Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 12:35:14 GMT
My Dad is Terrence Dennis Hardy. Born 18.01.1927.
He worked at West Central District Office from 16th April 1941 for 4 years.
Hat Badge No. 115.
Names from the past:-
Messengers
Blackburn, Dennis Brooks, Sam Brown, Brown (Topper), Ken Carpenter (Red Hair), Carter (Red Hair) Challenger, Peters, Sullivan, Robertson, Sid White, McCallum. Peters
P.S.M.'s - Postman Supervising Messengers
Mr Bines, Mr Gilder,
Holiday Reliefs
Mr Faires - (one of the Banjo players for the Black and White Minstrels)
Mr Talbot
When I started at West Central District Office Peters was the smart head postmaster boy - he volunteered for the RAF went to Canada for training and then visited the office on his return with his wings, smart and proud, sadly lost on his first mission.
I last saw Sid White at the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs in Southend, still a quiet young executive officers. Sid was killed driving his new car on holiday in the early 70's.
I was a friend of Dennis Brooks we went to the Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane and saw Jack Buchanan and Fred Emney in a musical.
The undamaged theatres were soon opening. A stool could be purchased for three or six pence, three or six to reserve your place in the queue. Jessie Matthews, Richard Hearne and Richard Tauber were at The Princess, Shaftesbury Avenue. The Saville a play and Phoenix Charing Cross Road Yvonne Arnold. At the Coliseum Lupino Lane in Me and My Girl.
Holborn Empire was badly damaged, but still showed a part poster photo of Max Miller, the last to perform there.
The Stoll Theatre, Kingsway, was closed. The Dominion and Paramount, Tottenham Court Road, were cinemas.
I recall going to the Dominion for sixpence and The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, was closed but had offices for E.N.S.A. Covent Garden was still active.
Overseas troops were billeted in hotels. The Canadian at West Central North Hotel, Southampton Row. W.C. The Norwegians at the County Hotel, Upper Woburn Place. Maltese evacuees at the Royal Hotel, Woburn Place and Ivanhoe Hotel, Great Russell St. W.C.1.
At one period we had a 20 minute hand service taking telegrams to C.T.O. King Edwards Buildings . Thomas Walis Store opposite Gamages in Holborn was bombed and a blaze. I recall walking to C.T.O. while the A.F.S. hoses across Holborn as they damped down the ruins.
Trafalgar Square was always an active place:-
For selling bonds war weapons week ( Army)
Warship Week A front of a warship modelled - Dingy's in the fountains being filled with coins. Nelsons Column would display the amount collected and the target reached.
The cost of a Spitfire shown as £5000.
The Australian air force took over Kodak House in the Kingsway.The Air Ministry at Adastral House, Kingsway.
The University of London then Senate House was the Ministry of Information. Taking was always interesting.
All the Squares had their railings taken away, making short cuts across the squares possible. The A.T.S. at one time used Russell Square for P.T.
The arrival of the Americans was a great event and relief, in their smart uniforms all looking like officers and always friendly.
The building of a concrete tower guarded by the Americans, in Store Street, W.C.1. the Tottenham Court Road end . I believe after the was disclosed as the entrance to their underground sleeping quarters.
I recall Bub Flanagan fund raising around Russell Square. Delivering telegrams to Teddy Brown, who had a flat in the Mansions in Ridgemount Gardens. W.C1. One lunch time musicians playing in the broken shop window in an Oxford Street Store.
I recall telling my parents it was Geraldo and the crowd singing along outside.
Charging 6d a mile, officers and florist used us regularly. The Zionist press in Great Russell Street had a regular messengar take printing to the Press off Whitechapel and collect printing to take back. A bus ride of three miles. Cheap labour for 3 shillings.
Shearns of Tottenham Court Road ( Fruiterers and Florist) usesd us regularly for delivering wreaths and flowers all over London.
Cycling to work from home in Islington, North London was often an event I remember seeing the trolley bus blown over round Mornington Crescent.
A black tin issued for carrying your gas mask or sandwiche?
When sixteen a voucher for ninepence was issued to use in the canteen, also accepted by the cafe in Museum Street, for pie and chips. Drinking chocolate was supplied by the Department, around 1943, which I was in charge of having extended lunch break. The cost was 1/2p or 1p. To encourage sales I would mix the drink for the boys.
When a senior messenger I was in the Medical Room for two hours a day where the Medical records were kept and if any prescriptions were needed I would go to Armour House. E.C.1. to collect any medicines required.
Seeing on the bomb sites all the brick tanks waterproofed and filled with water for emergency supplies for the A.F.S.
The pavement artist outside the Church Opposite Holborn Tube Station. His topical chalked characters and humour always popular.
I hope you have contact with other messengars in those years, who can add to my memories. Low pay compensated by the experience of being in London in those years.
The supply of uniforms, shoes and boots, the boning your belt and pouch. Buttons cleaned trying to conserve the red button on your hat. The half day schooling at Bird Street until 16 years of age.
