The idea seems to have gained currency in some districts where there have, unhappily, been fatal air-raid casualties, that such persons are buried, more or less unceremoniously, in a public grave. That is a wrong impression altogether, and that it should exist at all is very distressing. While it is true that the local authority for the area concerned may take charge of the funeral arrangements and may bury the casualties at the public expense where it seems desirable, the funeral is never, in any sense of the word, a…
Tag: Local News
Ten Planes Brought Down during 1940 air battle
Another week of heavy bombing was felt over London in early Autumn 1940. While thousands of people travelled to work in London one Friday morning, enemy aircraft and British fighters fought in the skies overhead. The Bromley & District newspaper reported that 10 German planes were brought down in the London area. This report was published on 4th October 1940 and the Friday mentioned is possibly be the previous Friday – the 27th September. Over Chislehurst ad Orpington Two near Biggin Hill It was officially announced that ten German planes were brought…
Ancient Church Damaged, 1940
Stained Glass Destroyed An ancient Parish Church in S.E. England was damaged during a recent air raid. A bomb fell near the building and smashed the beautiful stained glass and did some damage to the fabric. Te Rector, who is doing .R.P. work, was engaged during the raid looking after the needs of his parishioners when the church was hit. He is grieved over the loss __ by the smashing of the stained glass, which must have been at least three hundred years old. The church is built of flint and…
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…
Heinz Ketchup boss contributes £20K to War effort
After opening its first overseas office in London in 1896, the company opened its first UK factory in Peckham, south London in 1905, followed by a factory at Harlesden, north-west London in 1919. Because of its major contribution to wartime food production, its Harlesden factory was bombed at least twice during World War Two, however production carried on regardless as Heinz was so vital to maintaining food resources. On the 4th October 1940, this article was published in the Bromley & District Times giving details of a large contribution given…
Police Sergeants Bravery During WW2
Award for Rescue of R.A.F. Pilot The King, states Tuesday’s London Gazette, has been pleased to approve the award of the Medal of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire, for Meritorious Service to Arthur Hendon Cole, Sergeant, Kent Special Constabulary. An aircraft of the Royal Air Force taking off from Biggin Hill aerodrome crashed and turned over in the garden of the house next to that occupied by Sergeant Cole. The pilot was trapped and hanging by his harness upside down. Cole ran to his ambulance and,…
Bromley Fighter Fund: 1940
Appeared in the Bromley & District Times, 20th September 1940
Air Raid Damage: SE London and Kent
Some pictures of the damaged caused by bombing one weekend in SE London and Kent. Most people were in their shelters, and in one case five people escaped injury when their house collapsed on top of them. They were under the stairs. Workmen were soon at work in another area filling up a huge bomb crater in the road. Several Council houses were damaged in a village, but the Anderson shelters once more proved their value, and there were no causalities. Reported in the Bromley & District Times, September 1940
Raiders Foiled in Air Attacks on London: 1940
The onslaught continued into September 1940. This article appeared in the Bromley & District Times newspaper. Fine Work by R.A.F. fighters and A.A. Gunners Waves of enemy bombers, supported by fighter escorts have failed in repeated thrusts at London’s defences. Mass raids by day and cruising “nuisance” planes at night have formed the enemy’s tactics against Britain this week. In the attacks over Kent, R.A.F. fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns have smashed large formations of German bombers and escorts, sending them racing for home depleted and battered. The R.A.F.…
Bombs on Villages during World War 2
This sad report were published in the Bromley & District Time newspaper on 6th September 1940. Family of Four Killed A husband and wife and their two boys were killed in a quiet Kent village on Sunday afternoon, while they were in a shelter. There is no military objective of any kind in or near that village – it was just a case of ruthless indiscriminate bombing. On Friday several bombs fell in a Kent beauty spot. An old mansion was destroyed, but happily no one was in residence at…