As written in the Bromley & District News on 27th September, 1940 (page 2) Under the Bed A near-by A.A. gun of terrific calibre has brought down a large piece out of one of our ceilings. Someone said to me, “I do think they ought to warn us” I replied, “Don’t be such a fool. Do you expect them to knock on the door and say ‘Please we are about to let off a gun,’ as if they just wanted to turn off the water?” However, one piece of ceiling…
Tag: WW2
Newsagents continue despite bombs falling
This local newsagent, and his wife, continue working despite the falling bombs in the September attacks over Kent and London. I wonder who they were? If you have any news on the; if they appear in your family tree, then I’d love to hear from you.
Bromley Fighter Fund: 1940
Appeared in the Bromley & District Times, 20th September 1940
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…
Day Out for Dunkirk Wounded
This wonderful report, which appeared in the local newspaper, describes how a party of wounded soldiers who at Dunkirk , were treated by the kind people of Bromley, when they visited the town on a day trip. The occasion was made possible by the donations of a local company. It would be great to know which local company helped arrange this. Bromley Firm’s Effort Mr Watts, manager of the Gaumont, Bromley, sprang a surprise on the audience on Wednesday afternoon, when he announced that over 30 of the boys who…
Fighter Fund for Bromley
This advert for support and volunteers for the Fighter Fund in Bromley was published in the Bromley & District Times on 23rd August 1940. Enthusiastic Support – Subscriptions Coming in – – All Classes want to help – – Volunteers will be needed – The Supermarine “Spitfire” single-seater day and night fighter, supreme among fighter aircraft throughout the world. She carries eight machine guns mounted in the wings, four each side of the fuselage. The official maximum speed is 357 m.p.h. at 18,100 ft. Picture shows formation of six spitfires…
Homekeeping in Wartime
This article featured in the Bromley & District Times in August 1940, providing advice to housewives to help the with the organisation of the kitchen and larder to cope with any eventuality in this current conflict. The wise housewife will already have laid in her emergency larder. Inspect the Home Larder and Kitchen Front The Kitchen Front will play an ever-increasing part in the present conflict, and the housewife has now an excellent chance to prove her organising ability and foresight in planning her home larder and kitchen front…
Food Facts, August 1940
A regular feature in the local newspaper in the 1940’s, here is another list of useful ‘Food Facts’ for readers to help encourage them to ‘never waste anything’. The Ministry of Food was almost before its time, by offering more advise on the Wireless each morning – almost like a modern podcast! Every Time you cook you help or hinder Hitler! This advert appeared in the Bromley & District Times, 16th August 1940 (page 3) This Week’s Food Facts Please make full use of the fruit and vegetables now…
Buy National War Bonds, Advert 1940
War Bonds – Britain’s Broadsides! Britain’s vast war effort calls for weapons of every calibre. National War Bonds are the heavy guns of our war finance. They provide the means by which private individuals, the Directors of business concerns, Executors and Trustees can help the Nation to victory. If you have £100 or more, buy National War Bonds. If you are a Director or Trustee, use your influence to sustain and increase the flow of investment. Buy National War Bonds Source: Bomley & District Times, 9th August 1940…
Lifebuoy Soap – Advert, 1940
Lifebuoy was introduced in England by Lever Brothers in 1895, and marketed as a soap that could be used in every part of the house, from the bathroom to the kitchen. It was originally, and for much of its history, a carbolic soap, containing phenol (carbolic acid, a compound extracted from coal tar), but in later versions the phenol was removed Lifebuoy’s popularity reached its peak between 1932 and 1948. After World War Two, when more materials were available and rationing was over, other more appealing soaps began to take hold of…