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.
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.
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.
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.....
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.
In the Spring of 1943, Canadian sappers began work in South Merstham, rebuilding All Saint’s Church, which had been completely ...
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.
On the night of 2/3rd June in 1944, a terrible tragedy befell a Coulsdon family..
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.
Local videographer Phil Swallow has made an excellent film about the history of Hamsey Green Aerodrome, just down the road from Kenley in Surrey.
On 7th January 1937, would-be aircraft designer, Richard Taylor, lost his life at Hamsey Green aerodrome when the wing of ...
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.
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...
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).
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...
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.
Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 60 – August 2009 Preview I was born in Georges Terrace, Caterham ...
Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 70 – February 2012 Preview ‘So far as human knowledge can tell, this ...
Copyright of the attached article rests with the The Bourne Society. Volume 72 – August 2012 Preview There was an article on TV recently in ...
On 29th September, 1944, five men perished in Avro Anson NK607, as it hit a tree in thick cloud and crashed in woods, somewhere within the grounds of an Army Ordnance Depot, near Dean Lane, Merstham, about three miles from RAF Kenley.
Peter Allam recounts his Father's memories of the Junkers 88, which crashed at Town End Rec, in 18th January, 1943.
At 2.31am, on 27th August, 1940, a burning, crewless Heinkel He111 hit the ground, ploughed it's way across Queen's Park, Caterham, and into the rear garden of 21 Manor Rd, where it exploded, partially destroying the bungalow.
Sunday 1st September, 1940, saw 11 Hurricanes from 85 Squadron, based at RAF Croydon, sent out to intercept a raid heading approaching Tunbridge Wells and heading towards Kenley....
