Firemen (Firefighters)

[wilkybob]

I have a list I've done as part of my research into firefighters killed in the line of duty, or as a consequence of their duties as a fireman. Around 2,000 on my list.
The list goes back as far as 6th January 1801.
If anyone needs details of any firemen (firefighters) who have died in the past please let me know and I will be happy to forward any details.
Specific names please if possible.

Most have
Name
Brigade Served
Date died
and where/ how killed
Many have addresses
Just let me know and I will do my best.

[Princess Poppy]

Hi,

That is a lovely offer and I'll bear it in mind.  I often write articles about firefighters so you could be a useful contact.  My father was a firefighter but luckily for me, he didn't die during his service.

Cheers, PP

[wilkybob]

Look forward to helping Princess.
It's incidents like the one I've added below that got me started.
You try an internet search and find nothing apart from the mention of a plaque high up a wall were it happened.  
No names or details of those involved. Months of searching the CWWG site and eventually I found everyone. Then it was off to try and find details of almost 2,200 other firemen/firefighters who died as a result of being in that job. (I've now passed the 2,000 mark)

Old Palace L.C.C. School Poplar Bombed
During the war many schools were left empty due to children being evacuated to the country. The Old Palace LCC School in St. Leonards Street, Poplar, was one of these, and was commandeered  war for use as  Sub Fire Station 24U for firefighters of the Auxiliary Fire Service. On the night of Sunday April 20th 1941, Fire Service crews were standing by in anticipation of a heavy raid on the Capital. At precisely 1.53am, a land mine, dropped from a Luftwaffe bomber, scored a direct hit on the school. Thirty two firemen and two fire women were killed.

This was the largest loss of Fire Brigade personnel ever suffered in the history of the service in Britain.


AFS Firewoman (Telephonist) Hilda Dupree – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 21. Of 33 Warwick Road, Walthamstow, Essex.

Firewoman Winifred Alexandra Peters – London Fire Brigade
Died 20th April 1941 aged 39. Of 122 Canton Street

AFS Fireman Percy Charles Aitchison – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 27. Of 20 Copse Avenue, West Wickham, Kent.

AFS Fireman Ronald Mark Bailey – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 25. of 81 Links Road, Tooting.

AFS Fireman Alan Charles Barber – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 26. Of 6 Fairford Close, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey.

AFS Fireman Earnest Reginald Beadle – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 32. Of 211 Birkbeck Road, Beckenham.

AFS Fireman Kenneth John Bowles – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 30. Of 27 Beckenham Road, West Wickham, Kent.

AFS Fireman John Coleman Burrell – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 35. Of 39 North Street, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

AFS Fireman Patrick Joseph Campbell – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 24. Of 39 Bannister House, Homerton

AFS Fireman Harry John Carden – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 29. Of 7 Mounthurst Road, Hayes, Bromley, Kent.

AFS Fireman Robert John Deans – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 28. Of 144 The Grove, West Wickham, Kent.
Killed at Old Palace L.C.C. School, St. Leonards Street, Poplar.

AFS Fireman Frank James Endean – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 36. Of  34 Aviemore Way, Beckenham, Kent.

AFS Fireman Cecil Farley – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 43. Of 5 Linden Leas, West Wickham, Kent.

AFS Fireman George John Joseph Hall – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 43. Of 44 Warwick Road, Anerley, Kent.

AFS Messenger Bertie James Frederick Harris – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 17. Of 31 Brabazon Street,

AFS Fireman Leslie Thomas Healey– AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 32. Of 15 Greenview Avenue, Shirley, Surrey.

AFS Despatch Rider Ernest Herbert Henly _ AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 19. Of 2 Grange Cottage, Silver Street, Kinton Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire.

AFS Fireman Sydney Bartholomew Jones – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 31. Of 54 Harrogate Road, Hackney.

AFS Fireman Albert Victor Kite – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 36. Of 166 Village Way, Beckenham, Kent.

AFS Fireman John Francis Mead– AFS
Died 20th April 1941 aged 29. Of 39 Christie Road, Hackney.

AFS Fireman Vernon Joseph Middleditch – AFS
Died 20th April 1941 aged 31. Of 220 Hunders Lane, Darlington, Co. Durham.

AFS Fireman Alfred Edward Minter – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 46. Of 48 Aylesford Avenue, Beckenham, Kent.

AFS Fireman Norman Richard Charles Mountjoy – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 30. Of 11 Ash Grove, West Wickham, Kent

AFS Fireman Frederick George Parcell – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 32. Of 28 Love Lane, South Norwood, Surrey.

AFS Fireman Martin Charles Parfett – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 31. Of 296 Pickhurst Rise, West Wickham, Kent.

AFS Fireman William Charles Plant – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 26. Of 22 Sultan Street, Beckenham, Kent.

AFS Fireman Cyril Bertram Porter – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 31. Of 31 Clinton Road, Forest Gate, Essex.

AFS Fireman William Thomas Rashbrook – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 31. Of 133 Chatsworth Road, Clapton.

AFS Leading Fireman Leonard Roots – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 31. Of 10 Avenue Court, Avenue Road, Anerley, Kent.

AFS Fireman Albert Alfred Saville – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 35. Of 54 Harrowgate Road, Hackney.

Station Officer Richard William Sinstadt – London Fire Brigade
Died 20th April 1941 aged 46. Of 74 Beccles Drive, Barking, Essex.

AFS Fireman Edgar William Vick – AFS London
Died 20th April 1941 aged 38. Of 234 Eden Way, Beckenham, Kent.

AFS Leading Fireman Walter John Woodland – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 41. Of 68 Links Way, Eden Park, Beckenham, Kent.

