In Memory of the 34 Firefighters who lost their life at the Old Palace School
We finish where it all started, with the lady that made this whole project possible, my Great Aunt, Winifred Alexandra Wootton. This is the 34th and final biography of all the 34 firemen and firewomen who tragically lost their lives on that fateful night of April 20th 1941. Here is Aunt Win's story. Killed in … Continue reading AFS Firewoman Winifred Alexandra Peters
Killed in the Line of Duty............... For many families, becoming a Fireman is in their blood! Some families have a history and connection to the 'Fire Brigade Family' and for them it's their passage of rite. It's easy to see how firefighting runs in families, once one person gets the fever, it's infectious and that … Continue reading Station Officer Richard William Sinstadt
Killed in the Line of Duty.......... The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman Frederick George Parcell has been carried out by researchers Cristina and Carolyn Woodruff. Frederick George Parcell was born on 26 June 1908 in Norwood, Surrey, the third oldest of seven children of Bertie James Parcell and Catherine Mary … Continue reading AFS Fireman Frederick George Parcell
Killed in the Line of Duty........ The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman Richard Albert Victor Kite has been carried out by researcher Fiona Smith. The Kite family were another one of those families that seemed to suffer more than their fair share of tragedy, far too many members of the … Continue reading AFS Fireman Albert Victor Kite
Killed in the Line of Duty............... The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman Robert John Deans has been carried out by researcher Fiona Smith. Auxiliary Fireman Robert John Deans was born on 8 January 1913 in West Ham, London, the ninth of the eleven children of Thomas Bell Deans (1868-1927) and … Continue reading AFS Fireman Robert John Deans
Killed in the Line of Duty............. The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman Cecil Farley has been carried out by researcher Fiona Smith. Cecil's story was the most complex of all the 34 firefighters stories to research, as each layer was unpeeled it revealed behind it layer after layer and this … Continue reading AFS Fireman Cecil Farley
Killed in the Line of Duty………. The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman Henry John Clifford Carden has been carried out by researchers Fiona Smith and Kelly Cornwell. Harry's story is one of those that leaves only a tiny footprint in the records and it has been difficult to piece together … Continue reading AFS Fireman Henry (Harry) John Clifford Carden
Killed in the Line of Duty………. The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman Bertie James Frederick Harris has been carried out by researchers Fiona Smith and Stacy Hawks. Of all the biographies on this website, Bertie's is one of the most poignant, his was the youngest life taken at the Old … Continue reading AFS Messenger Bertie James Frederick Harris
Killed in the Line of Duty.......... The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman Percy Charles Aitchison has been carried out by researcher Fiona Smith. Percy Charles Aitchison was the youngest of three boys born to Robert Imrie Aitchison and his wife Eugenie. He was born on the 2nd February 1914 and … Continue reading AFS Fireman Percy Charles Aitchison
Killed in the Line of Duty............. The following extremely detailed research into the life of AFS Fireman John Francis Mead has been carried out by researcher Mark Doggart. John Francis Mead was born in Hackney on 17th of April 1912, the son of Octavius Myhill Mead, an upholsterer, and Emma Bacon. He was baptised on … Continue reading AFS Fireman John Francis Mead
Old Palace School Bombing 