Rex Tyler

Benfleet Memories

We have been sent some photos by Mr Rex Tyler, a former resident of Benfleet, who now lives out of the area.

The pictures are from Rex’s childhood and we have a brief description to accompany them.

Mr Ernest John Tyler – War Memorial  – Armistice Day

The first picture shows Mr Ernest John Tyler, Rex’s father.  The second picture was taken at the Benfleet War Memorial on Armistice Day (late 40s early 50s), and Rex’s father is reading out the names of the fallen.


1st & 2nd South Benfleet Sea Scouts, Annual Summer Camp

The last picture on this page is of the 1st & 2nd South Benfleet Sea Scouts. The scouts are setting off for the annual summer camp at Upnor on the River Medway, in 1947 or 1948.

Rex says

“about thirty scouts loaded into a furniture van for the journey to Kent.  There were no health and safety considerations in those days and we all sat on the equipment loaded onto the floor of the van”.


Rex has named those people in the picture that he can remember. In particular he recalls ‘Sonny’ Hurst,  “because my sister Shirley was returning from playing tennis on the recreation ground when she came upon him taking eggs from a bird’s nest.  She was carrying her racket enclosed in a heavy frame secured with large wing nuts. When, upon request, he refused to refrain from taking the eggs, she knocked him out with her racket”.

Mr Ernest J Tyler (Rex Tyler's father)
Rex Tyler
Benfleet War Memorial - Armistice Day late 40s or early 50s
Jackson's Photo Service
1st & 2nd South Benfleet Sea Scouts
Shiner & Holmes

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