Photos from a New Zealand soldier billeted in the UK in WWII
The Mill House around 1940 was a billet for the New Zealand troops
It was also a tea room found on A20 Maidstone Road
A New Zealand soldier strikes a pose at the Mill's wheel around 1940
The mill is now part of Channel Moving's offices
Mystery billet no.1: A rural oast in Kent around 1940
Is this Dane Court at Chilham?
Mystery billet no.2: a large country house possibly in Kent
If you recognise this house then please let us know
Mystery view no.3: a gatehouse to a country estate, but is it in the UK?
Please post a comment or e-mail if you can help
Unknown water tower - possibly at an airfield? but where in the world?
Another stop on the soldier's tour around 1940
Another from the New Zealander's tour in WWII. Looks like an industrial or military site
If you can locate any of these scenes then we'll pass the news to the soldier's daughter
Some are Hothfield, but can you place the rest?
By Chris Rogers
In March we received an e-mail from New Zealand from Raewyn Alderton who wrote: “I am currently sifting through my father’s wartime photos. Of particular interest is a Millhouse in Kent a post card of the Mill says it is in Hothfield.
Somewhere in this region of Kent he has taken photos of another mill in Ashford and a large country home which became the billet for NZ soldiers in 1940. He was there during the time of Battle of Britain and I have black and white photos of the action.
One photo shows a farm house which was the billet for NZ troops, not sure what ranks? They were there to train up in preparation for going to Egypt. He watched the Battle of Britain from this area. My dad was in the 7th anti-tank and appeared to leave England about Sept 1940 having arrived in June 1940.
This information was gathered off websites pertaining to the 2NZEF 7th Anti-tank regiment.
I would like to share the photos with you and receive information regarding the same. Many thanks for taking the time to consider my request and compliment your organisation on a very valuable project.”
So far Raewyn has e-mailed through nine photos at least one of which is definitely the mill on Maidstone Road now used by Channel Moving (Move-It) near the Hare and Hounds, and a photo of a mill wheel which is probably at the same place. The photos also include Ashford High Street, various farm buildings, a water tower and a scene of the countryside, none of which I recognise as being local to Hothfield.
The house that was her father’s billet is shown here. It’s definitely in the Kent area as cowls of oast houses can be seen behind the main house, but can anyone recognise the house itself, please? Is it Dane Court near Chilham? If anyone can help to identify where they were taken please post a comment or e-mail: hothfieldmemories@hotmail.com