Kent Village of the year 2004
1940-1949
This decade was, of course, dominated by WW2 and to some extent it is documented under our “Lest we forget” pages in the main village website. However we will be adding other information as we get it.
A recent email from Pennsylvania USA has raised the question of a bomb which fell on the garage by the crossroads in the early part of the war. The garage was owned by Haywards of Ashford and was being managed by Ben Pilcher who has been described as a large man of Pickwickian character. The information I have from Cis Heath is that the bomb fell in the road by the garage. At the time Ben Pilcher was with his wife in the Halfway House where an Army darts match was being held. Their two sons were asleep in the bungalowjoined on to the garage. Fortunately the damage was not too great, mainly windows blown in etc, and nobody was hurt.The email came from his son Mike who was born in Chilham on the 29th March 1941 and tells us that his father rented Pear Tree house in Pested Lane and continued to run the rebuilt garage until around 1965. Mike emigrated to South Africa in 1969. If anyone has knowledge of this bombing or photographs of the old garage we would love to hear from you.
The other incident of which we are aware is the V1 rocket (doodlebug) which fell near the Parish Church in the latter part of the war and caused damage which subsequently destroyed the church, which was then rebuilt in the 50’s. Please see our links page on the main village website for a website covering the Church
A recent email from Pennsylvania USA has raised the question of a bomb which fell on the garage by the crossroads in the early part of the war. The garage was owned by Haywards of Ashford and was being managed by Ben Pilcher who has been described as a large man of Pickwickian character. The information I have from Cis Heath is that the bomb fell in the road by the garage. At the time Ben Pilcher was with his wife in the Halfway House where an Army darts match was being held. Their two sons were asleep in the bungalowjoined on to the garage. Fortunately the damage was not too great, mainly windows blown in etc, and nobody was hurt.The email came from his son Mike who was born in Chilham on the 29th March 1941 and tells us that his father rented Pear Tree house in Pested Lane and continued to run the rebuilt garage until around 1965. Mike emigrated to South Africa in 1969. If anyone has knowledge of this bombing or photographs of the old garage we would love to hear from you.
The other incident of which we are aware is the V1 rocket (doodlebug) which fell near the Parish Church in the latter part of the war and caused damage which subsequently destroyed the church, which was then rebuilt in the 50’s. Please see our links page on the main village website for a website covering the Church
Elliot Hams (1885-
Elliot was the Village wheelwright before the war.
Photos by Fred Hams
Click pictures for full size
It was also in this decade in 1947 that the new village shop and post office was built next to the Haven
During the war the threat of a german invasion was always there. Churchill took
the threat seriously and took meaures to prepare for such an event by forming what
became known as the Secret Army. For more on this subject and how it affected Challock
click here or on the sub menu under 1940-
Thia photo reflects the times as it shows Fred Hams (right) with two evacuees from Lewisham, Peter Stokes (on left) and Leo Stokes (in middle)