Communal kitchens were created in the 1940’s, during the Second World War, to help people who had been either bombed out of their homes, run out of ration coupons or otherwise needed help. These community feeding centres were named ‘British Restaurants’ by the, then, Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. Set up by the Ministry of Food, the centres were run by the local government or volunteers. Both my mother and grandmother helped at the British Restaurant which operated in West Wickham, Kent. Meals were sold at a set price of 9d…
Category: WW2
Refugee Wedding: Pittock-Buss to Gross
Geoffrey Pittock-Buss was born in Croydon in 1919, the son of civil servant James John Adam Pittock-Buss (1885–1962) and Marion May Battishall (1881–1961), who was a professional singer. He attended Whitgift School in South Croydon between 1931-35, before starting a career in journalism and publishing. He set up the New Vision Publishing Company and in 1944 published Vera Brittain’s “Seeds of Chaos: What Mass Bombing Really Means” for the Bombing Restriction Committee. He edited or worked on local newspapers in Kent and south London as well as The Illustrated London…
Death of Sub-Lieutenant Stafford-Clark, 1940
Sub Lieutenant (A) John Stafford-Clark was the son of former Mayor of Bromley Francis Stafford-Clark (1929-1930). This notice of his death was published in the local newspaper in March 1941. He was part of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Heron., based in Yoevilton in Somerset. He died on the 26th February 1941. Sub-Lieutenant (A) J. Stafford Clark, R.N.V.R. Sub-Lieutenant John Stafford Clark, of the Fleet Air Arm, younger son of Alderman F. Stafford Clark, L.L.D., J.P., and Mrs Stafford Clark, and brother of Flight-Lieutenant David Stafford Clark, M.B., B.S.,…
The T.W.E.R.P.S.: Spring edition
The T.W.E.R.P.S. were a local amateur concert party. who were in much demand during World War 2 to entertain the troops and other service personnel. I am unsure at present what their initials stood for, so if anyone has any information about them which they can share, that would be most appreciated. This feature appeared in the local newspaper in March 1941. The well-known Bromley concert party, the T.W.E.R.P.S. whose services in entertaining troops and other members of the Services are so much in demand, have, owing to war demands,…
Denouncing the “Quislings’ of Europe
Quisling – a traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country. The term ‘quisling’ originated in Norway in 1933. Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian military officer and politician who nominally headed the government of Norway during the occupation of the country by Nazi Germany during World War 2. He was put on trial in Norway charged with embezzlement, murder and high treason against the Norwegian. He was sentenced to death and killed by firing squad on 24th October, 1945 Source:Article appeared in the Bromley & Kentish Times, March…
What do I do? – Ministry of Information Advice
The Ministry of Information (MOI), was a central government department created briefly at the end of the first world war, and again on the 4th September 1939, the day after Britain’s declaration of war, with the first Minister sworn into Office on 5 September 1939. The Ministry’s function was “To promote the national case to the public at home and abroad in time of war” by issuing “National Propaganda” and controlling news and information Initially it was responsible for censorship, issuing official news, home publicity and overseas publicity in Allied and neutral…
The Wedding of Rodney Russell and Nancy Tapper
The second world war saw a sudden increase in weddings, mostly likely due to the uncertainty of what lay ahead and for those anxious to formalise their relationship. There was also, no doubt, a need for hope and joy, so these men and women overcame a variety of obstacles including bombs and rationing with ingenuity to make their way to the altar. The marriage of Sub-Lieutenant Russel and Miss Tapper took place in March 1941, and was described as a quiet wedding “befitting war-time.” More examples of wonderful War Time…
The Browns of Bromley
This edition of Service Families which was published in the Bromley & District Times during World War Two featured the Browns of Bromley – Three brothers; Charles Thomas, Leonard Frederick and Stanley George. Our Service Families Three sons of Mr C.H. Brown, 23 Bromley Crescent, Bromley, who served himself in the last war, are now serving with H.M. Forces. The eldest, Charles Thomas is a first class Aircraftman in the R.A.F. Aged 24, he attended Beckenham Junior Art School, and on leaving became a colour engraving apprentice at Grout and…
Women’s Land Army
Between June 1939 and November 1950, over 200,000 women were employed by the Women’s Land Army; an army of women, known as Land Girls, who replaced farm workers who had gone off to war. These women came from all walks of life, and despite having little to no experience of agriculture, they ploughed, drove tractors, grew produce, milked cows and much more, to help with the critical need to increase food production around the country. The Women’s Land Army started to publish a monthly magazine called ‘The Land Girl’, with…
Coincidence of the timely message carved on Pumpkin
Famous K.C. And Pumpkin Coincidence Both Broadcast Same Message The unusual hobby of Mr. Sheridan Wood, of The Mount, Farningham, of growing giant pumpkins, upon which he inscribes timely messages, has had an interesting sequel this year. On Sunday evening some few months ago, Mr Norman Birkett, K.C., concluded a broadcast appeal on behalf of the Lord Mayor of London’s fund for Londoners whose homes had been destroyed by bombs with the following words:- “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do,…