AFS Leading Fireman Herbert Charles Wotton – AFS Beckenham
Died 20th April 1941 aged 30. Of 78 Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham, Kent.

[Princess Poppy]

Wilkybob,

Yes, I had heard about this incident and strangely enough, my father served as a Fireman in the Poplar area during WW2 at Burdett Road and Brunswick Road.

Would you mind PMing me your email address? It would be good to have you as a contact in my email address book where I can find you.  Good to know you are around.  I wrote an article about Firefighters in Your Family Tree Magazine not so long ago and mentioned the Firefighter's Memorial in London.

Cheers, PP

[Meliora]

hello, Princess Poppy & Wilkybob,

Forgive my joining in but I think that is a very worthwhile project, Wilkybob, firemen & women killed in the line of duty but have either of you come across as info. on the London Salvage Corps. ?

They were formed in the late 1800s in association with the Fire Brigade of the time, their job, as the name implies, was to enter burning pemises to salvage what goods they could.  They had the same uniform, fire appliances, & their own fire stations.  Their headquarters were in Watling St. City of London, a relation of mine by marriage was Station Officer of the Upper St , Islington,  Station.  I remember being taken to the station as, in the 1930s, they lived in the station, & I was allowed to clang the big brass bell on the engine.

I have looked at the records for the Corps which are in the Guildhall Library.

Meliora

[Princess Poppy]

Hi Meliora,

Don't apologise for joining in - that's what a forum is for and it's good to hear your comments. 

I don't know about WilkyBob but I hadn't heard of the London Salvage Corps but I bet my father was familiar with them.  Very interesting and if I write any further articles I'll give them a mention. 

Cheers, PP

[Meliora]

Hi, PP,

The usual reaction from people when I mention the Salvage Corps is "the What ?" as nobody ever seems to have heard of them.    I believe, when they were first formed, in the middle to late 1800s, they were sponsored by several London Insurance companies, as, indeed, the Fire Brigade was. In the event of a fire, people had to read the large enamel sign erected on the side of the building to see just which firemen they had to call to deal with the fire.  It was understandable the Insurance Companies wanted as many goods as possible pulled outof the burning buildings & warehouses in the docks to reduce any insurance claims.

My relation, an uncle by marriage, was in the Navy as a boy aged 19 & took place in the 2 relief attempts on Peking in the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1890 & 1900. & when he left the Navy in 1901 joined the London Salvage Corps.  It was well known that ex Navy men were more than welcome in their ranks. I think the Corps was disbanded in the 1940s.

Have a look at Google, there are several sites for the Corps
Try this one for a photo.

http://www.chrishodgephotos.co.uk/pixcma2/lccfire03.jpg

Meliora

[Princess Poppy]

Hi Meliora,

Nice photo.  Probably why many people aren't familiar with the London Salvage Corps is that if anyone saw this photo, they would just think they were firefighters because they look identical.

Yes, ex-naval men were always favoured candidates for Firemen because they were used to working at night, disciplined, used to being on watch and used to heights (amongst other fine qualities).

Yes, the marks you spoke of are firemarks and were placed in a prominent position on buildings so that the insurance company firefighters would know which insurance fire brigade was responsible for putting out the flames.  There was quite a bit of rivalry between these various insurance firefighting brigades - thankfully we have a united firefighting force nowadays. 

Thanks for your enlightening information on the London Salvage Corps.

Cheers, PP

[wilkybob]

Hi to Meliora as well
The salvage corp did a great job, the were disbanded during the late 1980s in London. I was a fireman in London for 20 years and when they were disbanded, to rub salt into the wound, all firefighters were sent to the Salvage Corp HQ to be trained by them to supposedly do their job. It was a 2 day course 
As you say, they were paid for by insurance comanies and the idea was they would save insurance companies money by saving goods from damage. good for the large warehouses in the past in London, but not thought worthwhile in modern days. I can assure you they were missed when they were gone.
I've included Salvagemen alongside firemen in my research as they worked (and often Died) alongside firemen doing a very similar thing. Only they saved property, while firemen saved lives as well.

Salvagemen alongside firemen were lost in the 1960s in Glasgow, The Glasgow Salvage Corp was disbanded on the 1st of April 1984, see incident below

The Glasgow Whisky Bond Fire, Cheapside Street, Anderston, Glasgow
The firemen who died at Arbuckle, Smith & Co’s whisky bond warehouse in Cheapside Street, Anderston, Glasgow, were killed when a massive explosion blew out the whole side of the building, propelling hundreds of tons of masonry onto the men below. Three fire appliances were buried under the rubble in what became Britain’s worst peacetime fire service disaster. The fire was in a warehouse that was housing in excess of a million gallons of whisky and rum under one roof.

Fireman John Allen – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960.

Fireman Christopher Boyle - Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960.

Sub Officer James Calder – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960

Fireman Gordon Chapman – Strathclyde Fire Brigade
Died 28th March 1960

Fireman William Crockett – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960

Fireman Archibald Darrock – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960

Fireman Daniel Davidson – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960

Fireman Alfred Dickinson – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th march 1960

Fireman Alexander Grassie – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960

Salvageman Gordon McMillan – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960.

Fireman Ian McMillan – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960.

Fireman George McIntyre – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960.

Sub Officer John McPherson – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960.

Leading Salvageman James McLellen – Glasgow Salvage Corps
Died 28th March 1960.

Fireman Edward McMillan – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th March 1960.

Salvageman James Mungall – Glasgow Salvage Corps
Died 28th march 1960.

Superintendent Edward Murray Glasgow Salvage Corps
Died 28th march 1960.

Salvageman William Oliver – Glasgow Salvage corps
Died 28th march 1960.

Fireman William Watson – Glasgow Fire Service
Died 28th march 1960.