The “Bromley” Plane Cheque for £5,870 handed over The Mayor (Councillor H. Lynch-Watson, J.P.) and Mr. A.F. Hobbins, hon. secretary and treasurer of the Bromley Fighter Fund, attended at the Ministry of Aircraft Production on Monday and on behalf of the very numerous subscribers handed over a cheque for £5,870 to cover the cost of a fighter plane. In absence of Lord Beaverbrook they were received by the Right Hon. R. B. Bennett, former Prime Minister of Canada and now principle adviser to the Minister of Aircraft Production. With Mr.…
Month: January 2020
Children’s Party at Cudham Hall
Children’s Party at Cudham Hall Plays and Dances The children’s Christmas party at the Royal Naval and Marine Orphanage, Cudham Hall, on Saturday, January 4, was a great success. The children looked very pretty in their party dresses and fancy costumes. The varied and entertaining programme was a great credit to the matron, Miss Edith Lingard. Nurse King and Nurse Maidment rendered the matron able assistance with the children during the evening. Among the many visitors were Commander P. Sydney Smith, R.N., and secretary, the Rev. W. Horace Boxall, R.N.…
Black-outs in the Church
Blackouts proved one of the more unpleasant aspects of the war, as they often disrupted many civilian activities and caused widespread grumbling and lower morale amongst the population. Blackout regulations were imposed on 1 September 1939, before the declaration of war. The regulations required that all windows and doors should be covered at night with suitable material such as heavy curtains, cardboard or paint, to prevent the escape of any glimmer of light that might help enemy aircraft spot a target. Shops, factories and churches had particular problems with black…
Gunner Alfred Haffenden
Alfred Haffenden was the son of George Haffenden, of Eastbourne, and husband to Mrs E. A. Haffenden, of 10 Albert Road, Bromley with which he had one son (born 1904). Haffenden had left the Army, but had re-joined on 7th September 1914 serving with the 4th Depot, Royal Field Artillery. He was wounded whilst serving in France and died of his wounds on 22nd October 1914. He was commemorated at a memorial service at Bromley Parish Church in July 1915, and his name appears on the Bromley War Memorial. Source:Bromley…
Downham Gunner Shoots Down Raider
Decorated for Cool Bravery For his action in staying at his battery post when it was attacked by enemy air craft, and for shooting down one of the raiders, Gunner Stanley Alfred Joseph Martin, whose home is at Glenbow Road, Downham, has been awarded the Military Medal. Aged 19, Gunner Martin was born at Southwark, and came to Downham with his parents 14 years ago. Before the war he was employed on the office staff of the “Illustrated London News,” and was also a member of the Territorial Army. He…
Bromley’s Post Bag 35% below normal during Christmas 1940
We had a comfortable Christmas, everything worked smoothly and well” said Mr H.J. Sibley, head postmaster of Bromley to a Kentish Times representative. People had been asked to post earlier than in peace-time and earlier in the day. In their readiness to comply with this request, it was a tremendous help to all departments of the postal service. “We did not get the violent peaks as in former years, The Christmas rush was spread over a longer period” said Mr Sibley. The busiest day on the postage side (mail going…
Getting a Good Night’s Rest in the Public Shelter
During early 1941 Britain was still in the midst of the Blitz, with no idea how long it was going to last. The Ministry of Home Security issue a number of adverts in local and national newspapers to help prepare people, and provide useful advice like how to get a “Good Night’s rest in a Public Shelter” during an air raid. Before, During and After the Raid A Good Night’s Rest in the Public Shelter – and the help that is ready for you if your home is hit In public shelters…