A BROMLEY EFFORT We hear on all hands of the splendid work done by Army Huts at the Front, and how much they are appreciated by our men. But it is not only abroad that these huts are needed. In our own county of Kent alone are number of men, some engaged in guarding our shores, others still in training: men of the Royal Navy, men from all parts of the United Kingdom, men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the Royal Flying Corps, and the Royal Naval Air Service. It…
Category: WW1
We Expected the D.C.M. for Our Good Work
28th June 1916, page 10 Another letter from Sergeant Gutteridge of Bromley explaining the fun the ‘boy’ had trying to keep the soldiers awake! Of course we expected the D.C.M. for our good work in keeping the men awake “We had some fun a few nights ago. We had to “stand to” and the boys were allowed to lay down their equipment and helmets on, but not to go to sleep. We found it difficult to keep them awake, so a few gathered round and told them the methods used…
Award for Gallantry – Corporal Bert Taylor
AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY: CORPORAL BERT TAYLOR Corporal Bert Taylor, of the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, who has been awarded the Military Medal, is the second son of Mr & Mrs William Taylor, of 3 Highfield Cottages, Swanley Junction. He is 27 years of age and attended the Farningham Hill School, being afterwards employed at Messrs W H Smith and Sons’ bookstall at Swanley Junction for some time under Mr Struckett. He enlisted in the early part of 1916, and in July of the same year was sent to France. He has…
Must-have Christmas Gifts for the Family c.1917
Life may have been tough in 1917, but Christmas would soon arrive and there were presents to buy. Below is a selection of advertisements for Christmas presents printed in the Bromley & District Times newspaper. Here are some Christmas ideas for the family from Herbert Collins Ltd, of Market Square, Bromley. Who advertised selling “a most varied and pleasing selection of up-to-date Novelties for Christmas Gifts.” Hundreds of suitable articles for Christmas Gifts are on show. FOR OUR TROOPS: Warm knitted scarfs, woollen gloves and other ‘comforts’ for present needs.…
What was happening in Bromley 100 years ago?
1917 was a bad year. The death toll was going up. If the casualties of the Battle of the Somme had come as a terrible shock, Passchendaele was even worse. Men were dying on the battlefield by their thousand. Food was in short supply and prices were rising. What was happening in Bromley 100 years ago? Here are some of the items occupying the columns of the District Times from the 30th November, 1917 With so many men away at the Front and few to keep an eye on them,…
We found it difficult to keep them awake
23rd June 1916, page 10 More tales from the Front Line provided by Sergeant Gutteridge of Bromley: “We had some fun a few nights ago. We had to “stand to” and the boys were allowed to lay down their equipment and helmets on, but not to go to sleep. We found it difficult to keep them awake, so a few gathered round and told them the methods used by the Huns when they gas us. This is how the tale went. The Germans send forth to our line trained monkeys,…
A Good Tune Would Make All the Difference
5th May 1916, page 5 WHO WILL? Sergeant Gutteridge (long known to our readers as Corporal Gutteridge), of Bromley, and now “somewhere in France,” writes:- “Have any of your Bromley readers a gramophone they could send the boys? One is apt to get dull when all is quiet, and I have an idea a good tune would make all the difference. If someone would be so kind as to send the boys of our Battalion a gramophone I am sure they would more than appreciate their kind gift. You have…
A Narrow Escape
28th April 1916, pge 2 CORPORAL GUTTERIDGE HAS A NARROW ESCAPE In a recent letter home Corporal Gutteridge relates a narrow escape he had. He says: “I was conducting a sergeant of a certain regiment (who was taking over our trenches) to a listening post in front of our firing line, when the Germans opened fire on us with a machine-gun, and I, being near the parapet, at once jumped over. Being dark, I did not notice a rifle and bayonet that a sentry had left on the fire-step, so…
I wonder who will start the games today
14th April 1916, page 8 I ran across one of the Bromley boys last week, and we had a jolly good time, in fact the best I had spent since being out here. As ever cheerful and optimistic, Gutteridge writes to the Bromley Times of life in the trenches. Dear Editor:- APRIL FOOLS DAY I wonder who will start the games today. We have had a quiet week, owing to being moved to another part of the line. The weather being of the best recently we are having a good…
Tribute to Captain Ross
10th March, 1916 page 10 CORPORAL GUTTERIDGE’S LETTERS: TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN ROSS Last week we had two communications from Corporal Gutteridge, of Bromley, 1324, B Company, 8th Royal West Kent Regiment, whose cheery and optimistic letters are always welcome, although indeed they are but characteristic, as our readers know, of all the letters from the men at the Front. It is only the less hard-worked civilian at home who finds time, and thinks he has cause, for grousing. One of Corporal Gutteridge’s letters, referring to the death of Captain Ross,…