Charles Richard Scutt 1898-1940

[Father:Charles Scutt living at 273 Purley Way, Waddon, Croydon, Surrey.] [London Alarms. Two policemen were killed when bombs were dropped on a London area this morning by a lone raider. They were War Reserve Constable Scutt and Special Constable Emes. Bombs fell about half-an-hour after the all clear had been given in London's second alarm of the night. One fell in a main shopping thoroughfare and set fire to a gas main. Another struck a water main and caused a number of casualties. Some people were taken to hospital. Four bombs were dropped in another residential part of London by a lone raider. One bomb which fell in a garden demolished air-raid shelter, but there was no one in it at the time. Firemen had lucky escapes when an explosion occurred as they were tackling the gas main blaze. Pieces of concrete were scattered over a considerable distance and many shop and flat windows were blown out. The two policemen were killed by a bomb which fell near them. A bomb scored a direct hit on a corporation house. A woman was killed and her husband is in hospital in a serious condition. This bomb fell within few yards of a first-aid post. Business men placed their undamaged offices at the disposal of their rivals whose property had been affected. Some, however, were not so fortunate, and either had to make hurried arrangements to transfer their businesses to temporary premises elsewhere or to announce to their waiting employees that there would be no work for the time being.] [C R S - 41yr., police constable, civilian. Killed by a bomb explosion while on patrol during an enemy air raid at Beddington. He lived at 27 Houlder Crescent, Waddon, Croydon, Surrey. Buried at the Municipal Borough Cemetery of Beddington & Wallington, Surrey.]