On 7 March I’ll be giving a talk to Lamorbey and Sidcup Local History Society about the effect of the two world wars on Blackfen and how the district changed dramatically in the inter-war period from a hamlet surrounded by fields to a busy residential district.

This is an opportunity to remember residents of Blackfen who lost their lives. During World War II there was significant bombing in the area.

Civilians killed in Blackfen by World War II bombing:

5 Feb. 1941: Thomas Reynolds, aged 37, council employee and fire-watcher, Blackfen Road

5 Feb. 1941: Cecil Vinten, aged 28, Blackfen Road

29 Jan. 1941: Norris Jenkins, 73, Blackfen Road

16 June 1944: Herbert Hipwell, 66, Ronaldstone Road

16 June 1944: Ernest Ingram, 67, Blackfen Road

22 Nov. 1944: Charlotte Pope, 70, Orchard Rise East

22 Nov. 1944: William Payne, 57 and his son, Private Ernest Payne, RAF, 21, Orchard Rise East

22 Nov. 1944: Grace Fagg, 34 and her daughters Jean, 13 and Doris, 11, Orchard Rise East

22 Nov. 1944: Jessie Bines, 72, Orchard Rise East

8 Feb. 1945: Mrs Maud McDonald, 41 and her daughter, Beryl, 12, Berwick Crescent

8 Feb. 1945: Mrs Eliza Deamer, 38 and her son Eric, 13, and daughter Iris, 6, Berwick Crescent

8 Feb. 1945: Mrs Frances Havers, 79, and her daughter Mrs Alice Martin, 49, Berwick Crescent

8 Feb. 1945: Roland Foster, 9, Days Lane

Residents of Blackfen killed on active service during World War II:

Sergt Pilot Cyril William Henry Smith, RAF, son of Frederick and Nellie Smith of Raeburn Road, killed on 4 August 1941, aged 23, when the Spitfire he was flying crashed in Dorset. He is buried in Eltham Cemetery.

Leading Seaman Ernest Henry Regnier of HMS Harvester, son of Louis Alphonso Simon and Marie Regnier of Wellington Avenue, died at sea on 11 March 1942 aged 25. (Remembered on the Sidcup War Memorial).

Flight Sergeant Robert Edward Doddington of 203 Squadron, RAF Volunteer Reserve, son of Mr and Mrs James Robert Doddington of Raeburn Road, died in Egypt on 5 October 1943 aged 23. (Remembered on the Sidcup War Memorial).