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 south London to assist their East End colleagues, 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]
Rank Name Station Age Home address
Fireman Percy Charles Aitchison AFS Beckenham 27 Copse Avenue, West Wickham, Kent
Fireman Ronald Mark Bailey AFS Beckenham 25 Links Road, Tooting, Surrey
Fireman Alan Charles Barber AFS Beckenham 26 Fairford Close, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey
Fireman Earnest Reginald Beadle AFS Beckenham 32 Birkbeck Road, Beckenham, Kent
Fireman Kenneth John Bowles AFS Beckenham 30 Beckenham Road, West Wickham, Kent
Fireman John Coleman Barrell AFS London 35 North Street, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Fireman Patrick Joseph Campbell AFS London 31 Bannister House, Homerton, London
Fireman Harry John Carden AFS Beckenham 29 Mounthurst Road, Hayes, Bromley, Kent
Fireman Robert John Deans AFS Beckenham 28 The Grove, West Wickham, Kent
Firewoman (Telephonist) Hilda Dupree AFS London 21 Warwick Road, Walthamstow, Essex
Fireman Frank James Endean AFS Beckenham 36 Aviemore Way, Beckenham, Kent
Fireman Cecil Farley AFS Beckenham 43 Linden Leas, West Wickham, Kent
Fireman George John Joseph Hall AFS Beckenham 30 Warwick Road, Anerley, Kent
Messenger Bertie James Frederick Harris AFS London 17 Brabazon Street, Poplar, London
Fireman Leslie Thomas Healey AFS Beckenham 32 Greenview Avenue, Shirley, Surrey
Despatch Rider Ernest Herbert Henly AFS London 19 Grange Cottage, Silver Street, Kington Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire
Fireman Sydney Bartholomew Jones AFS London 31 Harrogate Road, Hackney, London
Fireman Albert Victor Kite AFS Beckenham 36 Village Way, Beckenham, Kent
Fireman John Francis Mead AFS London 29 Christie Road, Hackney, London
Fireman Vernon Joseph Middleditch AFS London 31 Hunters Lane, Darlington, County Durham
Fireman Alfred Edward Minter AFS Beckenham 46 Aylesford Avenue, Beckenham, Kent
Fireman Norman Richard Charles Mountjoy AFS Beckenham 30 Ash Grove, West Wickham, Kent
Fireman Frederick George Parcell AFS Beckenham 32 Love Lane, South Norwood, Surrey
Fireman Martin Charles Parfett AFS Beckenham 31 Pickhurst Rise, West Wickham, Kent
Firewoman Winifred Alexandra Peters London Fire Brigade 39 Canton Street, Poplar, London
Fireman William Charles Plant AFS Beckenham 26 Sultan Street, Beckenham, Kent
Fireman Cyril Bertram Porter AFS London 31 Clinton Road, Forest Gate, Essex
Fireman William Thomas Rashbrook AFS London 36 Chatsworth Road, Clapton, London
Leading Fireman Leonard Roots AFS Beckenham 31 Avenue Court, Avenue Road, Anerley, Kent
Fireman Albert Alfred Saville AFS London 35 Harrowgate Road, Hackney, London
Station Officer Richard William Sinstadt London Fire Brigade 46 Beccles Drive, Barking, Essex
Fireman Edgar William Vick AFS London 38 Eden Way, Beckenham, Kent
Leading Fireman Walter John Woodland AFS Beckenham 41 Links Way, Eden Park, Beckenham, Kent.
Leading Fireman Herbert Charles Wotton AFS Beckenham 30 Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham, Kent

See also

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. Retrieved 10 June 2022.

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