Welcome to the town page for Southborough and High Brooms. Explore your town map to discover people who lived in your town during the First World War.

Don’t forget to visit the 100 MILES page for the Trail information and downloadable leaflet, booklet, walking directions and quiz. These trails were developed in partnership with Ian Kinghorn, Fred and Rita Scales.

The communities of Southborough and High Brooms were very close, with many of the residents working together either in the large estates locally or in the various local industries such as The Highbrooms Brick and Tile Company.

When War was declared the first thing that was noticed was that the post office had been open all day Sunday 2nd August until 2a.m. Monday morning and then again all through the nights of the Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th August 1914.

Local large houses such as Crothers in Southborough became Red Cross Auxiliary Hospitals and Alec Brook, Photographer, 60 Edward St., Southborough, Kent, would go to Crothers and take photographs of those convalescing. The Victoria Hall and Park House were also used, the Victoria Hall was used to treat Belgian wounded soldiers. The Lady Superintendent of the hospitals was Cecilia Fergusson of Bois House, Southborough, her daughter Phyllis served at Crothers giving 5000 hours of time as a cook and carrying out nursing duties.

There was already an established Kent Territorial Unit whose Hon Colonel was Sir David Salomons and one of whose members was Sir David’s only son Reginald and also a cadet branch for younger boys. The senior unit had been preparing for War throughout the Summer of 1914 and on the 7th of August 1914 they gathered at the Drill Hall in Speldhurst Road and marched out of the town on their way to Tonbridge Station and further training joining with other local men to become the KFRE 1ST/ 3RD Company. Eventually they transhipped together for Gallipoli – they were transferred to the HMS Hythe to be landed at Helles when; on the night of 28th of October 1915; the Hythe was hit by another ship the British troopship The Sarnia. As a result of the collision over 150 men lost their lives that night, including Reginald Salomons with 79 members of the KFRE 1st /3rd Company .The effect on the local community of such loss of life over a relatively small community affecting many families was severe.

Sources :-The Southborough Society, The High Brooms Society, The Red Cross Southborough & High Brooms and various newspapers such as the Kent Courier.

Please add information to your town page by clicking Upload Your Story. Tell those important stories about your relatives – share their experiences to help build a picture of your community during this period. Don’t forget to check out your local clubs and societies, and whilst you are exploring our site take a look at the other towns around the coast to discover more about Kent’s rich history during the First World War.