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…
Category: People
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…
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…
Is Your Boy here? Prisoners of War, 1941
This group photo of soldiers being held in a prisoner of war camp in Germany in 1941, was published in the Bromley & District Times in the October, in the hope that some readers might recognise the men featured. It does featured one Lance-Corporal Eric Arthur Eagles, of the Royal West Kent Regiment who resided at 70 Cumberland Road, Bromley, who had been reported as a prisoner of war in Germany. In the photo Lance-Corporal Eagles is standing at the back on the extreme left. Source: Bromley & District Times, 31st…
Royal West Kent Regiment: Prisoners of War
In a German Prison Camp A group of officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment at Camp Oflag VII., C,. Germany, received by Mrs Haynes, mother of Captain P.F. Haynes. They are (left to right) back row: ____, Captain H.J. Langdon, Captain R.E Moss, ____, Second-Lieutenant R.G. Bensted, Captain T.T.W. Stanyon, Second-Lieut. Lee. Front row: Captain P.F. Haynes, Captain D.H. Andrews, Lieut.-Colonel E.A. Sharpin, Lieut-Colonol William Nash, Lieut.-Colonel R.L. Clay, Major I. Pilditch, Captain C.B. Selby-Noothroyd. Source: Bromley & District Times, 10th October 1941 (page 6)
Rifleman Robert Leo Rockall: Wedding
Mr R.L. Rockall and Miss Elsie L. Williams The wedding took place on Saturday at St Mary’s Church, Plaistow, of a well-known local sportsman, Mr. Robert Leo Rockall (now Rifleman, Royal Ulster Rifles), third son of Mr and MRs B. Rockall, of 20 Gilbert Road, Bromley, to Miss Elsie Lilian Williams, youngest daughter of Mrs T.H. Williams, for many years resident at 8 Florence Road, Bromley, now of 20 Arundel Drive, South Harrow, Middlesex. The Rev. W.R. Crichton officiated, and Mr Leslie Ellis, the organist, played Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, with…
Captain Quentin B. Hurst: Killed in Action
Captain Quentin Hurst, the Rifle Brigade, previously reported as missing, is now known to have been killed in action on April 7, 1941. The only son of Judge and Lady Hurst, he was born in Manchester (which his father represented in Parliament for 16 years) in 1912 and educated at Marlborough. He follows in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Sir Alfred Hopkinson, by winning a scholarship at Lincoln College, Oxford. In 1932 he gained the Stanhope Historical Essay Prizes; in 1933 a first in history; in 1934 a second…
Collie Knox joins the Star
Collie Knox (1899–1977) was a British author and journalist who was active during World War II. He wrote mostly for the Daily Mail. Hard-Hitting philosopher COLLIE KNOX joins The Star Collie Knox, friend of all service men and women, now writes exclusively for THE STAR. Read his “SATURDAY BROADCAST” tomorrow – and every Saturday – and his regular contributions to THE STAR Place a regular order for your London evening paper Source: Bromley & District Times, 3rd October 1941
Acting F/L Hugh William Eliot
For Gallentry Acting Light-Lieutenant H.W. Eliot AWARDED DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to Acting Flight-Lieutenant Hugh William Eliot, son of Mr and Mrs F.H. Eliot, of 3 Romanhurst Gardens Shortlands. Only 20 years of age, he is one of those gallant young men to whom “so much is owed by so many.” He was a member of a famous squadron in France, and was mentioned in despatches. He served in the Battle of Britain in September 1940, and when his machine was shot down he…
Private Patrick Joseph Reynolds: Death
Private Patrick Reynolds had previously been reported as missing in the Bromley & District Times newspaper on the 19th July 1940. Read article here > Death of Prisoner of War Private P.J. Reynolds Private Patrick J. Reynolds, royal West Kent Regiment, after having been officially reported as missing since May 20, 1940, has now been reported as having died while a prisoner of war. his parents, Mr and Mrs J.P. Reynolds, of Bickley Crescent, have received official notification to that effect. Private Reynolds, who was the second son of Mr…