Raiders Over Kent —————— Bombers Chased off by R.A.F. and A.A. Gunners ——————- Home Guard “Bag” a Dornier with Rifle Volley ——————- Motorists machine-gunned in Lanes Kent experienced air raids on Friday and Sunday. In the first, damage was caused at Northfleet and there were some casualties, and in the second thrilling aerial dog-fights were seen. Men of a Home Guard posed fired at a Dornier, which staggered a few miles and crashed. On Sunday afternoon a large district in Kent received the unwelcome attentions of a number of German…
Category: News
German Plane Brought Down
A German aeroplane which was brought down in South East England on Sunday 28th July 1940 [source: Bromley & District Times, 3rd August 1940, page 5]
Daring attacks over German and Italian territories, 1940
This report featured in the 19th July 1940 edition of the Bromley & District Times, giving readers an update on the R.A.F. attacks conducted over enemy territory. It also warned readers that an ‘established Defence Area’ on the South Coast was being barred to holiday-makers. Raids over German and Italian Territory. Many Enemy Planes Brought Down The R.A.F. are continuing their successful operations over a wide area, carrying out daring attacks on German and Italian territory. German raids on this country have been vigorously resisted by R.A.F. fighters and anti-aircraft defences,…
Getting an Air Raid Shelter at Low Cost during the Battle of Britain
This advert for a concrete air raid shelter appeared in the Bromley & District Times at the start of the Battle of Britain, in July 1940. Effective Shelter at Low Cost Concrete offers the maximum protection from blast and splinters at lowest cost. We manufacture a practical Domestic Shelter for six persons for easy erection by one man at £9’15’0. the Complete set of units (ex works). Trade terms to builders. Complete schemes for industrialists speedily carried out at a love all-in cost. Six standard types will accommodation up to 50…
Keston’s Home industry: Fruit Preserving in War-Time
There are few more interesting branches of war service than the homely fruit preserving work which is being undertaken by the eight Women’s Institutes forming the Bromley District. The headquarters of the movement at Little Orchard, Keston, have been rented from the proprietors of Heathfield School, and consists of nearly all the ground floor, which in addition to several large rooms has a number of pantries, cupboards, and storerooms admirably suited to the purpose. A visit was paid by a representative of the Kentish Times, who was amazed at the…
New Maternity Wing Opens at Farnborough Hospital in 1940
Remember a time when we were allowed flowers in the wards? At the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939, the Farnborough Hospital joined the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and became known as the Farnborough Emergency Hospital under the control of Guy’s Hospital in London. In anticipation for air-raid casualties, a number of marquees were erected to temporarily provide extra accommodation while a dozen wooden hut wards were being built in the gardens and orchards. During this time the Hospital had around 1,200 beds, which were ready to receive casualties from Dunkirk and…
Air Fight over the Channel – July 1940
War news which featured in the Bromley & District Times newspaper on 19th July 1940 (page 5) Five Bombers and One Fighter Shot Down Enemy aircraft which were attacking shipping in the Straits of Dover early on Monday evening were interrupted and five, one fighter and four bombers were shot down into the sea by our fighters. In addition an enemy bomber was shot down by anti aircraft fire.One of our fighters was lost. The Air Military also announced in a later communique that three British fighters in all were…
Prisoners of War from the Royal West Kent Regiment
Prisoners of War Officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment Mrs Watts, of Shepherds Lane, Dartford, wife of Lieutenant-Quartermaster Watts, received the photograph of officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment who were prisoners of war in Germany. The photograph was taken in June, 1940. Watts had been anxious for news from home, and said that letters were now being received. Captain W Earle Edwards, son-in-law of Alderman W A Ward, Deputy Mayor of Dartford. Back Row: Lieutenant Kennedy and Captain Denham (Bexley)Middle Row: Captain W Edwards, Major Clout, Lieutenant-Quartermaster…
At Least Eleven Enemy Aircraft were Shot Down
A report featured in the Bromley & District Times newspaper in July 1940. More daylight air raids have been made in various parts of Britain, with casualties to civilians. But raiders have been shot down daily. At least eleven enemy aircraft were shot down during a series of attacks on Wednesday on our coasts. In one battle it was estimated that over 100 aircraft were engaged. The R.A.F. have continued their attacks on military objectives in Germany with conspicuous success, and during the week have wrecked German barges which were…
The Stupendous Rate of War Expenditure in World War 2
£1,000,000,000 for the War Stupendous National Expenditure AIR BATTLES OVER THE COAST The House of Commons has passed a further vote of credit for the war amounting to £1,000,000,000. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Kingsley Wood) stated that the £700,000,000 granted by the House in March is approaching exhaustion, and the present rate of war expenditure is rather more than £50,000,000 a week. The weekly rate of war expenditure for the last four weeks has been £54,000,000 equivalent to a daily rate of over £7,500,000 Source: Bromley & Kentish…