The Battle of Cape Matapan was a Second War engagement between British Imperial and Axis forces, fought from 27–29 March 1941. The cape is on the south-west coast of the Peloponnesian peninsula of Greece. Following the interception of Italian signals by the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park ships of the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy, under the command of the Royal Navy’s Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, intercepted and sank or severely damaged several ships of the Italian Regia Marina under Squadron-Vice-Admiral Angelo Iachino. The opening…
Category: People
Matron Marion Edith Bolton
Mottingham George Medallist Mrs Marion Edith Bolton, matron of the Sir Robert Jeffery’s Homes, Mottingham, received from the King, as a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace, the George Medal which she was awarded for her bravery in rescuing two aged women from a fire at the Homes caused by enemy action. Mrs Bolton was accompanied by her father and sister. Her son is serving in the Middle East with the R.A.F. Source: Bromley & District Times, 8th August, 1941 (pg 6)
Flying Officer Eric Charles Whitehead
Flying Officer Eric Charles Whitehead was the son of William and Selina Whitehead of Bromley, Kent, and the husband of Cynthia Eva Beatrice Whitehead, of Chislehurst, Kent. He died on the 17th July 1941 and is commemorated at Escoublac-la-Baule war cemetery in France. Information has just been received by his relatives in Bromley from the Air Ministry that Flying-Officer Eric Charles Whitehead has been reported as missing after being out on operations with his squadron a few days ago. here is a possibility, however, that news of him may yet…
Gunner Horace Charles Baldwin
One fears for the prisoners taken by the Japanese. Gunner Baldwin was being held in Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia). Gunner Baldwas was the son of of Henry Charles and Martha Baldwin and grew up in Farnborough, Kent. He was married to Winifred Elizabeth Maria (nee Carter) and had one son, Colin. Sadly Horace did not survive the war. He was a prioner of war onboard the Tamahoko Maru when it sank on the 24th June 1944. He was 31 years old. The ship had been part of a Japanese convoy leaving Koshiki…
Mortimer Family
The Mortimer Family Notable Family Record Father and Seven Sons Serving Mrs Mortimer, of 120 Homesdale Road, Bromley, gave to a Kentish Times reporter some particulars of her family’s exceptionally fine record of service for King and Country. Mr and Mrs Mortimer lived in Croft Road for nearly 20 years. They have had 13 children, and there are 11 living – seven sons and four daughters. The two eldest are twin sons, Horace Mortimer (who has a family of nine children), and Leslie Mortimer (who has 10 children). Three other…
The Durling Sisters
It wasn’t only sons who helped fight the war in WW2. Many families with girls were also proud of their daughters achievements. This feature from the Bromley and District Times promotes the efforts of three sisters from Bromley. Two in A.T.S. and one in Land Army Many parents speak proudly of their sons in the Forces, but Mr and Mrs G. Durling, of 72 Martins Road, Bromley, are proud of their three daughters in the Services. Before the war Joan and Dorothy worked at Morris’s of Bromley, and Margaret was…
William Noel Hickmott
Lance Bombardier William Noel Hickmott was the son of Thomas William and Beatrice Hickmott of Bromley. He married Amy Rabbeth in 1932 and had four children; William (1932), Sheila & Maureen (1935) and Ann (1937). William was part of the Royal Horse Artillery, 2 Regiment (Servie no. 1089687). He died on the 9th May 1943 and is buried at Massicault War Cemetery in Tunisia. After William’s death, Amy married Timothy O’Brien in 1945. Lance-Bombardier W. N. Hickmott Mrs W. N. Hickmott, 19 Mosul Way, Bromley Common, has been notified that her husband,…
Lieu. (E.W.) Kevin Walton
Eric William Kevin Walton, known as Kevin Walton, was an officer in the Royal Navy during World War II. Born in Kobe in Japan on 15 May 1918, Lieu Walton was the son of William Heward Murray Walton, a clergyman and missionary, and his wife Myra (née Hebbert), whose family had served for four generations in the Indian Civil Service. Walton joined the Royal Navy as an engineer officer at the start of World War II, and took part in various naval actions during the first five years. Walton later…
Private E. Brooker
Prisoners of War Private E. Brooker News has been received that Private E. Brooker of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, son of the late Mr James Brooker and Mrs Brooker, of 19 Chatterton Road, Bromley, is a prisoner of ward in Japanese hands at Camp Malai. Private E. Brooker joined His Majesty’s Forces in 1940 and was in Singapore when it capitulated and no news had been heard of him for 15 months. He was educated at Raglan Road and Bromley Common Schools. Private Brooker has two other brothers serving,…
Private John Bertram Ecott
Private John Bertam Ecott was the son of John Roland and Edith Miriam Ecott, of Bromley, Kent. He volunteered in February 1940 and was called up almost immediately. The Commonweath War Grave Commisson reported his death as being sometime between 07/06/1940 and 18/07/1940. This report of his death was reported in local newspaper in April 1940. He is buried at Pornic War Cemetery in Loire-Atlantique, France. Private J.B. Ecott We regret to record the death of Private John Bertram Ecott, R.A.S.C. He had been posted as missing more than eight…