Sergeant Thomas Holloway Chislehurst Sergeant’s Letter Sergeant Thomas Holloway, R.A.F., of 11 Church row, Chislehurst, who has been a prisoner of war in Germany since May 1940, has written home to his mother in Chislehurst giving of how he and his new found friends spent Christmas Day in a German prison camp. In his letter he said that they had a grand time on Christmas Eve decorating their hut and setting up a fine Christmas tree adorned with fairy lights, tinsel, and the usual decorations. About 250 communicants attended a…
Tag: Prisoner of War
Bert Whitehead
Prisoner of War Private Bert Whitehead Private Bert Whitehead, son of Mr and Mrs J. Whitehead, 13 Holbrook Way, Bromley, is a prisoner of war in Germany at Stalag XXB 34. He is 23 years of age, and has had three birthdays away from home. His parents hear from him regularly, and he appears to be well and cheerful. Born in Bromley, Private Whitehead was educated at Bromley Common (Holy Trinity) School, when Mr E.C. De’Ath (now a member of the Town Council) was head master, and afterwards at Raglan…
2nd Lieutenant John B. Bassett
72521 2nd-Lieutenant John Bond Bassett , aged 28, was a printer by trade, the third son of Mr & Mrs W R Bassett of Bromley. In July 1940 the local newspaper reported that his parents had received word from the War Office that he had been injured: “He was in the severe fighting following the German breakthrough and after the evacuation of Dunkirk it was believed that he had been brought back, though he was known to have been wounded. Nothing definite, however, could be ascertained and on June 17th his parents…
Royal West Kent Regiment: Prisoners of War
In a German Prison Camp A group of officers of the Royal West Kent Regiment at Camp Oflag VII., C,. Germany, received by Mrs Haynes, mother of Captain P.F. Haynes. They are (left to right) back row: ____, Captain H.J. Langdon, Captain R.E Moss, ____, Second-Lieutenant R.G. Bensted, Captain T.T.W. Stanyon, Second-Lieut. Lee. Front row: Captain P.F. Haynes, Captain D.H. Andrews, Lieut.-Colonel E.A. Sharpin, Lieut-Colonol William Nash, Lieut.-Colonel R.L. Clay, Major I. Pilditch, Captain C.B. Selby-Noothroyd. Source: Bromley & District Times, 10th October 1941 (page 6)
Private Patrick Joseph Reynolds: Death
Private Patrick Reynolds had previously been reported as missing in the Bromley & District Times newspaper on the 19th July 1940. Read article here > Death of Prisoner of War Private P.J. Reynolds Private Patrick J. Reynolds, royal West Kent Regiment, after having been officially reported as missing since May 20, 1940, has now been reported as having died while a prisoner of war. his parents, Mr and Mrs J.P. Reynolds, of Bickley Crescent, have received official notification to that effect. Private Reynolds, who was the second son of Mr…
Gunner Horace Charles Baldwin
One fears for the prisoners taken by the Japanese. Gunner Baldwin was being held in Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia). Gunner Baldwas was the son of of Henry Charles and Martha Baldwin and grew up in Farnborough, Kent. He was married to Winifred Elizabeth Maria (nee Carter) and had one son, Colin. Sadly Horace did not survive the war. He was a prioner of war onboard the Tamahoko Maru when it sank on the 24th June 1944. He was 31 years old. The ship had been part of a Japanese convoy leaving Koshiki…
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…
Sapper R. G. Jones
As reported in the Bromley & District Times in 6th September 1940 Prisoner of War Mrs R. G, Jones of Maeberry, 10 Nichol Lane, Bromley, received a post-card from her husband on August 29, stating that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. Sapper Jones left England on May 20 and his wife received a letter from him dated May 24. Then she had no news other than that he was missing, and neither the Red Cross nor War Office could give any further information. Mrs Jones is now…
Lance Corporal E. A. Palin
Reported in the Bromley & District Times, 6th September 1940. Prisoner of War Mrs G. L. Plain, 61 Newbury Road, Bromley, has received news from her husband, Lance Corporal E. A. Palin, who was reported missing on May 22, that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. Joining the Army in 1930, he served with his regiment in India for six years, but returned to the mother country on completing his service. He was recalled just before war broke out, and was drafted to France early in September. As…