavish place to have to spend your time. Primarily located in the garden, they were often dark, damp and cold, so shops jumped at the chance of providing a bit of comfort to their customers. This advert for Jones & Higgins Ltd in Peckham appeared in the Bromley & District Times on the 1st November 1940, at the height of the London Blitz. Shelter Comforts at Keen Prices Here are three items which will add greatly to your comfort in the air-raid shelter at…