Three-Decker Divans in Elm Bank Hotel Shelter The entrance to these improvised sleeping quarters is down a six-feet stairway directly below the main stairs. Each bunk, made with deep springs and coil interiors, measures 6-feet by 3-fet, ensures complete relaxation – the 20-inch walls, utmost safety. Guests now have their choice upstairs wit H and C, or downstairs with comfort and quietness, which coupled with excellent food, is obtainable at as low as 3 1/2 Guineas per week. ELM BANK HOTEL Widmore Green, Bromley Source: Bromley & District Times,…
Category: WW2
The Crisp Brothers
One family from Bromley, Kent saw three of their five sons on active services during World War 2. This short article, printed in the Bromley & District Times newspaper on the 8th November 1940 (page 5), gives readers an update on their whereabouts. Articles like this are very useful to find when searching family history, as they can give further information about the person such as military regiments, schools attended and where they were employed prior to signing up. As well as names of other family members. Our Service Families…
Private Albert Boxall
Prisoner of War Mr and Mrs A. Boxall, of 38 Holbrook Way, Bromley, have received recent news from their son, Albert Boxall, who had been a prisoner of war in Germany since May 1940, when he was captured on the Arras front. He was in the Territorial Army before the war, and was called up at the outbreak and stationed in France. When he was taken prisoner he was only 19. He attended Raglan Road School and was later employed as a gardener. His main hobby was golf, at which…
Ancient Church Damaged, 1940
Stained Glass Destroyed An ancient Parish Church in S.E. England was damaged during a recent air raid. A bomb fell near the building and smashed the beautiful stained glass and did some damage to the fabric. Te Rector, who is doing .R.P. work, was engaged during the raid looking after the needs of his parishioners when the church was hit. He is grieved over the loss __ by the smashing of the stained glass, which must have been at least three hundred years old. The church is built of flint and…
Rambler Captures German Airman
Although no actual date is given for when this ‘capture’ happened, it is likely to have been shortly after the 15th September 1940 as it mentions ‘Sequel to Air Battle.’ The 15th September 1940 (now known as Battle of Britain Day) was a key date in the Battle of Britain, as the RAF saw off waves of attacking Luftwaffe bombers and fighters. The Germans suffered a heavy loss during this attack, in which the Luftwaffe lost 75 aircraft. On the 18th September (known at The Hardest Day), a second large attack by the Germans saw…
Heinz Ketchup boss contributes £20K to War effort
After opening its first overseas office in London in 1896, the company opened its first UK factory in Peckham, south London in 1905, followed by a factory at Harlesden, north-west London in 1919. Because of its major contribution to wartime food production, its Harlesden factory was bombed at least twice during World War Two, however production carried on regardless as Heinz was so vital to maintaining food resources. On the 4th October 1940, this article was published in the Bromley & District Times giving details of a large contribution given…
Police Sergeants Bravery During WW2
Award for Rescue of R.A.F. Pilot The King, states Tuesday’s London Gazette, has been pleased to approve the award of the Medal of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire, for Meritorious Service to Arthur Hendon Cole, Sergeant, Kent Special Constabulary. An aircraft of the Royal Air Force taking off from Biggin Hill aerodrome crashed and turned over in the garden of the house next to that occupied by Sergeant Cole. The pilot was trapped and hanging by his harness upside down. Cole ran to his ambulance and,…
Babies Born in Raid Shelters
Three in one South-East District Three mothers gave birth to babies in private A.R.P. shelters during a raid over a South-East urban district. The mothers and babies are doing well. In the same raid a house was it by a bomb shortly after a young mother had given birth to a baby. The house was damaged and mother and baby were removed to hospital in the A.R.P. ambulance. A mile from her house a maternity home was shaken by the explosion of a bomb. No one was hurt. I wonder…
Farm Wiped Out
Bomb Havoc Over a Mile It took a German bomb a matter of seconds to wipe out an ancient farm in a South-East urban district and spread damage among other buildings for over a mile on Thursday evening last week. Farm buildings, which had stood on this spot for years, and which were among the last remaining traces of the once rural character of this rapidly developed and modernised district, crumpled under the blast of a terrific explosion and in an incredibly short space of time became a desolate heap…
Pilot Officer R.A. Marchand
The funeral of Pilot Officer Roy Achille Marchand, who was killed in action on September 15th, aged 22, took place at St Mark’s Church, Bromley and afterwards at Bromley Hill Cemetery. He was the only son of Mr And Mrs Rene A, Marchand, of 6 Hayes Road, Bromley, and his death was recorded in our issue last week. The mourners were Mr and Mrs Rene Marchand, Mrs Jean Marchand, Mrs O. Cullen and Mr and Mrs E. Dean. The flowers included a wreath (R.A.F.) from his father, a large heart…