AFS Wandsworth - West Hill, Wandsworth, London, UK
N 51° 27.401 W 000° 12.078
30U E 694432 N 5704327
This memorial to six firefighters, who died whilst on duty in 1940, stands outside Wandsworth Fire Station on the south side of West Hill in Wandsworth, London. There is also a plaque on the fire station wall.
Waymark Code: WMJK1Q
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/27/2013
Views: 4
The plaque on the wall of the fire station gives a bit
more dtail about the six fire fighters that lost their lives on the night of
16th/17th November 1940. It reads:
AFS
London
In memory of six members
of the London Auxilliary Fire Service
who died on this site as a result of enemy action
on the night of 16th/17th November 1940
when the old Wandsworth Fire Station received
a direct hit from a high-explosive bomb.
Fm Cecil Robert Andreazzi
Fm William George Brum
Fm Leslie Walter Isaacs
Fm Albert Arthur Turner
Despatch Rider Derek Edward Aust
Company Officer AFS William Beard
Next to the stone memorial that is a glazed cabinet that
tells us:
The memorial stones outside this
station were placed here by the Wandsworth Fire Service Old Comrades
Association in commemoration of their colleagues who have been killed whilst
on duty. Six wartime fire-fighters were killed when the old Wandsworth Fire
Station was destroyed by enemy action during the Second World War. The
incident occurred on the night of 16th November 1940 during a heavy air
raid. Both appliances, pump-escape and pump, were in the station awaiting
deployment and their crews were resting, mainly in the basement of the
building. Also in the basement was the Control Room staffed largely by
female personnel, and other off-duty and administrative staff were sleeping
in various positions offering shelter.
On the ground floor, the Station Watch-Room was manned by Watch-Room
Attendants W. Brum and L. Isaacs. Also present with them was Company Officer
Beard who had just returned from visiting local Sub-Stations.
On the other side of the Appliance Room was the Recreation Room and here
were resting Firemen A. Turner and L. Aylett; Leading Fireman Despatch Rider
C. Andreazzi and Junior Despatch Riders D. Aust and E. Bowler.
The station was hit by an oil-bomb and was immediately well alight. The
Recreation Room side collapsed completely but the only personnel on this
side of the building were the five men referred to. Of these, Fireman
Turner, Ldg Fm D/R Andreazzi and Junior D/R Aust were killed if not by the
explosion then by falling masonry. Fm Aylett and Junior D/R Bowler were
shielded by the snooker table under which they were sleeping. This partially
collapsed but the strong legs and slate top, although broken, protected them
from the debris and despite being trapped they sustained comparatively minor
injuries. Meanwhile in the Watch Room, the two W/A’s and Coy Off Beard were
killed, probably by the explosion, and that part of the station and the
appliances were burning.
The personnel in the basement were able to escape into the station yard
through a hatchway constructed for such a purpose. Assistance was quickly
forthcoming as pumps from Battersea were already on their way to stand-by at
Wandsworth when the incident took place. They got to work on the fire and
rescue operations commenced as soon as it was known that there were
survivors in the debris. The first man to be reached was Fm Aylett, and when
extricated he was able to tell the location of each of the other men in the
Recreation Room. D.R Bowler was next released and both were removed to
hospital.
In due course, six bodies were recovered from the building. The area where
the memorial fountain now stands is actually the site of the Watch Room of
the old station.
Memorial Website: [Web Link]
Physical address: Wansworth Fire Station West Hill London, United Kingdom
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