Napoleon III in Chislehurst

Napoleon III in Chislehurst Written by Pam Preedy. The name, “Napoleon!” was enough to strike terror in teh hearts of children and adults alike in Britain in the nineteenth century. After a disastrous French invasion of Russia in 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to the island of Elba.  He returned to power in his Hundred Days campaign. Defeated at Waterloo (1815), he abdicated and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena where he died aged 51.  While in power he liked to raise members of his family to…

Second-Lieu F. G. W. Marchant

Second Lieutenant Francis George Wake Merchant Killed in Action Second Lieutenant Francis George Wake Marchant served with the 3rd Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps and was the only son of Frank and Torfrida Marchant, of Woodside, Keston (Hayes), Kent. Born in London on the 4th March 1897, he was educated at Ludgrove and Eton. Having proceeded to Sandhurst in May, 1915, Francis obtained a commission in the Royal West Kent Regiment on 19th October, 1915 and immediately volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps.  After 5 months training went overseas…

Miss Winifred Tremain

Experiences of a local nurse in France Praise for British coolness and tact Miss Winifred Tremain, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Frederick Tremain, of Orpington, is very happy in her work as a V.A.D. nurse in No. 14 General Hospital, with the British Expeditionary Force in France.  writing a few days since to her sister, Nurse Tremain says: – I must tell you about the ghastly thing that happened last night.  I had just got into bed; it would be about a quarter past eight o’clock.  My mate was…