This article, which featured in the Bromley & District Times on 9th August 1940, shows the carefree nature of life in Britain during World War Two. Less than a month later the London area was targetted by the Germans and the Blitz began. Throughout the year that followed (October 1940 – June 1941) 133 bombs and 1 parachute mine dropped in the Hayes and Coney hall area alone. Two Days’ Merriment at Sparrows Den The Mayor (Alderman R.W. Jeffs) was willing, but the donkey jibbed, Mr Keenor, chief organiser, uses…
Tag: WW2
Prime Minister’s Message: August 1940
On Saturday 4th August 1940 the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, issued a statement via 10 Downing Street wishing it to be known that the ‘possibility of German attempts at invasion has been no means passed away” This report appeared in the local newspaper the following week. Possibility of Attempts at Invasion CONSTANT VIGILANCE ENJOINED Our growing strength and preparedness The following statement was issued from 10, Downing Street, on Saturday: – “The Prime Minister wishes it to be known that the possibility of German attempts at invasion has by…
Private Walter Waters
Another of the men of the Royal West Kent Regiment reported missing is Prvate Walter Waters the son of Mr and Mrs J. Waters, 54 Victoria Road, Bromley Common, and husband of Mrs Waters, 26 Mosul Way. He was educated at Raglan Road School and later joined the Territorials. He was a lorry driver in the employment of the Corporation. He went to France in the Spring of this year (1940), and the last letter received from him was on May 10. Private and Mrs W. Waters have three young…
Saving for the War Campaign
The National Savings Movement was a mass savings movement that operated in Britain between 1916 and 1978. It was used to finance the deficit of government spending over tax revenues. The movement provided an easy and safe way for ordinary people to save small sums of money, and was particularly active during wartime, when government spending was at its highest. During World War II it was instrumental in raising funds to support the war effort – a War Savings Campaign was set up by the War Office to support the war…
Grow Fit not Fat on your War Diet!
The Ministry of Food published some food facts in local newspapers during WW2 to encourage readers to ‘Cut of “Extras”, Cut out waste’ and not oto eat more that needed. One interesting suggestion was cooked lettuce! Never thought to try that. I doubt if I will resort to such a drastic method. Perhaps food rationing might solve the obesity crisis today! Mind you it would have economic problems for the supermarkets etc that thrive through our love of food This advert appeared in the Bromley & Kentish Times on 2nd August 1940 (page 3).…
Making Ends Meet
Advert for National Savings Certificates Making Ends Meet Think of Great Britain as one great factory. Working at full pressure its output of goods can be vastly increased. But from this entire output must come both the seeds of the fighting services and the requirements of the rest of us. The Services must come first. The war must be won and in the shortest possible time. This means – and we must face the hard fact – that you and I must go without many of the things we used…
War-Time Sweet Treats – recipes
War-Time Sweet TreaTs When rations meant that sweet treats were few and far between, the local newspaper provided recipes with alternative ingredients. Here are two recipes which were printed in the Bromley and District in August 1940 – Do you dare try them? If you do, please let us know how you get along. Housekeeping in War-Time Sugarless Macaroons Coconut macaroons, beloved by so many adults as well as children can be made without sugar if you use sweetened condensed milk. You will need about half a tin of condensed…
German pilots buried in Cudham
This story appeared in the Bromley & District Times newspaper in July 1940, recording the funeral of two German airmen who were shot down by Hurricanes of 32 squadron from RAF Biggin Hill (flown by Pilot Officer Peter Gardner, Sergeant William Burley Higgins and Sergeant Edward Alan Bayley). The plane crashed at Baybrooks, Horsmonden after attacking Kenley aerodrome The two pilots were Erich Hoffman (a Flight Engineer) aged 26 years old (grave number NN30) and Waldema Theilig (a Wireless Operator) aged 25 years (grave number NN31) and both were buried…
Private Patrick Joseph Reynolds, Bickley
Private Patrick Joseph Reynolds of the Royal West Kent Regiment, was reported as missing in the Bromley & District Times newspaper in 19th July 1940. After this report it transpires that he became as prisoner of war and was reported as having died 14 months later in October 1941. Private P. J. Reynolds Private Patrick J. Reynolds of the Royal West Kent Regiment, second son of Mr & Mrs J.P. Reynolds of Bickley Crescent, Bickley, has been officially reported missing since May 20th by the War Office. He first joined…
Air Fight over the Channel – July 1940
War news which featured in the Bromley & District Times newspaper on 19th July 1940 (page 5) Five Bombers and One Fighter Shot Down Enemy aircraft which were attacking shipping in the Straits of Dover early on Monday evening were interrupted and five, one fighter and four bombers were shot down into the sea by our fighters. In addition an enemy bomber was shot down by anti aircraft fire.One of our fighters was lost. The Air Military also announced in a later communique that three British fighters in all were…