Carol Hardy Daughter of Terrence Dennis Hardy
He worked at West Central District Office from 16th April 1941 for 4 years.
Hat Badge No. 115.
Names from the past:-
Messengers
Blackburn, Dennis Brooks, Sam Brown, Brown (Topper), Ken Carpenter (Red Hair), Carter (Red Hair) Challenger, Peters, Sullivan, Robertson, Sid White, McCallum. Peters
P.S.M.'s - Postman Supervising Messengers
Mr Bines, Mr Gilder,
Holiday Reliefs
Mr Faires - (one of the Banjo players for the Black and White Minstrels)
Mr Talbot
When I started at West Central District Office Peters was the smart head postmaster boy - he volunteered for the RAF went to Canada for training and then visited the office on his return with his wings, smart and proud, sadly lost on his first mission.
I last saw Sid White at the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs in Southend, still a quiet young executive officers. Sid was killed driving his new car on holiday in the early 70's.
I was a friend of Dennis Brooks we went to the Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane and saw Jack Buchanan and Fred Emney in a musical.
The undamaged theatres were soon opening. A stool could be purchased for three or six pence, three or six to reserve your place in the queue. Jessie Matthews, Richard Hearne and Richard Tauber were at The Princess, Shaftesbury Avenue. The Saville a play and Phoenix Charing Cross Road Yvonne Arnold. At the Coliseum Lupino Lane in Me and My Girl.
Holborn Empire was badly damaged, but still showed a part poster photo of Max Miller, the last to perform there.
The Stoll Theatre, Kingsway, was closed. The Dominion and Paramount, Tottenham Court Road, were cinemas.
I recall going to the Dominion for sixpence and The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, was closed but had offices for E.N.S.A. Covent Garden was still active.
Overseas troops were billeted in hotels. The Canadian at West Central North Hotel, Southampton Row. W.C. The Norwegians at the County Hotel, Upper Woburn Place. Maltese evacuees at the Royal Hotel, Woburn Place and Ivanhoe Hotel, Great Russell St. W.C.1.
At one period we had a 20 minute hand service taking telegrams to C.T.O. King Edwards Buildings . Thomas Walis Store opposite Gamages in Holborn was bombed and a blaze. I recall walking to C.T.O. while the A.F.S. hoses across Holborn as they damped down the ruins.
Trafalgar Square was always an active place:-
For selling bonds war weapons week ( Army)
Warship Week A front of a warship modelled - Dingy's in the fountains being filled with coins. Nelsons Column would display the amount collected and the target reached.
The cost of a Spitfire shown as £5000.
The Australian air force took over Kodak House in the Kingsway.The Air Ministry at Adastral House, Kingsway.
The University of London then Senate House was the Ministry of Information. Taking was always interesting.
All the Squares had their railings taken away, making short cuts across the squares possible. The A.T.S. at one time used Russell Square for P.T.
The arrival of the Americans was a great event and relief, in their smart uniforms all looking like officers and always friendly.
The building of a concrete tower guarded by the Americans, in Store Street, W.C.1. the Tottenham Court Road end . I believe after the was disclosed as the entrance to their underground sleeping quarters.
I recall Bub Flanagan fund raising around Russell Square. Delivering telegrams to Teddy Brown, who had a flat in the Mansions in Ridgemount Gardens. W.C1. One lunch time musicians playing in the broken shop window in an Oxford Street Store.
I recall telling my parents it was Geraldo and the crowd singing along outside.
Charging 6d a mile, officers and florist used us regularly. The Zionist press in Great Russell Street had a regular messengar take printing to the Press off Whitechapel and collect printing to take back. A bus ride of three miles. Cheap labour for 3 shillings.
Shearns of Tottenham Court Road ( Fruiterers and Florist) usesd us regularly for delivering wreaths and flowers all over London.
Cycling to work from home in Islington, North London was often an event I remember seeing the trolley bus blown over round Mornington Crescent.
A black tin issued for carrying your gas mask or sandwiche?
When sixteen a voucher for ninepence was issued to use in the canteen, also accepted by the cafe in Museum Street, for pie and chips. Drinking chocolate was supplied by the Department, around 1943, which I was in charge of having extended lunch break. The cost was 1/2p or 1p. To encourage sales I would mix the drink for the boys.
When a senior messenger I was in the Medical Room for two hours a day where the Medical records were kept and if any prescriptions were needed I would go to Armour House. E.C.1. to collect any medicines required.
Seeing on the bomb sites all the brick tanks waterproofed and filled with water for emergency supplies for the A.F.S.
The pavement artist outside the Church Opposite Holborn Tube Station. His topical chalked characters and humour always popular.
I hope you have contact with other messengars in those years, who can add to my memories. Low pay compensated by the experience of being in London in those years.
The supply of uniforms, shoes and boots, the boning your belt and pouch. Buttons cleaned trying to conserve the red button on your hat. The half day schooling at Bird Street until 16 years of age.
Carol Hardy Daughter of Terrence Dennis Hardy