Singapore Prisoners of War During World War II, following the Fall of Singapore in February 1942, the Japanese military held some 50,000 Allied Soldiers, predominantly British and Australian in a Prisoner of War camp in the Changi area. During the first few months there was little news, then came the reports of the missing. Finally, after months came reports of men being held as prisoners of war. Personally I found it very upsetting. The first reports came sometimes over a radio broadcast or in the form of a postcard. In…
Month: February 2022
Albert Bailey
Some time since we reported that no news had been received since Christmas, 1914, of Lance-Corporal Albert Bailey, son of Mr Bailey of Pound Place, Eltham. Although from his long silence the worst was feared, hope was not entirely given up, and his brother in Roper Street, Eltham, addressed inquiries to the German authorities, in the hope that he was a prisoner. the only reply has now come back that nothing is known of him in Germany, and it is not to be concluded that he was killed. Lance-Corporal Bailey,…
Tune in to hear Pam Preedy on BBC Radio Kent
Pam Preedy joined BBC Radio Kent to talk about her new book and the inspiration behind it. Pam gave listeners an insight into how her Military Ancestors project, which lists over 50,000 references to soldiers who featured in the Bromley & District Times newspaper during the war years (1914 – 1945) inspired her to write her book, ‘Living Through the Great War at Home’. Follow link below to listen to Pam (fast forward to 1:39:00) Broadcast live on Monday 7th February at 7.40pm to BBC Radio Kent (96.7 FM).
Nash Paper Mill Strike
The Nash Paper Mill Strike Written by Pam Preedy. The decade leading up to the First World War was a time of labour unrest, often referred to as ‘The Great Unrest.’ 1914 was a particular bad year with increasing industrial action and Orpington was not exempt from trouble. In 1914, the workers of the Nash Paper Mill at At Paul’s Cray went on strike over pay and union membership. Pay in the Nash works was low for everyone: the highest paid was Robert Marsden, Head Papermaker and actual Manager of…