Local Places and Incidents

'The Mitchley Avenue Dakota' - KG439.
On 19th October, 1945, No.435 squadron, RCAF, had only been at Croydon for a few days when one of their Dakotas (KG439) stalled and dived into the front garden of a house in Mitchley Avenue, Sanderstead, not long after take-off.
"Chum" - Purley's Canine Hero
On the evening of 27th November, 1940, Mrs. Marjorie French sat alone in the air raid shelter at her home in Glenn Avenue, Purley. Warmed by an electric fire she was awaiting the return of her husband, John, a toolmaker by trade. As she listened for the sound of his car, the drone of an aircraft caught her attention...and then a bomb dropped.
A Double Funeral for Redhill's Canadians
401 squadron RCAF were stationed at RAF Redhill at the end of July 1943, when they lost two pilots in unrelated accidents only a couple of days apart.
A Morning Raid Hits Matlock Road
At 9.16am, on 28th June, 1944, four members of the Survey Party, 4th Medium Regt, Royal Canadian Artillery, were lying down near their jeep behind their billet at 22 Matlock Rd, Caterham on the Hill, when an enemy air raid swept overhead.....
A Suffragette Takes to the Sky
Australian Suffragette, Muriel Mathers made headlines around the world with her daring plan to grab the attention of the public during the opening of parliament by King Edward VII, in February, 1909.
Buried Alive in The Blitz - The Bombing of 49 Woodcote Grove Road, Coulsdon
By 18th September, 1940, the Luftwaffe's attention was firmly focused on bombing London into submission. This is the story of just one rescue amongst many that took place during this period.
Canada Hall, South Merstham
In the Spring of 1943, Canadian sappers began work in South Merstham, rebuilding All Saint’s Church, which had been completely ...
Caterham's First Doodlebug
On 16th June, 1944, only a few days after the V1 onslaught had begun, the people of Caterham experienced at first hand the destructive power of these 'doodlebugs,' when one fell in Chaldon Rd, near the junction with Heath Rd.
Coulsdon's Forgotten Tragedy
On the night of 2/3rd June in 1944, a terrible tragedy befell a Coulsdon family..
Croydon's First V2 - Sunny Bank, South Norwood
On 20th October, 1944, at 20.09hrs, Batt.2./Art.Abt.(mot) 485 under the command of Hauptmann Neusch, launched the first V2 to land in the Croydon area.
Far From Home - Flight Lieutenant Cherukara Thomas "Tommy" Philip, Indian Air Force
The story of how a startling entry in RAF Kenley's station diary led us to the tragic death of an Indian Air Force pilot.
Hamsey Green Aerodrome
Local videographer Phil Swallow has made an excellent film about the history of Hamsey Green Aerodrome, just down the road from Kenley in Surrey.
Richard Taylor's "Experimental" at Hamsey Green Aerodrome
On 7th January 1937, would-be aircraft designer, Richard Taylor, lost his life at Hamsey Green aerodrome when the wing of ...
Sappers' Sacrifice - Warlingham, 8th September, 1940
At a time when everyone faced mortal danger, the vital task of dealing with unexploded bombs stands out as one of outstanding risk and danger. Sadly, the exploits of those brave men were sometimes left unrecorded, and this seems to be the case for a terrible tragedy that took place in Whyteleafe.
Sgt. Geoffrey Edwin Gaskell - The 'Missing Man' in Airmen's Corner
At around 9.25am on 17th January, 1938, three Gloster Gladiators of No.65 Squadron took off from their base at RAF Hornchurch for formation flying practice. The flight had been ordered by F/Lt. Leslie Charles Bicknell so that a relatively inexperienced pilot, Sergeant Geoffrey Edwin Gaskell, could get some formation practice with two of the squadron's more accomplished flyers - Pilot Officer Adrian Hope-Boyd and Pilot Officer Roland Robert Stanford-Tuck.
St Luke's War Graves
The 35 Club, Old Coulsdon
In September 2022, I had the privilege of being invited to give a talk about RAF Kenley to 'The 35 Club' in Old Coulsdon and was delighted to discover that this wonderful social club has a long and distinguished history...
The Bombing of Caterham Guards' Depot - 1st September, 1940
On 1st September, 1940, seven newly-recruited Coldstream Guards were killed when the Guards Training Depot at Caterham was hit by bombs probably intended for RAF Kenley.
The Bombing of Chaldon Rd, 4th November, 1940.
On the 4th November, 1940, a lone enemy bomber attacked Caterham on the Hill dropping several bombs which damaged shops and houses, and opening fire on children leaving the Council School, (now Hillcroft School).
The Bombing of St. Lawrence's Hospital - 6th November, 1940
Only two days after the terror of the daylight raid on Chaldon Rd, the area was hit again, this time taking the lives of two women at the opposite ends of life...
The Bourne Society Bulletin 201 - Bombing of St. Lawrence's Hospital
I lived at 15 Roffes Lane during the war - the road is off Chaldon Road at the bottom of Clifton Hill. Crossing the road going north is Green Lane, a cinder track made up I think from the coal fires at St Lawrence's Hospital.
The Bourne Society Volume 60 - Life in Caterham in the 1940's and 1950's
Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 60 – August 2009 Preview I was born in Georges Terrace, Caterham ...
The Bourne Society Volume 70 - Kenley's New Deep Shelter - County Council Chairman at Opening Ceremony
So far as human knowledge can tell, this shelter is safe from all bombing' said Mr F H Jones, chairman of the Surrey County Council at Kenley on Saturday, when opening the new deep shelter which has been cut into the heart of the chalk under Riddlesdown.
The Bourne Society Volume 72 - Wartime Fire Service in Caterham
There was an article on TV recently in which they asked for information on any wartime 'Unsung heroes'. I don't know about the hero bit, but what I, and my mates, did is certainly unsung, and as far as I know, has not been mentioned anywhere since.

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