Page 22 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side v1

Tragedy for seven prominent families

The War was to exact a very high price on several very well known families of Sidcup, Foots Cray and
North Cray.

Sidcup family doctor and JP, Dr. James Crombie, who served for almost two years on the Sidcup
Military Service Tribunal, tragically lost all his three sons.

Manager of a Bank, James Dickinson, who lived in a large and expensive house in The Drive, Sidcup,
lost his 26-year-old son, Second Lt. Bruce Norman Dickinson, who was a keen sportsman and captain
nd
of the 2 Eleven Sidcup Cricket Club.

Master Baker, William Tossell, whose bakers-shop/post office was the hub of Foots Cray Village, lost
his adored son, Frank.

Mrs. Mary King, very well known by the residents of both Foots Cray and North Cray because of her
family business at the Foots Cray Dairy and Tea Gardens, lost two nephews.

Rev. Johnston, the long-serving vicar of St. James Church, North Cray, lost his 46-year-old nephew
nd
who was commanding the 2 Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

Joseph Pillman JP, of The Cottage, Church Road, Foots Cray, lost his son, Captain Robert Laurence
th
Pillman, aged 23. He had been an international Rugby player before joining the 10 Service
Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

William Thwaites, who ran the former historic coaching inn The Seven Stars in Foots Cray for over 15
years, lost two of his sons, 22-year-old Richard and 28-year-old Harry. Both men were born and grew
up in Foots Cray.

The Vansittarts of Foots Cray Place and the Vesey-Holt Family of Mount Mascal, as well as the North
family living at Vale Mascal, all lost loved ones.

But for both the close-knit communities every loss of life was a tragedy, borne with great dignity. The
bereaved took comfort from their positive belief that their loved-ones had died in a good cause - “For
God, King, and Country.”

All Saints Church, Foots Cray