1941 Old Palace School bombing

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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 Poplar, London 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. [1] [2] [3]

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 1941 [4]
RankNameStationAgeHome address
FiremanPercy Charles AitchisonAFS Beckenham27Copse Avenue, West Wickham, Kent
FiremanRonald Mark BaileyAFS Beckenham25Links Road, Tooting, Surrey
FiremanAlan Charles BarberAFS Beckenham26Fairford Close, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey
FiremanEarnest Reginald BeadleAFS Beckenham32Birkbeck Road, Beckenham, Kent
FiremanKenneth John BowlesAFS Beckenham30Beckenham Road, West Wickham, Kent
FiremanJohn Coleman BarrellAFS London35North Street, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
FiremanPatrick Joseph CampbellAFS London31Bannister House, Homerton, London
FiremanHarry John CardenAFS Beckenham29Mounthurst Road, Hayes, Bromley, Kent
FiremanRobert John DeansAFS Beckenham28The Grove, West Wickham, Kent
Firewoman (Telephonist)Hilda DupreeAFS London21Warwick Road, Walthamstow, Essex
FiremanFrank James EndeanAFS Beckenham36Aviemore Way, Beckenham, Kent
FiremanCecil FarleyAFS Beckenham43Linden Leas, West Wickham, Kent
FiremanGeorge John Joseph HallAFS Beckenham30Warwick Road, Anerley, Kent
MessengerBertie James Frederick HarrisAFS London17Brabazon Street, Poplar, London
FiremanLeslie Thomas HealeyAFS Beckenham32Greenview Avenue, Shirley, Surrey
Despatch RiderErnest Herbert HenlyAFS London19Grange Cottage, Silver Street, Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire
FiremanSydney Bartholomew JonesAFS London31Harrogate Road, Hackney, London
FiremanAlbert Victor KiteAFS Beckenham36Village Way, Beckenham, Kent
FiremanJohn Francis MeadAFS London29Christie Road, Hackney, London
FiremanVernon Joseph MiddleditchAFS London31Hunters Lane, Darlington, County Durham
FiremanAlfred Edward MinterAFS Beckenham46Aylesford Avenue, Beckenham, Kent
FiremanNorman Richard Charles MountjoyAFS Beckenham30Ash Grove, West Wickham, Kent
FiremanFrederick George ParcellAFS Beckenham32Love Lane, South Norwood, Surrey
FiremanMartin Charles ParfettAFS Beckenham31Pickhurst Rise, West Wickham, Kent
FirewomanWinifred Alexandra PetersLondon Fire Brigade39Canton Street, Poplar, London
FiremanWilliam Charles PlantAFS Beckenham26Sultan Street, Beckenham, Kent
FiremanCyril Bertram PorterAFS London31Clinton Road, Forest Gate, Essex
FiremanWilliam Thomas RashbrookAFS London36Chatsworth Road, Clapton, London
Leading FiremanLeonard RootsAFS Beckenham31Avenue Court, Avenue Road, Anerley, Kent
FiremanAlbert Alfred SavilleAFS London35Harrowgate Road, Hackney, London
Station OfficerRichard William SinstadtLondon Fire Brigade46Beccles Drive, Barking, Essex
FiremanEdgar William VickAFS London38Eden Way, Beckenham, Kent
Leading FiremanWalter John WoodlandAFS Beckenham41Links Way, Eden Park, Beckenham, Kent.
Leading FiremanHerbert Charles WottonAFS Beckenham30Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham, Kent

See also

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References

  1. "Old Palace School, Auxiliary fire service sub station, London, 19th April 1941". Fire Brigades Union. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  2. "Air Raiders' Severe Attack". East London Advertiser. 26 April 1941. p. 1. Firemen killed when sub-station was hit
  3. "Ten Die In Bombed A.F.S. Post". The Daily Mirror. 21 April 1941. A school used as an A.F.S. station was split in half by a heavy bomb. Already six firemen, two telephonists and two young messenger boys have been extricated - dead.
  4. "In Loving Memory - Old Palace School Bombing". Old Palace School Bombing. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2022.