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…

Cinema Listings for Bromley in 1941

This advert for the cinemas of Bromley lists the top films being shown for the 6 days following Monday 27th October 1941. The Odeon’s top movie was ‘Billy the Kid’ – action in technicolor. The Regal in Beckenham however was showing ‘High Sierra’ and ‘Conga Swing’. The Gaumont in Bromley was showing ‘I Thank You’ and ‘Behind the News’ Splendid cinema, on Bromley Road was also showing ‘High Sierra’ and then ‘Facing the Music’ With the Rex cinema in Hayes, Kent also showing ‘Billy the Kid’ featuring Robert Taylor. Source:…

Harry Charles Shaw Page

Promotion for Rector’s Son Squadron Leader Page Flight Lieutenant Harry Charles Shaw Page, D.F.C., only son of Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs Page, of West Wickham Rectory, has been gazetted squadron leader in the R.A.F. He has taken part in numerous raids on Germany and was in the first flight over Hamburg. Source: Bromley & District Times, 12th September 1941 (page 5)

Leading Aircraftman Harold Lidster: Wedding

L/A/C Lidster and Miss M. Fitch The wedding took place at St Luke’s Church on Saturday,  August 30, of L/A/C Harold Lidster, R.A.F., eldest son of Mr and Mrs Lidster. of Rugby, and Miss Margaret Fitch eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Fitch of 13 Clarence Rad, Bickley. Canon Hassard Short, Vicar, officiate. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a dress of ivory ninon with a long veil held in place by a pearl head-dress.  Her bouquet was of pale pink roses and white heather.  The…

War Savings Campaign

Permanent Memorial for the Borough In the hour of peril People of Bromley earned the gratitude of the British nations Sustaining the valour of The Royal Air Force and Fortifying the cause of freedom by the gift of Spitfire Aircraft They shall mount up with wings as eagles Above we give a reproduction of the tablet sent down by the Ministry of Aircraft Production as an acknowledgment to the people of Bromley for their gift of a fighter aircraft. It is at present in the Mayor’s Parlour, but will no…

Advertisement for Regent Portraits (Photographers)

“When Jack came home on leave…” …he realised how much happier his friends and family would be while he was away if they had a photograph of him…. a life like portrait which would always form a comforting link between them. So he went along to Regent Portraits where he knew he would get a portrait with which he would be perfectly satisfied. Now more than ever it is a family duty for everybody to be photographed… not just “sometimes”… but NOW. Satifaction Guaranteed Source: Bromley & District Times, 26th…

Mrs Ethel Augusta Pond

Recognition for Bravery Red Cross Distinguished War Service Certificate The many friends of Mrs Ethel A. Pond, MBE, Commandant Kent 50 Voluntary Aid Detachment, will be delighted to hear that she has been awarded the British Red Cross Society’s Distinguished War Service Certificate or devotion to duty on the night of a severe raid in April. She went out with the mobile canteen serving tea and light refreshments to firemen and members of the Civil Defence Services in the midst of danger always, and at times under the arch of…

Sergeant Peter David Devereux

Lost at Sea Sergeant P.D. Devereux, R.A.F. Sergeant Peter David Devereux, aged 22, who has been reported “missing” while on an R.A.F. patrol at sea, joined the R.A.F. before the present war began.  He was in action in France last year and was wounded. Sergeant Devereux’s parents have until recently been living at Bourne Way, Hayes.  His wife, formally a Miss Keech, of Faversham, Kent, has received a letter from the Flight Commander of Sergeant Devereux’s squadron, in which he pays a high tribute to his ability and personal charm. …

Bad Traffic Lights

It’s strange to imagine a world without traffic lights, as they have now become a necessity in keeping our busy roads safe and less chaotic.  Before traffic lights, police controlled the flow of traffic using hand signals.  The world’s first traffic light was installed in London in December 1868.  It as a gas-lit signal operated manually by a policeman.  Unfortunately this model had limited success, as less than a month later it exploded after it was implemented, injuring its operator. The more modern electric traffic light was developed in 1912…

Mooney & Cooney

The Canadian soldiers and airmen were very popular with the girls of the area . I don’t know whether the girls are ‘snapping up’ the boys or the boys are ‘snapping up ‘ the girls. There were a lot of such marriages during the war years. Captain John Hodgson Mooney was born in 1914.  He was later Lieutenant-Colonel, E.D.,C.D. of Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery & Canadian Army Intelligence Corps.  He died in 2000. Mollie (sometimes spelt Molly) Eileen Cooney was born on the 4th December 1920.  After their marriage…