It’s always exciting to read about military personnel who were awarded honours for the services in the war. Here I found Pilot-Officer Frank Henderson Denton who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.). The D.F.C. is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers of the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy” DFCDistinguished Flying CrossDFCDistinguished Flying Cross Wedding After Decoration Pilot-Officer’s D.F.C.…
Category: WW2
Building Your Air Raid Shelter
Step by Step guide to building your own Air Raid Shelter.
Raider Crashes at Bromley, 1940
Three of Crew Killed FOURTH BALES OUT AND SURRENDERS Two Houses Wrecked Crippled some miles away by the accurate anti-aircraft fire of the gunners of London’ barrage, a German Heinkel 111 swooped low over the Bromley district on Saturday evening. The pilot’s efforts to make the machine climb failed, and it lost height rapidly as it flew over the town, to earth finally on two semi-detached houses in Johnson Road, Bromley Common. Four people wee in the two houses that were almost demolished by the plane. They were Mr & Mrs Albert…
What to Do Before Going into Your Shelter
Before, during and after the raid What to do before going into your Shelter – and the help that is ready if your home is hit. Before you leave the house, turn off all gas taps, including pilot jets, and turn off the gas at the main. Leave buckets or cans of water and sand or earth on the front-door step, or just inside the door. Put your stirrup pump, if you have one, where it can easily be seen, Draw back curtains and raise blinds in upper rooms so…
Mothers Save Your Children!
In order to keep civilians safe during the Second World War, the Government set up an operation to protect people, especially children, by evacuating them away from the towns and cities which were of high risk from aerial bombing and moving them to areas thought to be less at risk. Operation Pied Piper, began on 1 September 1939, and officially relocated more than 3.5 million people. There were further waves of official evacuation and re-evacuation from the south and east coasts in June 1940, when a seaborne invasion was expected,…
Adding comfort to your Air Raid Shelter
Air raid shelters were not the most lavish place to have to spend your time. Primarily located in the garden, they were often dark, damp and cold, so shops jumped at the chance of providing a bit of comfort to their customers. This advert for Jones & Higgins Ltd in Peckham appeared in the Bromley & District Times on the 1st November 1940, at the height of the London Blitz. Shelter Comforts at Keen Prices Here are three items which will add greatly to your comfort in the air-raid shelter at…
Part-Exchange Furniture in the 1940s
One of the ‘Perrings’ Furniture Store was located on the High Street in Sidcup. Perrings was a small family firm, run by two brother, John and William Perring, who had broken away from their fathers shop just off Euston Road, London in 1893. Both in their early twenties, the brother set up independently, dividing their territories to the north (William) and the south (John) of London. They steadily opened up new shops, with wartime breaks, until by 1966 they both owned 20 stores each. Their business started primarily with bedding,…
“Gay Defiance” of Staff and Pupils during WW2
How words change their meanings! This report tells how the education department were trying to minimise the threat of bomb damage: only allowing limited numbers of people on the school premises at one time (part-time schooling), and arrangements for repairs made in advance. It had all worked well. Staff and pupils carrying on as normally as possible in defiance of German aggression. Lessons would have continued in school air-raid shelters or even sheltering under desks! Kent Education Committee “Gay Defiance” of Staff and Pupils Use of School Shelters by the public Lord Northbourne presided…
Rationing Recipes – Cakes without Eggs
Rationing on food items such as eggs during World War II meant that a little imagination was needed in the kitchen when it came to producing sweet treats for the family. During the war years, the Bromley & District Times was on hand to help home bakers with ideas to satisfy their sweet tooth. Cakes without Eggs Even the present egg shortage need not prevent the housewife from making her own cakes. Here are some suggestions for afternoon tea: – Chocolate Cake 1 half size tin sweetened full-cream condensed milk…
Tragic Result of S.E. Suburb Bombing
Three Children Killed Tragic result of S.E. Suburb Bombing Sheltering in Dug-out Three children were killed when bombs were dropped prolifically on two parts of a South-East suburb on Tuesday night. They were sheltering in dug-outs. One of the victims was Joan Wooton*, daughter of an auxiliary fireman. Her mother was also injured and was taken to hospital. A high explosive bomb dropped between two shelters. Another high explosive bomb completely destroyed the homes of Mr A.E. Jeffreys, Mr G. M. Knowles and Mr G.B. Willis. Adjoining houses were badly…