Recycling and re-using was a huge part of life during World War II, we could certainly learn a lot from back them. One particular drive the government pushed through was the salvaging of metals, especially aluminium, which could be used for their potential in the aircraft industry. This is a typical sacrifice that many people are making in town In some towns around the country you may even notice where old iron railings once stood. These were removed for the same purpose. This article featured in the Bromley & District…
Category: WW2
Typical Local News Reports from WW2
Here we show a typical page from a local newspaper which, like so many others, had several reports of men missing or killed or prisoners of war. The page from the Bromley & District Times reports on an Air Attack on Dover Harbour, a gift from the Deputy Commissioner of Kent of a mobile canteen for those whose homes are destroyed, the Roll of Honour for the Queen’s Own West Kent Regiment and an obituary for a soldier from Bromley (in this case Pilot Officer John Allen). Source: Bromley &…
Hero Honoured with Award from King
We watch Dad’s Army and see the Chief ARP Warden Hodges bickering with Captain Mainwaring. We can still enjoy the light-hearted humour of the shows. The characters are just figures of fun. Let’s put the record straight: this story is one of many when we learn what the A.R.P. Wardens really did to win their honours, with incredible bravery and disregard for their own safety; just their sense of duty and care to those trapped in their homes during the blitz. Kent A.R.P Warden Honoured Remained Four Hours in Collasping House The King…
Our Service Families
Wartime was be a huge sacrifice to families with sons going off to war; wives left without husbands; fearing they will never return. The Blade family from Bromley, was no exception and they were very proud of the fact. They had 2 sons on active service, with their youngest awaiting his call up with the Royal Navy. they also had two son-in-laws on active services, both of whom has recently married into the family. Reported in the Bromley & Kentish Times on 26th July 1940 (page 5) Our Service Families The…
Saving for the War Campaign
The National Savings Movement was a mass savings movement that operated in Britain between 1916 and 1978. It was used to finance the deficit of government spending over tax revenues. The movement provided an easy and safe way for ordinary people to save small sums of money, and was particularly active during wartime, when government spending was at its highest. During World War II it was instrumental in raising funds to support the war effort – a War Savings Campaign was set up by the War Office to support the war…
Grow Fit not Fat on your War Diet!
The Ministry of Food published some food facts in local newspapers during WW2 to encourage readers to ‘Cut of “Extras”, Cut out waste’ and not oto eat more that needed. One interesting suggestion was cooked lettuce! Never thought to try that. I doubt if I will resort to such a drastic method. Perhaps food rationing might solve the obesity crisis today! Mind you it would have economic problems for the supermarkets etc that thrive through our love of food This advert appeared in the Bromley & Kentish Times on 2nd August 1940 (page 3).…
Making Ends Meet
Advert for National Savings Certificates Making Ends Meet Think of Great Britain as one great factory. Working at full pressure its output of goods can be vastly increased. But from this entire output must come both the seeds of the fighting services and the requirements of the rest of us. The Services must come first. The war must be won and in the shortest possible time. This means – and we must face the hard fact – that you and I must go without many of the things we used…
War-Time Sweet Treats – recipes
War-Time Sweet TreaTs When rations meant that sweet treats were few and far between, the local newspaper provided recipes with alternative ingredients. Here are two recipes which were printed in the Bromley and District in August 1940 – Do you dare try them? If you do, please let us know how you get along. Housekeeping in War-Time Sugarless Macaroons Coconut macaroons, beloved by so many adults as well as children can be made without sugar if you use sweetened condensed milk. You will need about half a tin of condensed…
Ramble with a Thrill
Ramble with a Thrill “Bomber Came Out of the Clouds” A lady who was walking with a friend in a park towards a village in Kent described her experiences to the Kentish Times. “A German bomber came out of the clouds. Immediately after anti-aircraft guns went into action, and we walked under the trees until we got to the main road. We decided to make for the village public-house, and order our lunch of shandy and bread and cheese – shandy is better than shrapnel and beer better than bombs! While we were seated…
Thrilling Aerial Dog-Fights over Kent in WW2
Raiders Over Kent —————— Bombers Chased off by R.A.F. and A.A. Gunners ——————- Home Guard “Bag” a Dornier with Rifle Volley ——————- Motorists machine-gunned in Lanes Kent experienced air raids on Friday and Sunday. In the first, damage was caused at Northfleet and there were some casualties, and in the second thrilling aerial dog-fights were seen. Men of a Home Guard posed fired at a Dornier, which staggered a few miles and crashed. On Sunday afternoon a large district in Kent received the unwelcome attentions of a number of German…