The Old Palace School Bombing on 20 April 1941 caused the largest single loss of life of firefighters in the history of the United Kingdom.
The Old Palace School in the Poplar area of the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar was being used as an Auxiliary Fire Service sub-station during The Blitz of World War II. 34 firefighters, 21 of whom had been sent from Beckenham in southeast London to assist their colleagues in east London, were present in the station when it was hit by a parachute mine. All 34 men and women were killed and the school was destroyed.
Lansbury Lawrence Primary School was built on the site of the Old Palace School. The bombing is commemorated by a plaque on the school grounds inscribed with the following words. In memory of the 13 London firemen and women and 21 Beckenham firemen killed on the night of 19th April 1941 when a bomb destroyed the old school being used as a sub-fire station. This is the largest single loss of Fire Brigade personnel in English history. Details of this tragic incident were recorded in the wartime diaries of Mr W. Somerville, an off duty member of the Homerton crew. It is to him and the many thousands of men and women that made up the A.F.S. and N.F.S. 1939-1945 that this plaque is also dedicated. +List of firefighters killed in the Old Palace School Bombing on 20 April 1941RankNameStationAgeHome addressFiremanPercy Charles AitchisonAFS Beckenham27Copse Avenue, West Wickham, KentFiremanRonald Mark BaileyAFS Beckenham25Links Road, Tooting, SurreyFiremanAlan Charles BarberAFS Beckenham26Fairford Close, Shirley, Croydon, SurreyFiremanEarnest Reginald BeadleAFS Beckenham32Birkbeck Road, Beckenham, KentFiremanKenneth John BowlesAFS Beckenham30Beckenham Road, West Wickham, KentFiremanJohn Coleman BarrellAFS London35North Street, Leigh-on-Sea, EssexFiremanPatrick Joseph CampbellAFS London31Bannister House, Homerton, LondonFiremanHarry John CardenAFS Beckenham29Mounthurst Road, Hayes, Bromley, KentFiremanRobert John DeansAFS Beckenham28The Grove, West Wickham, KentFirewoman (Telephonist)Hilda DupreeAFS London21Warwick Road, Walthamstow, EssexFiremanFrank James EndeanAFS Beckenham36Aviemore Way, Beckenham, KentFiremanCecil FarleyAFS Beckenham43Linden Leas, West Wickham, KentFiremanGeorge John Joseph HallAFS Beckenham30Warwick Road, Anerley, KentMessengerBertie James Frederick HarrisAFS London17Brabazon Street, Poplar, LondonFiremanLeslie Thomas HealeyAFS Beckenham32Greenview Avenue, Shirley, SurreyDespatch RiderErnest Herbert HenlyAFS London19Grange Cottage, Silver Street, Kington Langley, Chippenham, WiltshireFiremanSydney Bartholomew JonesAFS London31Harrogate Road, Hackney, LondonFiremanAlbert Victor KiteAFS Beckenham36Village Way, Beckenham, KentFiremanJohn Francis MeadAFS London29Christie Road, Hackney, LondonFiremanVernon Joseph MiddleditchAFS London31Hunters Lane, Darlington, County DurhamFiremanAlfred Edward MinterAFS Beckenham46Aylesford Avenue, Beckenham, KentFiremanNorman Richard Charles MountjoyAFS Beckenham30Ash Grove, West Wickham, KentFiremanFrederick George ParcellAFS Beckenham32Love Lane, South Norwood, SurreyFiremanMartin Charles ParfettAFS Beckenham31Pickhurst Rise, West Wickham, KentFirewomanWinifred Alexandra PetersLondon Fire Brigade39Canton Street, Poplar, LondonFiremanWilliam Charles PlantAFS Beckenham26Sultan Street, Beckenham, KentFiremanCyril Bertram PorterAFS London31Clinton Road, Forest Gate, EssexFiremanWilliam Thomas RashbrookAFS London36Chatsworth Road, Clapton, LondonLeading FiremanLeonard RootsAFS Beckenham31Avenue Court, Avenue Road, Anerley, KentFiremanAlbert Alfred SavilleAFS London35Harrowgate Road, Hackney, LondonStation OfficerRichard William SinstadtLondon Fire Brigade46Beccles Drive, Barking, EssexFiremanEdgar William VickAFS London38Eden Way, Beckenham, KentLeading FiremanWalter John WoodlandAFS Beckenham41Links Way, Eden Park, Beckenham, Kent.Leading FiremanHerbert Charles WottonAFS Beckenham30Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham, Kent
See also Fire services in the United Kingdom List of British firefighters killed in the line of duty
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