Nineteen Forties Gallery

Royal Blue the Kings racing pigeon and first carrier of the war

"Royal Blue" the King's racing pigeon and first carrier of the war carried a message from a force landed plane on hte Continent has been invested with the animals VC The Dickin Medal. In October 1940 this bird was released in Holland approximately 120 miles from base at 7.20am and arrived at Sandringham at 11.50am the same day with information regarding the sitution of the crew. Corporal A Randall RAF with the King's pigeon after it had been invested with the medal in London
12th April 1945

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Waiters, chefs and kitchen hands at Londons Savoy hotel went on strike early today

Waiters, chefs and kitchen hands at London's Savoy hotel went on strike early today, it was decided that tables were to be left bare and underserviced in the private suites, restaurant and Grill room. Tickets has been detailed to guard every staff door and the taxi driver in entrance to warn the catering staff of the strike. The strikers are members of the London catering branch of the general and municipal workers union who claimed that 500 of the total staff of 800 are now in the union. The strike committee said "we have been forced to take this action after every other avenue of approach has been closed by the management."
Picture shows: Mrs Kaufmann, wife of a chef at the Savoy hotel, picketing outside the building this morning.
8 October 1946

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The painting in oils of Brigadier General Wade Hampton Hayes, .O.B.E. on its way

The painting in oils of Brigadier General Wade Hampton Hayes, .O.B.E. on its way to New York Armoury, largest and most luxurious military building in the world. The Brigadier General was a member of the British Home Guard and commanded the first American Squadron Home Guards, whose job it was to guard the London district headquarters and be responsible for the personal safety of the GOC. The painting was accepted by Col G.K. Brazill - Officer Commanding.
25 June 1947

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