Women to Help Home guard

Women to Help Home Guard Casualty Service Training More volunteers wanted in Bromley Arrangements have now been completed for the training of women to assist with the Casualty Services of the Home Guard in the Bromley area.  It is not intended that these women shall go out to attend to casualties in the fighting positions, but that they shall staff shelter points in selected houses to which casualties will be brought to await removal by ambulance to hospital. As, under invasion conditions there may be delays in procuring evacuation by…

Bromley’s Christmas Games – 1941

Holiday Football Home Guard Overwhelmed On Christmas Day Bromley met the local Home Guard in a friendly match at Hayes Lane, Bromley.  The match resulted in an overwhelming victory for Bromley 15-1. McMillan scored no fewer than five times, and the match caused much entertainment to the spectators.  Several Bromley players were claimed by the Home Guard, and Bromley selected four R.A.F. players for inclusion in their forward line. Bromley – Gunner, Stone, Allinson, Marshall, Holder, Tasker, Gardner, Osman, Fowler Champion, McMillan. Home Guard: Tanner, Reeves, Clark, Smedley Wade, Smith,…

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…

The King Visits Kent, 1940

When the local Home Guard received a surprise visit from Royalty in August 1940, the local newspaper reported the excitement of the villagers in West Wickham, and the surprise of the men themselves.  The Home Guard put on the largest display in the history of the movement on that day.   Record parade of Home Guard at West Wickham Inspection of Anti-Aircraft units The deep interest which the King takes in the military ad civil defence of this country was evident at two visits which he has made to Kent within…

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…