Toc H (an abbreviation of Talbot House) was styled as an “Every Man’s Club”, where all soldiers were welcome, regardless of rank. Founded in 1915, by Neville Talbot, a then senior army chaplain, and the Reverend Philip Thomas Byard (Tubby) Clayton, it became a soldiers’ rest and recreation centre, with an aim to promote Christianity. It was named in memory of Neville’s brother Gilbert Talbot, who had been killed at Hooge in July 1915 Talbot House soon became known by its initials TH, and then by the radio signallers’ phonetic alphabet of the…
Tag: Local News
Penny-a-Week fund
One of the most successful ways of obtaining money during World War 2 was through the Penny-a-Week fund. The fund was set up through a joint venture between the British Red Cross and St Johns to raise vital funds. The scheme worked by a voluntary contribution by wage earners of one penny per week, to be deducted from their pay. During the Second World War the average weekly wage was about £10. The funds was then supplemented by collecting cards and house-to-house collections. Within six months of the scheme being…
‘Staycations’ are nothing new!!
All through the second world war there were ideas and discussions on taking holidays at home. Here’s what was going on in Bromley for your delectation in 1943 The band of the Royal Artillery, Woolwich A concert in the hall of the County School for Boys, Hayes Lane The Leslie Bridgewater Quintette – well-known singers The Ripley Choir and the Bromley and Chislehurst Orchestra Captain Joe Merrill of the Hayes Home Guard will produce a play: ‘The man who Stayed at Home,’ at Crown Lane A circus and zoo at…
Daddy’s Medal: Devotion to Duty
This feature appeared in the Bromley & District Times calling for more to be done to save Daddy’s Medal… Our part in the Great Offensive doesn’t call for bravery, but it does call for devotion… Devotion to Duty. No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we save, we cannot equal the sacrifice made by the men who use the weapons we provide… But we must try, so that at the end of it all we can say that “by devotion to duty” we, too, have played our…
Appeal: Householders told to save bones
During World War II households were encouraged to save bones, as well as other waste materials, in a bid to help the war effort. Bones in particular were needed as they were used to make explosives lubricating oil, glue, fertiliser and animal feed amongst other things. This article featured in the local Bromley newspaper in 1943 appealing to householders to save their bones, however small they seemed. The Ministry of Information also used promotional films such as the cartoon “Bones..Bones..Bones – Save Bones” (1944) to highlight their mission. Appeal to…
The Men of the Sea: Merchant Navy
A deck boy on a ship on a convoy to Russia What is the Merchant Navy? The merchant navy is a term used to refer to the commercial sector of the maritime industry. The merchant navy has no involvement in military service, but rather the shipping of cargo and people across sea routes aboard cargo ships, tankers, and cruise liners. Merchant seamen crewed the ships of the British Merchant Navy which kept the United Kingdom supplied with raw materials, arms, ammunition, fuel, food and all of the necessities of a nation at war…
Caretaker needed for Smallpox Hospital – Job Advert, 1941
Looking for a job? Here’s a good one for a couple – but the remunerations is somewhat uneven but they do get accommodation (no children) and rations and washing. So maybe for the right couple it would be a good opportunity. West Kent Joint Hospital Board Caretakers of Smallpox Hospital Applications are invited from parried couples for this joint appointment determinable by one calendar months notice given by or to the Board. Salaries – Husband £110 per annum and wife £56 per annum, together with residence (no accommodation for children),…
Highest Scout Honour Given, 1941
The Silver Wolf scouting award is the highest award given out by The Scout Association. It is an unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and awarded “for services of the most exceptional character.” The award itself consists of a Silver Wolf suspended from a dark green and yellow neck ribbon. During the early years of the Scout Movement throughout the world, it was the practice of the Founder, Lord Baden-Powell, to give the Silver Wolf to Scouters in any country who had done outstandingly valuable work for the Movement. It’s recipients…
Death of Sub-Lieutenant Stafford-Clark, 1940
Sub Lieutenant (A) John Stafford-Clark was the son of former Mayor of Bromley Francis Stafford-Clark (1929-1930). This notice of his death was published in the local newspaper in March 1941. He was part of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Heron., based in Yoevilton in Somerset. He died on the 26th February 1941. Sub-Lieutenant (A) J. Stafford Clark, R.N.V.R. Sub-Lieutenant John Stafford Clark, of the Fleet Air Arm, younger son of Alderman F. Stafford Clark, L.L.D., J.P., and Mrs Stafford Clark, and brother of Flight-Lieutenant David Stafford Clark, M.B., B.S.,…
The Browns of Bromley
This edition of Service Families which was published in the Bromley & District Times during World War Two featured the Browns of Bromley – Three brothers; Charles Thomas, Leonard Frederick and Stanley George. Our Service Families Three sons of Mr C.H. Brown, 23 Bromley Crescent, Bromley, who served himself in the last war, are now serving with H.M. Forces. The eldest, Charles Thomas is a first class Aircraftman in the R.A.F. Aged 24, he attended Beckenham Junior Art School, and on leaving became a colour engraving apprentice at Grout and…