Tag: People

Another of our brave young heroes to pass silently to rest, as a result of wounds received whilst fighting his country’s enemies, is Sidney Thomas Miller, son of Mr & Mrs Miller, of Vauxhall Place, Lowfield Street, Dartford. Admitted on March 15th to hospital in France, suffering from severe shrapnel wounds in his left arm and leg, and having already had to have the arm amputated, he lingered for thirty hours, and then passed quietly away on March 16th, and was reverently buried, with a cross to mark his last…

The Military Cross has been awarded to Lieutenant Arthur Gerard Tapp, R.F.A. (Royal Field Artillery), for gallantry in the field. Lieutenant Tapp is the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Tapp, who lived for many years in Highland Road, Bromley, before taking up their abode at Horley, Surrey, and a grandson of the late Mr A M Tapp, who for 40 years resided at Shortlands up to the time of his decease last year. Lieutenant Tapp received his commission in the R.F.A. in April, 1915, when he was only 18…

Lieutenant Thomas Edward Coney Fisher of the East Lancashire Regiment was a gallant young officer, who fell while leading his men into action on the first day of the great British offensive last year (the Battle of the Somme). Lieutenant Fisher was the elder son of Captain E Fisher, Royal Jersey Militia, and Military Representative to the Shoreditch Tribunal, of Jutland Bank, Vale Road, Bickley. He was for some months reported “missing” after the operations on July 1st, but on November 20th last he was reported as having been killed…

Obituary for Gordon Ewart Thatcher, a Petty Officer on the Destroyer “Cherwell” was reported in the Bromley & District Times, 30th October 1914, [pg 4]   His pre-war military service included serving on the “Encounter” when Lord Kitchener visited New Zealand.  During the war he was in the Red Sea expecting an engagement with the German Cruiser “Emdon”.   His parents were Mr & Rs J Thatcher of Great Elms Road, Bromley.  Gordon was one of five brothers.      

Mrs Mummery, Albion Road, Marden, has received news that her husband, Corporal H W Mummery, King’s Own Royal Lancasters, has been killed in the recent fighting at the Front. He was the eldest son of Mr & Mrs Mummery of Star Road, Ashford, and late of Bromley. He was educated at the Bickley and Widmore Schools, and before joining up was employed as a gardener at Blythe Wood, Bromley. In a letter received by his wife from the Chaplain of the battalion it stated that the Colonel was very pleased…

Served with the Honourable Artillery Company. He was the son of Frederick Smart of Thornhayes, London Lane, Bromley.  His brother Geoffrey Smart also served in the Honourable Artillery Company   Before taking up service, Claude was an artist by profession and studied at the Carlton Studios. He had won two King’s prizes in one year.   The Honourable Artillery Company was sent to France at the end of Sept after review by the King on 25th Sept.   He was on night duty taking a dispatch to a village 4 miles from…

Robert Edward Mockridge was the son of Thomas Edward and Elizabeth Mockridge of Shortlands, and married Grace Kezia Mockridge of Waldo Road, Bromley. At the time of the 1911 Census, Robert Mockridge (aged 31) was listed as a milk roundsman, and was living with Grace (the aged 24) and their 3 year old son Robert. Clearly more children followed prior to the first world war starting. Robert was killed in action in September 1918 and was buried at Gomiecourt South Cemetery, Gomiecourt, Department du Pas-de-Calais.  The following report of his…

Lance Corporal Christopher Conway was a member of the 5th Battalion, Royal, volunteered for foreign service and probably went to Jubbelpore in India for garrison duty. He was one of four brothers, all of whom also served in the first world war; Private Stephen Conway, Private William Conway, Corporate Albert George Conway. He lived at Wharton Road, Bromley. Source:Bromley & Kentish Times, 16th October 1914 (page 5) 

Petty Officer James Green was reported to have given 8 years service, serving with the Royal Navy on HMS Stag by November 1914. Source:Bromley & District Times, 6th November 1914 (page 2)

Bandsman Arthur Warwick He was a Bandsman with the 2nd Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby), who was killed in action in France on 20th September 1914. His military number was 1045. The Bromley & Kentish Times reported that he had spent 6.5 years in India and was at home on a 6 months furlough when he was called up to re-join the regiment. He lived on Recreation Road, Shortlands.  He was later commemorated at the memorial service at Bromley Parish Church the following year. Source:Killed in Action – Bromley &…