Gillingham Fair fire disaster
Encyclopedia
The Gillingham Fair fire disaster (also known as the Fireman's Wedding disaster) took place on 11 July 1929 in Gillingham, Kent
, England
, when a firefighting demonstration went wrong, and resulted in the deaths of 15 men and boys.
was organized in Gillingham Park to raise funds for the local St Bartholomew's Hospital. The traditional highlight of the event, which took place at the end of the festivities, was a demonstration of firefighting and rescue by the Gillingham Fire Brigade.
Each year, a house of wood and canvas, three stories and 40 feet high, was constructed in the park. The structure was the venue for a mock wedding reception
at which two firemen, costumed as a bride and groom, would be entertaining their "guests" (other firemen, and boys recruited from local naval cadet and sea scout
groups) when a fire broke out, necessitating the rescue of the occupants from the upper levels of the building. In reality, flare
s and smoke bombs were used to give the illusion of the structure being ablaze; only after everybody had been "rescued" from the building was a real fire set, to enable the fire brigade to demonstrate their firefighting skills.
The fire was extinguished within a few minutes, but had been of such intensity that 13 people died at the scene. Two victims were rescued alive, but both died of their injuries in hospital, bringing the final death toll to 15. Ironically, the two initial survivors would die in the very hospital, St Bartholomew's, for which they had been intending to raise funds. The funerals of those who died were held on Wednesday 17 July; all shops in Gillingham remained closed on that day and thousands of people lined the two mile funeral
route.
Gillingham, Kent
Gillingham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. The town includes the settlements of Brompton, Hempstead, Rainham, Rainham Mark and Twydall....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, when a firefighting demonstration went wrong, and resulted in the deaths of 15 men and boys.
Background
Each summer in the 1920s, a fairFair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
was organized in Gillingham Park to raise funds for the local St Bartholomew's Hospital. The traditional highlight of the event, which took place at the end of the festivities, was a demonstration of firefighting and rescue by the Gillingham Fire Brigade.
Each year, a house of wood and canvas, three stories and 40 feet high, was constructed in the park. The structure was the venue for a mock wedding reception
Wedding reception
A wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage ceremony. It is held usually as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receives society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts...
at which two firemen, costumed as a bride and groom, would be entertaining their "guests" (other firemen, and boys recruited from local naval cadet and sea scout
Sea Scout
Sea Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement, with a particular emphasis on water-based activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and rowing. Depending on the country and the available water these activities are on lakes, rivers or sea in small or large ships. Sea Scouting...
groups) when a fire broke out, necessitating the rescue of the occupants from the upper levels of the building. In reality, flare
Flare (pyrotechnic)
A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications...
s and smoke bombs were used to give the illusion of the structure being ablaze; only after everybody had been "rescued" from the building was a real fire set, to enable the fire brigade to demonstrate their firefighting skills.
Disaster
Six men and nine boys between the ages of 10 and 14 had entered the house ready to enact their staged rescue when, for reasons which are unclear, the real fire was ignited prematurely in error, with disastrous consequences. Flames instantly took hold and spread the full height of the structure, trapping all the occupants inside the burning building. The firefighters were immediately aware that they were now dealing with a genuine emergency rather than a demonstration, but initially most spectators did not realize anything was amiss, taking the cries for help they heard to be part of the performance, and reportedly cheering and applauding what they believed to be realistic and spectacular effects, until they witnessed two boys with their clothing ablaze jump to their deaths from the top of the structure.The fire was extinguished within a few minutes, but had been of such intensity that 13 people died at the scene. Two victims were rescued alive, but both died of their injuries in hospital, bringing the final death toll to 15. Ironically, the two initial survivors would die in the very hospital, St Bartholomew's, for which they had been intending to raise funds. The funerals of those who died were held on Wednesday 17 July; all shops in Gillingham remained closed on that day and thousands of people lined the two mile funeral
route.
Children
- Scout Reginald Henry Lewis Barrett (13)
- Cadet David Stanley Brunning (12)
- Cadet Eric Edward Cheesman (12)
- Leslie George Neale (13)
- Cadet Leonard Charles Searles (10)
- Cadet Ivor Douglas Weston Sinden (11)
- Scout William Herbert Jack Spinks (13)
- Robert Dennis Usher (14)
- Scout Leonard Gordon Winn (13)
Men
- Fireman Francis Bull Cokayne (52)
- Royal Marine and former Fireman (Ronald) Royal George Mitchell (37)
- Fireman Albert Joseph Nicholls (56)
- Petty Officer John Thomas Nutton (37)
- Fireman Arthur John Tabrett (40)
- Frederick Arthur Worrall (30)