In Memory of the 34 Firefighters who lost their life at the Old Palace School
Killed in the Line of Duty.............. This is the story of Norman Richard Charles Mountjoy a man who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of his Country. A man who volunteered when our Country needed it most and a man who was a lifelong friend and companion to his fellow AFS Volunteer Ernest Reginald … Continue reading AFS Fireman Norman Richard Charles Mountjoy
Killed in the Line of Duty........... John Coleman Barrell was one of the most difficult stories to both trace and determine, John and his family left behind a difficult trail to follow and the breadcrumbs were not always the easiest to find. For some reason he interchanged the spelling of his surname between Barrell and … Continue reading AFS Fireman John Coleman Barrell
Killed in the Line of Duty................ A quiet and unassuming man who was dedicated to his family, a family that was robbed of such a kind and generous man. Sadly the Endean family are another family torn apart by the events of that fateful night of 20th April 1941. Frank James Endean was born on … Continue reading AFS Fireman Frank James Endean
Killed in the Line of Duty................ Another young man cut down in the prime of his life and another young married couple whose future was so cruelly taken away from them on that fateful night in April 1941. The loss of a loved one, husband, son, father, is an immeasurable loss and something that we … Continue reading AFS Fireman Leslie Thomas Healey
Killed in the Line of Duty......... Sadly Cyril Bertram Porter was one of those Firefighters that left very little footprint behind in the actual records, but his loss and the loss to his loved ones would have been felt equally as deep. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for his Country and that sacrifice will always … Continue reading AFS Fireman Cyril Bertram Porter
Killed in the Line of Duty............ My lasting thoughts would be that Patrick Joseph Campbell was a man trying to better himself, a man that was trying to make an honest living and somebody that was always willing to go the extra mile to safeguard his and his families future. A man taken far too … Continue reading AFS Fireman Patrick Joseph Campbell
Killed in the Line of Duty………. This is the story of two young brave men, who befriended each other, enlisted and volunteered to join the AFS together and became connected by marriage, when Ernest's best friend, Norman Richard Charles Mountjoy married Ernest's younger sister Olive Joan Beadle. Two men brought together by their friendship and … Continue reading AFS Fireman Ernest Reginald Beadle
On Saturday 19th April 1997, on the anniversary of the tragic bombing of the Old palace School in Poplar, a Dedication Ceremony took place at the site of the former Old Palace School, St. Leonard's Street, London The Dedication Ceremony Order of Service is shown below and was kindly donated to me by Bryan Wotton, … Continue reading The Dedication Ceremony
Killed in the Line of Duty.......... The more I research the families of the firefighters killed at the Old Palace School, the more I am struck by how much tragedy these families suffered. Not only the deaths of their loved ones on that fateful night in April 1941, but the families also suffered so many … Continue reading AFS Fireman Sidney Bartholomew Jones
Killed in the Line of Duty........... Another life taken far too young and yet another family that were devastated by the tragic events at the Old Palace School in Poplar, on that fateful night in April 1941. Leonard Roots was born on 16th April 1910 in Beckenham in Kent, the youngest of four boys, born … Continue reading AFS Leading Fireman Leonard Roots
Old Palace School Bombing 