Awarded the George Medal Dr. Kenneth E. Tapper, O.B.E, Medical Officer of Health for Bromley, and head of the A.P.R. Casualty Services, has been awarded the George Medal for bravery during air raids. On many occasions he has crawled under wreckage to search for and give treatment to injured casualties pinned down by debris. When people were buried beneath the wreckage of a German aeroplane and two houses, Dr. Tapper gave medical aid to the victims while large unexploded bombs were removed. He has shown great gallantry in his efforts…
Tag: ARP
The realities of life during a WW2 air raid
Reports in local newspaper gave a harrowing account of what life was like during the height of the air raids attacks by the German during the Battle of Britain. Whilst it became the norm to take shelter whilst a battle took place high in the sky above, imagine what it must of felt like not knowing what horrors lie outside. Stories of both immense tragedy and sheer heroism filled the newspapers. This example was published in the local newspaper in October 1940. Four Killed in Shelter Woman Buried, but Rescued…
Spirit of the People Unbroken during Air Battles over SE England
The Blitz began on 7th September 1940, ‘Black Saturday’, when German bombers attacked London, leaving 430 dead and over 1,600 injured. London was then bombed for 57 consecutive nights, and often during daytime too. While London was bombed more heavily and more often than anywhere else in Britain, the Blitz was an attack on the whole country. By the time this article was published on the 18th October 1940, London had endured 42 days of attacks by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force). Air Battles over S.E. England Several…
Man Survives Air Raid which Destroyed his House
When a bomb demolished a house in a suburb on Saturday afternoon, the owner was inside. To the amazement of the A.R.P. workers who were at once on the spot, the man crawled from the wreckage suffering only from cuts and shock. Here he is being taken to a nearby first-aid post. Press Censorship during World War Two Newspapers rarely gave details of the exact location of successful bombing raids, so we may never know where this incident happened, nor who the lucky survivor was. When war broke out…
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…