As reported in the Bromley & District Times in 6th September 1940 Prisoner of War Mrs R. G, Jones of Maeberry, 10 Nichol Lane, Bromley, received a post-card from her husband on August 29, stating that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. Sapper Jones left England on May 20 and his wife received a letter from him dated May 24. Then she had no news other than that he was missing, and neither the Red Cross nor War Office could give any further information. Mrs Jones is now…
Category: News
Unexploded Bomb on Railway Line
Danger coolly tackled by staff In the South of England an unexploded bomb fell a short distance from a main-line signal box and train services had to be temporarily suspended. As the bomb could not be disposed of immediately, a screen of laden coal wagons was placed on the up-line to enable single-line working on the down-line. Volunteers were asked to work freight traffic past the spot. The traffic and locomotive running staffs volunteered to a man and the crews of down trains from London were equally responsive, refusing to…
Gun Crew who Shot down three Dornier bombers
This is the anti-aircraft gun crew who brought down three Dornier 17 bombers shortly after mid-day on Sunday last. In the picture the crew is celebrating in beverage supplied by the commanding officer. Reported in the Bromley & District Times, September 1940
Lance Corporal E. A. Palin
Reported in the Bromley & District Times, 6th September 1940. Prisoner of War Mrs G. L. Plain, 61 Newbury Road, Bromley, has received news from her husband, Lance Corporal E. A. Palin, who was reported missing on May 22, that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. Joining the Army in 1930, he served with his regiment in India for six years, but returned to the mother country on completing his service. He was recalled just before war broke out, and was drafted to France early in September. As…
Harvesters in a Raid
Reported in the Bromley & District Times, 6th September 1940 Mr. E. S. Oak-Rhind writes to The Times:- Somewhere among the fields of Kent while waiting for the Hun advance, I watched the harvesters at work and wondered as to their reaction to the fight that must take place, so shortly, in the sky above. Presently the sound of the advancing enemy was audible, but still the harvesters work went on, until there roared overhead our intercepting squadron. _s one man the workers stood upright and still, doffed their caps…
Second-Lieutenant Terence Thorpe-Woods
As reported in the Bromley & District Times on 6th September 1940, another soldier is reported as a Prisoner of War. Prisoner of War Second Lieutenant Terence Thorpe-Woods, son of Mr H. Thorpe-Woods of Quantocks, Willow Grove, Chislehurst, who has been missing in France since May 21, has now been officially reported as a prisoner of war in Germany. He was a member of the staff of the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, and was gazetted to the Queen’s Own Regiment at the beginning of the war. Are you a…
County of the Kent Red Cross
As reported in the Bromley & District Times in September 1940 Travel Vouchers for Relatives Lady Hohler, Fawkham Manor writes:- It is not perhaps generally known that men serving in the Merchant Service come under the British Red Cross and St John scheme for assisting relatives (wife, parents, children, brothers and sisters) to obtain a Concession Voucher, which permits them to travel at reduced rates, In serious or dangerous cases the Red Cross and St John also provides accommodation near the hospital for relatives travelling a long distance. Application should…
Private Edward F. Belsey
Reported in the Bromley & District Times on 6th September 1940 Prison of War: Edward F. Belsey, Bromley This week Mrs E. F. Belsey of Bromley has heard from her husband, Private Edward F. Belsey, R.A.M.C., that he is a prisoner of war. Previously he had been reported as missing from June 10. The son of Mr Belsey and of the late Mrs Belsey, of 53 Palace Road, Bromley, he was educated at the Central School, and afterwards obtained employment as an assistant at the Chaterton Road branch of the South…
Sec. Lieutenant Claudius C. G. Anderson
Reported in the Bromley & District Times on 6th September 1940 Prisoner of War: Second-Lieutenant C.C.G. Anderson, R.A. Mr and Mrs Anderson of Springfield, Derry Downs, St Mary Cray, have been informed that their son, Second-Lieutenant Claudius C. G. (“Grigor”) Anderson, aged 23, who was reported missing in France, is now a prisoner of war in Germany. Second-Lieutenant Anderson served with a Territorial Anti-Aircraft Company in 1937, and at the outbreak of was war transferred to search light work. He was educated at Dulwich College and in civil life was…
Day Out for Dunkirk Wounded
This wonderful report, which appeared in the local newspaper, describes how a party of wounded soldiers who at Dunkirk , were treated by the kind people of Bromley, when they visited the town on a day trip. The occasion was made possible by the donations of a local company. It would be great to know which local company helped arrange this. Bromley Firm’s Effort Mr Watts, manager of the Gaumont, Bromley, sprang a surprise on the audience on Wednesday afternoon, when he announced that over 30 of the boys who…