Died: In a bomb blast at 64 Okehampton Crescent, Welling
Address / Local links: 64 Okehampton Crescent, Welling
Family / Relatives: Wife of Sidney George Payne
October 13th 1940, at the height of the London Blitz, was the date Princess Elizabeth, The late Queen, made her first public speech with a radio address to the children of the Commonwealth, many of them living away from home due to war. Her younger sister, Princess Margaret, joined in at the end..
“We know, everyone of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace. And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place…”
Sadly, for some local residents, they were not to see this better and happier place, as they became some of the victims of the enemy bombing campaign.
Lilian Payne was killed at 64 Okehampton Crescent, along with her brother Henry Barned and her husband Sidney.
Lilian Jane Barned was born in Woolwich on 10th August 1895 to John George (a soldier) and Jane Eliza Barned.
The 1911 census shows the family living at 8 Maryon Road, Old Charlton, with the 15 year old Lilian being a ‘nurse girl’.
In the summer of 1923 she married Sidney George Payne at St. Thomas’s Church in Charlton, and a daughter, Elsie Elizabeth, was born the following summer.
By 1939, Lilian, Sidney and her brother Henry were all listed as living at 64 Okehampton Crescent, Welling, and it was here- tragically – that they were all to be killed the following year…
Their bodies were uncovered in the early hours of 14th October; the brief notes from the Bexley Civilian Casualties Register makes for poignant reading; Cause of death –Bomb.
5ft 6ins tall, slim build, dark hair, hazel eyes. “Operation scar on stomach 5 ins long”
Body identified by brother, George Barned, of 11 Basilon Road Bexleyheath
Sundries/personal effects – 1 slip, 1 combinations, 1 ring third finger left hand.
Buried October 18th Bexleyheath Cemetery.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorials, please get in touch. Thank you.
Commemorated
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to Lilian Jane Payne, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.