On the evening of the 9th November 1940 at 19:00hrs the sirens began to ring out over Bromley due to enemy aircraft having been spotted flying towards the area. Half an hour later disaster stuck. En route to Central London a Heinkel He 111 was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The damage was so severe that the bomber began to break up in the air, with one wing landing in the rear garden of 45 Cranmore Road in West Chislehurst. With his plane out of control, the pilot bailed out, shortly…
Category: Extracts
End of a Giant: Death of the North Tower
On the 30th November 1936 a catastrophic fire took hold at the World famous Crystal Palace. Within hours, the Palace was destroyed. All that was left standing after were the two water towers. Their final fate came at the beginning of World War 2 amidst fears that they would serve as landmarks for German bombers on their way to bomb Central London. The South Tower was taken down first; dismantled due to its close proximity to houses and shops, but the North Tower was demolished with explosions on the 16th…
Conscientious Objector Summoned, 1941
Being a Conscientious Objector during WW2 The National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 was enacted by UK Parliament on 3rd September 1939, the day the United Kingdom declared war on Germany at the start of the Second World War. It replaced the Military Training Act 1939 (which has been passed in May of that year) and enforced full conscription on all males between 18 and 41 who were UK residents. With a few exceptions, including Conscientious Objectors. When the Second World War broke out, there were nearly 60,000 registered Conscientious…
Sergeant-Pilot Harold Ian Maxwell
We have with regret to record the death on active service of Sergeant-Pilot Harold Ian Maxwell, R.A.F., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Maxwell, formerly of Firgarth, Edward Road, Bromley, and now of Newlands, Plaistow Lane. Friends and neighbours unite in offering heartfelt sympathy to them. Mr. Harold Maxwell was born at The Avenue, Grove Park and educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate. In business he was first of Sweet and Maxwell, law publishers, Chancery Lane, London. During the Munich crisis of 1938 he joined the R.A.F. as…
Schools prepared for Air Raids
Air Raid Shelters Keston School Prepared When the scholars at Keston Church Schools return from their Easter vacation on April 1, the new air raid shelter built on the Common opposite the school will be ready for use. The shelter is a workmanlike job with accomodation for upwards of 100 senior scholars. There are emergency exits at the end of each passage, and entrance is made by a flight of steps which decend to thejunction of two passageways. In addition to seats and necessary air-lock and gas preventative…
New Hitler Proclamation!
This article is not what you think. It appeared in the Bromley & Kentish Times newspaper in March 1941 NEW HITLER PROCLAMATION News comes from Germany that Hitler is about to proclaim himself King of England. If this claim is to be accepted seriously, some apology is due to unfortunates who have been from time to time proclaimed themselves Henry the Eighth, Nero – or a Poached Egg – and have been placed under restraint when their tendencies have been towards violence. The Hitler clique will “Heil” the proclamation…
Influenza – The Best Known Safeguard against Infection is Ovaltine
‘Ovaltine’ was developed in Switzerland by Dr. George Wander in 1865 where it is known by its original name Ovomaltine (from ovum, Latin for “egg”, and malt, originally its main ingredients.) In 1900 his son, Albert, took over the business and in 1909 brought it to England where he established the British company A. Wander Ltd. It is believed that a misspelling of the name on the trademark registration application led to the name being shortened to Ovaltine in English-speaking markets. And so, it was sold as Ovaltine for the…
Biggin Hill helps support Orpington’s War Weapons Week
War Weapons Week Biggin Hill is making a strenuous effort to support Orpington War Weapons Week, March 22 – 29. The local War Savings Committee, under the direction of Mr F. W. Buck, the secretary, have taken a shop on the Main Road, which will be open during the week for the sale of Saving Stamps and Certificates. It is hoped that all will – Help to foot the Nation’s Bill By putting something in the till. A special effort, under the direction of Mrs Osgood, is being made to…
Orpington Passes their £100,000 War Weapons Week aim
Great Enthusiasm in town and villages Crowds watch mile-long parade of military and civil bodies Orpington District War Weapons Week, which was inaugurated on Saturday, and will be closed tomorrow (Saturday) evening has exceeded all expectations. The total amount invested up to Wednesday evening in Savings certificates, bonds, stamps, and deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank was £104,000 The aim of the organisers was to raise £100,000. Residents in the villages and in Central Orpington have showed their patriotism by the magnificent response. Village post-offices received amounts ranging from…
Who was Sir Tiffy Cate?
In 1941 a strange figure (or figures) were roaming around towns and cities across the country under the guise of “Sir Tiffy Cate”, but who was this mystery man? In fact the answer is not sinister in the least, though perhaps less likely to happen in these modern days, but it was a sort of games set up as part of the country’s War Weapon weeks, where towns and districts raise vital funds for the war effort through National saving Certificates and Stamps. One such event organised was for a…