Interview with Pam Preedy Interviewed by In Life Magazine At the age of 74, local historian Pam Preedy has published her first book, Living through the Great War at Home: How the People of Bromley Faced the Challenges of War. Pam has always been interested in history, but the trigger to enter into print was a course she took with the Oxford Continuing Education department on local history. Pam said: “I had come to believe that as far as history went, Bromley was one of the most boring towns in…
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Pam’s news
Tune in to hear Pam Preedy on BBC Radio Kent
Pam Preedy joined BBC Radio Kent to talk about her new book and the inspiration behind it. Pam gave listeners an insight into how her Military Ancestors project, which lists over 50,000 references to soldiers who featured in the Bromley & District Times newspaper during the war years (1914 – 1945) inspired her to write her book, ‘Living Through the Great War at Home’. Follow link below to listen to Pam (fast forward to 1:39:00) Broadcast live on Monday 7th February at 7.40pm to BBC Radio Kent (96.7 FM).
Calling all Murrays!
Are you a descendant of Lesley Cairns Murray? Calling all Murrays! Biggin Hill Memorial Museum is launching a new project to encourage girls to take science and technology courses and is aiming to track down any descendants of a lady called Lesley Cairns Murray (1917-1945). Lesley was educated in Bromley and the Sorbonne in France and, in the early years of the war, she drove ambulances in the Compiegne region of France, dodging the bombs. When the ambulances were evacuated back to England, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA).…
BOOK: Living Through The Great War at Home
Living Through the Great War at Home How the People of Bromley Faced the Challenges of War “Living Through The Great War at Home: How the People of Bromley Faced the Challenges of War” is based on real information from the local newspaper that Pam has been recording since starting her Military Ancestors project which lists over 30,000 references to soldiers between 1914-1919, initially from the Bromley and District Times, in Kent. Along with further research, Pam has put the information into context so the reader is able to…
The Spanish Flu 1919-20 [TALK]
Pam Preedy to give a talk about the 1919/20 Spanish Flu Pandemic Learn about the terrible epidemic that swept the world in this fascinating talk by Pam Preedy. This talk traces the first outbreaks of influenza in America and the spread of this deadly wave eastwards across Europe to India and beyond. It looks at the symptoms, precautions, treatment and search for a vaccination, followed by case studies of soldiers who died of the disease. Tuesday 7th December 4:30pm – 5:30pm Bromley Central Library To book your free place call the…
Flyingboats – WW1
Flyingboats Significant progress was made in naval flying in World War I. Three distinct categories of combat aircraft emerged: long-range overwater reconnaissance and antisubmarine aircraft operating from shore bases, shorter-range floatplane (so called because instead of wheeled undercarriages they floats to allow water landings) reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, and ship-borne aircraft. Long-range flying boats (so called because their fuselages were shaped like the hull of a boat) were used extensively by the British. These pioneered the technique of searching for submarines with methodical, mathematically developed search patterns. The French utilised…
Aircraft Project – WEEK 8
SELECTION OF ITALIAN AIRCRAFT Italy was at war in February 1915, swapping side of the entente almost at the last minute after some territorial promises. Previously due to its position just south of the Central powers, it was likely to fall in this side. Italy fought most of the war against Austria-Hungary on its northern, Alpine frontier, a harsh mountain war, but also the hilly north-east and the Venetian region, as well as the Adriatic. Naval aviation played an important part in these operations. Industrial capacities of Italy at that…
Aircraft Project – Week 7
Selection of British Aircraft The Royal Flying Corps The RFC was the direct ancestor of the RAF. The term “flying corp” reflected the use that was made of aviation this moment of pioneers, a simple emanation of the army, devoted to observation. Unlike France, Britain had no active squadrons or aeronautical industry in 1914. Britain’s aircraft came, like most countries, from French productions. The British cockade was itself directly inspired by the French cockade, following misunderstandings and friendly shots due to the symbol of St. George cross drawn from the…
Aircraft Project – Week 6
Selection of WW1 Heavy Bombers from all Nations World War I Heavy Bombers The first heavy bomber was designed as an airliner. The Russian aircraft designer, Igor Sikorsky designed the Sikorsky Ilya Muromets to fly between his birthplace 9poland) and his new home (St Petersburg). It did so briefly until August 1914, when the Russo-Balt wagon factory converted to a bomber version, with British Sunbeam Crusader V8 engines. By December 1914 a squadron of 10 was bombing German positions on the Eastern Front and by summer 1916 there were twenty.…
Aircraft Project – Week 5
Selection of WW1 German Aircraft The Imperial German Air Service (Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte) grew out of the need to put an end to frequent incursions by French observers during the first weeks of the war. The initial deployment of German fighter aircraft occurred within the Observer Corps, which were being equipped with one or two of the new Fokker Eindecker fighter aircraft for each The buildup of the Eindecker fighter force rapidly progressed with regular lMG 08 “Spandau”-armed production examples of the Fokker E.I. The first step towards specialist single seater…