Lieut. K.J. Amos Awarded MBE (Military Divsion) Lieutenant (temporary captain) Kenneth John Amos, Royal Corps of Signals, is among those whose names appear in the New Year Honours list with the award of M.B.E. (Military Division) for their sterling work. Lieut. Amos is the only son of Mr and Mrs J.H. Amos of 86 Tweedy Road, Bromley. He was educated at St. Olave’s Grammar School, London where he distinguished himself in the studies of languages. He also had an aptitude for technical and engineering subjects, and on leaving school he…
Tag: WW2
Bringing in the New Year: 1942
The White Hart Hotel, which once stood in the heart of Bromley High Street, was a large premises which hosted a number of events in its heyday. In 1941, the RAF (Bromley branch) hosted a New Years eve dance, which included two tableaux represent the old and new years. The Bromley Times reported on the event in early January 1942. New Year Tableaux The Bromley branch of the Comrades of the Royal Air Force held a very enjoyable dance on New Year’s Eve at the White Hart Hotel, Bromley. A…
The Foxwell Brothers
In this article we focus on the Foxwell family, who resided in the Keston area of Bromley during the second world war years. Their father, George Foxwell was well known in the area, having had connections with many local clubs including Keston Men’s Club, Keston Football Club and Keston Cricket Club. George had served in the first war world with the Motor Transport and the Tank Corps, and his three sons; Leslie, Edward and Kenneth, all followed suit and served with the RAF during World War Two. The article below…
History of a Famous Ship – H.M.S. Broke
The Royal Navy lost a large number of their capital ships to enemy action during the early part of the second war, and was facing increasing pressure to provide escorts for convoys in the Atlantic. With ships needing to be replaced, Warship Weeks – another of the British National savings campaigns, was set up during the Second World War, with the aim of encouraging a civil community to adopt a Royal Navy warship. Following a successful Warship Week in March 1942, the HMS Broke destroyer was adopted by the civil…
Showing at the Odeon – January 1942
Birth of the Blues Birth of the Blues is a 1941 American musical film whose plot loosely follows the origins and breakthrough success of the Original Dixieland Jass Band. The film was first release in November 1941 and starred the legendary Bing Crosby, Mary Martin and Brian Donlevy. It was directed by Victor Schertzinger. It was well-received by critics on its release, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Cinemas, such as the Odeon, continued operating throughout the war years, and were no doubt a form…
Mr Victor George Thomas Rickman
For Gallantry: British Empire Medal Mr V.G.T. Rickman His Majesty the King has been graciously please to award the British Empire Medal to Mr Victor George Thomas Rickman, 39 Brooklyn Road, Bromley, in recognition of his gallant conduct and good service on the occasion of the enemy attack on London last April. During the __ a high explosive bomb wrecked a shelter and three embers of the Southern Railway staff were killed and four badly injured. Mr Rickman is a clerk at Blackfriars good station. With him on the night…
Bromley’s Christmas Games – 1941
Holiday Football Home Guard Overwhelmed On Christmas Day Bromley met the local Home Guard in a friendly match at Hayes Lane, Bromley. The match resulted in an overwhelming victory for Bromley 15-1. McMillan scored no fewer than five times, and the match caused much entertainment to the spectators. Several Bromley players were claimed by the Home Guard, and Bromley selected four R.A.F. players for inclusion in their forward line. Bromley – Gunner, Stone, Allinson, Marshall, Holder, Tasker, Gardner, Osman, Fowler Champion, McMillan. Home Guard: Tanner, Reeves, Clark, Smedley Wade, Smith,…
Jones & Higgins Department Store
Useful ‘Coupon-free’ Gifts at reasonable prices Starting out as a one shopfront window business, Messrs Edwin Jones and George Randell Higgins began their business venture in 1867 with a mere £80. By 1887 they had opened a 5-storey department store on the corner of Rye Lane and Peckham High Street, which went on to become one of south London’s best-known department stores. It closed in the 1980s. They advertised in local newspapers. Source: Bromley & District Times, 5th December 1941 (page 3)
Members of the Coney Hall Sports Social Club around the world
From Iceland to Suez Members of the Coney Hall Sports Social and Athletic Club are serving with the forces in various parts of the . Mr Frank Keenor, secretary of the club, told the Kentish Times: “Some of our lads are in Iceland. One of our members, Lieutenant Laurence King, R.E., was married at Bognor Regis last week. Recently six of our boys serving in the East in different units met by accident and arranged to have a day in Alexandria together. The half-dozen included Ron White, captain of our…
F/O Harold Sydney Mellows
Flying Officer H.S. Mellows West Wickham Rotarians stood in silence at their meeting on Monday in tribute to the memory of a fellow-member, Flying Officer H.S. Mellows, M.B.Ch., R.AF.V.R, M.O., physician and surgeon, who was killed on active service. Past-resident the Rev. W.A.M. Parker, speaking at the request of the president (Mr C.D. Norman) said, “It is the first time that a death in this way has invaded the ranks of the West Wickham Rotary Club, but we feel that it was a glorious way for our friend to end…