Fire Brigade at Ormeley Lodge – by EB

My father was in the fire brigade and during the war they came to Ham and were at Ormeley Lodge which is on the other side of Ham Common, were the Goldsmiths live, and it was the garage and their fire engines in there and it was the garage, what would have been the chauffeur’s accommodation was for the firemen, but my father living so close, always came home.  But […]

School and Shelters – by JP

It was very, very safe and peaceful childhood up to the war of course.  We had an Anderson shelter, I can remember my father fitted it out beautifully and we slept there.  Normally we went to bed there, we didn’t get up in the night.  I can remember him getting us all up to see the fires of London, it’s an abiding memory is that.  And watching the German planes […]

Food shortages and treasure in bombed buildings – by MG

Well, food was short then, rationed and three children to feed.  And my Dad at that time was in the Army, he was abroad, so I often think how hard it was for her.  She had to take her turn in firewatching down the road at night, for the incendiary bombs. I can remember sort of going over there, but mostly I remember playing at the end of the road, […]

Street Party – Memories by KS

I can remember we had a street party – I’m not sure whether that was VE or VJ Day but we had a street party, every street had a party that day with the Mayor visiting.  How they done it food wise I don’t know but they give us kids a lovely time anyway.

Memories of Ham 1918 onwards (complete) – by Mildred Howes

I have lived in Ham for over 50 years and have had connections with the area all my life. As a child our family used to come to Ham regularly and had friends here… My story really starts before I was born. My grandfather (who lived in Richmond) was lost at sea in 1918 near the end of the first world war and my father, who was 8, and his […]