Bromley’s Christmas Games – 1941

Holiday Football Home Guard Overwhelmed On Christmas Day Bromley met the local Home Guard in a friendly match at Hayes Lane, Bromley.  The match resulted in an overwhelming victory for Bromley 15-1. McMillan scored no fewer than five times, and the match caused much entertainment to the spectators.  Several Bromley players were claimed by the Home Guard, and Bromley selected four R.A.F. players for inclusion in their forward line. Bromley – Gunner, Stone, Allinson, Marshall, Holder, Tasker, Gardner, Osman, Fowler Champion, McMillan. Home Guard: Tanner, Reeves, Clark, Smedley Wade, Smith,…

Jones & Higgins Department Store

Useful ‘Coupon-free’ Gifts at reasonable prices Starting out as a one shopfront window business, Messrs Edwin Jones and George Randell Higgins began their business venture in 1867 with a mere £80. By 1887 they had opened a 5-storey department store on the corner of Rye Lane and Peckham High Street, which went on to become one of south London’s best-known department stores.  It closed in the 1980s. They advertised in local newspapers. Source: Bromley & District Times, 5th December 1941 (page 3)

Members of the Coney Hall Sports Social Club around the world

From Iceland to Suez Members of the Coney Hall Sports Social and Athletic Club are serving with the forces in various parts of the . Mr Frank Keenor, secretary of the club, told the Kentish Times: “Some of our lads are in Iceland.  One of our members, Lieutenant Laurence King, R.E., was married at Bognor Regis last week.  Recently six of our boys serving in the East in different units met by accident and arranged to have a day in Alexandria together.  The half-dozen included Ron White, captain of our…

F/O Harold Sydney Mellows

Flying Officer H.S. Mellows West Wickham Rotarians stood in silence at their meeting on Monday in tribute to the memory of a fellow-member, Flying Officer H.S. Mellows, M.B.Ch., R.AF.V.R, M.O., physician and surgeon, who was killed on active service. Past-resident the Rev. W.A.M. Parker, speaking at the request of the president (Mr C.D. Norman) said, “It is the first time that a death in this way has invaded the ranks of the West Wickham Rotary Club, but we feel that it was a glorious way for our friend to end…

William Page & Margaret Holder: Wedding

The perfect romance It seems this was the perfect romance.  In the 1939 Register, William Page, then living at 17 Cloisters Avenue, Bromley was listed as a Butcher’s Assistant, along with his younger brother David.  Margaret, on the other hand, who was living with her parents on Southlands Road, was noted as being a cashier in a Butchery department.  No details of the company they worked for are given, but it could very well have been the same place, and so was how they met. The couple went on to…

Flying Officer Albert Cyril Batt

Gallant Conduct Flying Officer A.C. Batt, R.AF.V.R., Commended The gallant conduct of Flying Officer Albert Cyril Batt, R.A.F.A.R., on the night of April 16, when the Odeon Cinema, Bromley was damaged by enemy action has been recognised by his Majesty the King. The calm manner in which he handled the situation and prevented fires from surrounding buildings spreading to the cinema set at fine example to those around him. Mr Herbert Morrison felt that his resource and initiative were deserving of high praise, and the King has been graciously pleased…

Bromley’s Drive to Salvage Waste, 1941

During the Second World War recycling was at a high in Britain.  Though at the time it was not for environmental reasons – far from it.  During the war Britain feared a Nazi blockade would leave the country with a paper shortage, so the wartime Government made recycling paper compulsory in 1940 as part of its National Salvage Campaign. Three days after the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the Ministry of Supply sent a memo to every council in the country demanding an “intensification of salvage work and fullest co-operation…

Jones & Higgins: Reliable Furniture

Jones & Higgins for Quality – Value – Service Reliable Furniture Jones & Higgin make it possible for you to buy furniture of finest quality at competitive. prices.  Here are two typical examples of value offered. Figured Oak Dining Room Suite 4ft Sideboard with two spacious cupboards and two drawers, one drawer balze-lined for cutlery, Draw-leaf tables opening to 5 x 3ft and four well built Chairs, loose seats covered in hide effect rexine. £47.5.0 Figured Oak Bedroom Suite 4ft Wardrobe, fitted hanging rod and hooks. 3ft 4Ins Sunk Centre…

Amazing Ordeal of Two Local Airmen

Blazing Bomber 12,000 Feet up Fought fire over Germany for three hours THEN 57 HOURS ON SEA WASHED ASHORE IN RUBBER DINGHY A gallant young wireless operator whose home is at Bickley, Sergeant John Barry Holdsworth, third son of Mr and Mrs GK. Holdsworth, of Wellsfield, Denbridge Road, was one of the crew of the Wellington Bomber who were washed up in their rubber dinghy on the Isle of Wight at Ventnor after a heavy raid on the German capital a fortnight ago. Another gallant member of the crew was…

Share the Sunday Times: 1941 advert

Share the Sunday Times Trusted for its news and views through 120 years through 20 other wars – the Sunday times is Britain’s great Sunday newspaper.  As in all its history, outstanding men write its pages – Scrutator, James Agate, Lord Vansittart, Philip Guedalla, Ernest Newmanm Desmond MacCarthy, Dilys Powell, Norman Crump.   But the Sunday Times is in such demand for its authoritative journalism, that supplies run short; so hand your copy round.  If the man next door – the vicar, the air raid warden, good friends and relatives, have…