Here the Bromley & District Times celebrated another band of brothers who served on the Front Line during WW2. Their mother, already a widow, must have been beside herself with worry that she may lose them all to this awful war! Three members of the Lock family, late of Bickey, are now of 36 Saxon Road, Bromley, are serving in H.M. Forces. They are sons of Mrs. and the late Mr. Lock William Lock, aged 26, is serving with the Queen’s Royal Regiment. He formerly worked for ten years as a…
Tag: People
Flight-Sergeant Charles Sydney
KILLED IN ACTION Flight-Sergeant C. Sydney. St Mary Cray. Flight-Sergeant Charles Sydney, aged 25 years, third son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Sydney, of Derry Downs, St. Mary Cray, was killed during a combat with the Germans on September 27. When a boy, Flight Sergeant Sydney went to St Mary Cray Council School, and at the age of 11 years won a scholarship which admitted him to Bromley County School, where he stayed until 15 years of age. He was then accepted in the Royal Air Force for training at…
The Crisp Brothers
One family from Bromley, Kent saw three of their five sons on active services during World War 2. This short article, printed in the Bromley & District Times newspaper on the 8th November 1940 (page 5), gives readers an update on their whereabouts. Articles like this are very useful to find when searching family history, as they can give further information about the person such as military regiments, schools attended and where they were employed prior to signing up. As well as names of other family members. Our Service Families…
Private Albert Boxall
Prisoner of War Mr and Mrs A. Boxall, of 38 Holbrook Way, Bromley, have received recent news from their son, Albert Boxall, who had been a prisoner of war in Germany since May 1940, when he was captured on the Arras front. He was in the Territorial Army before the war, and was called up at the outbreak and stationed in France. When he was taken prisoner he was only 19. He attended Raglan Road School and was later employed as a gardener. His main hobby was golf, at which…
Pilot Officer R.A. Marchand
The funeral of Pilot Officer Roy Achille Marchand, who was killed in action on September 15th, aged 22, took place at St Mark’s Church, Bromley and afterwards at Bromley Hill Cemetery. He was the only son of Mr And Mrs Rene A, Marchand, of 6 Hayes Road, Bromley, and his death was recorded in our issue last week. The mourners were Mr and Mrs Rene Marchand, Mrs Jean Marchand, Mrs O. Cullen and Mr and Mrs E. Dean. The flowers included a wreath (R.A.F.) from his father, a large heart…
Mr H.G. Milstead
Whilst working for the Standard Bank in Mombasa, Mr H.G. Milstead became the South Africa correspondent for the Bromley & District Times. Mr H.G. Milstead was the only son of Mr & Mrs H.H. Milstead of Hawes Road Bromley. He married Miss Doris May Bagnall, 2nd daughter of Mr & Mrs Bagnall of Cape Town, at St Mark’s Church, Parklands. Before going to South Africa he held a post in the London City & Midland Bank. After passing the examinations in April 1912, he was sent to Johannesburg. After being promoted…
Private Ernest W. Brigden
Private Ernest W. Brigden was serving with the Worcestershire Regiment when he was killed action in November 1914, aged 22. His family had lived in the Crays (Bromley) for some years and then Swanley for 6 years. Information sourced from the Bromley & District Times 1914-1920 Researched using the FREE database at www.militaryancestors.co.uk
Harry Ludlow, Seaman
Harry Ludlow was one of three brother serving in the First World War. He served for the Royal Navy onboard HMS Duncan (c.1914) and then HMS Landrail. He was also an old Boy of Raglan Road School, Bromley Information sourced from the Bromley & District Times 1914-1920 Researched using the FREE database at www.militaryancestors.co.uk
Guardsman James Williams
James Williams was the son of Mr & Mrs Frank Williams of 4 Lily Cottages Swanley, Kent, and brother to Mr W Williams who was assistant steward of Swanley Junction Working Men’s Club and Institute. His father had served 21 years in the British Army, for some years with the Grenadier Guards and served through the Egyptian campaign in 1882. As an Army Reservist he went to Canada between 1910-11. He married Miss Emma Brittain (formally Williams), of Swanley in 1912 in Canada, where they moved to Ontario. James had…
Private Frederick Norman Ayles
Private Frederick Ayles was an old boy of Aylesbury Road School. His mother (a widow) lived on Simpson Road, Bromley. He had joined the army in 1902 and later served with the South Lancashire Regiment. He went to France on 7th October 1914, and consequently must have seen some of the severest fighting. He was killed in action on the 13th November 1914. His brother Ernest Walter Ayles joined the Army Service Corps in October 1914 (two month prior to the report of Frederick’s death) and was in training at…