The Fireman's Wedding Disaster
Construction of the mock house
The venue for the sad and tragic event you are going to read about here was Gillingham Park, Gillingham, Kent, England. For many years the highlight of the summer for local residents was the annual summer fete. Lasting for a couple of days, it also acted as an important fund raiser for the local hospital, St. Bartholomew's. On the last day of the fete the local fire brigade would enact a wedding ceremony with two firemen dressed as a bride and groom. They would have fun mingling with the crowds for the day, collecting donations for the hospital and in the evening they, along with other "guests" would retire back to their home for their "wedding reception". The guests were comprised mostly of young Naval Cadets, Sea Scouts and some firemen. The "house" was a simple mock up with three stories lashed together using timbers and a canvas tarpaulin for walls.
The grand finale of the fete was a demonstration of the prowess and skills of the fire brigade as they rescued all of the guests from the house after it mysteriously catches fire. Safety equipment such as hooks and slings were placed in strategic locations and a fireman was charged with the task of lighting smoke fires to simulate the fire. He would then make his way to the top of the building and sound the alarm to signal the rescue. The boys would wave their hands and cry for help. The escape equipment would be released and the fire brigade, waiting near by would rush in from both the front and rear of the building to rescue the occupants. Once the house was safely emptied of its guests, flammable substances already in place on the first floor would be lit. In an exciting and well anticipated finale the house would go up in flames for real.
On Thursday, the 11th of July 1929, this well-rehearsed demonstration went tragically wrong. Inexplicably the fire had began on the first floor. The fire fiercely shot upwards blocking all the exits and trapping the occupants inside - nine of them children, young boys between the ages of ten and fourteen. At the first sight of the flames, the spectators, not realizing the fire was real, laughed and applauded as the boys cried out desperately for their lives. The fire brigade realizing at once the fire was real leapt into action. The crowd applauded more, still thinking this was part of the show. Little six year old Molly Cheesman, sister of Eric Edward Cheesman - a Naval Cadet inside the house, and her mother Elizabeth were in the crowd. It was Molly's frantic and desperate screams which first alerted spectators that something had gone horribly wrong. "Eric's burning, Eric's burning" was her cry heard above the crowd's sounds of merriment. Others in the crowd only realized the horror unfolding in front of them when they saw figures leaping from the building in flames. A search light was shone onto the building and by its light the people saw two of the boys leap from the building. Eye-witnesses, even forty years later, vividly recall the horrific sight of a burned body of a boy half hanging over the edge of the roof, illuminated by the search light. Many relatives of the victims were present in the crowd and could only helpless watch as their love ones perished in this terrible inferno.
Mrs. Olive Searles saw her ten year old son Leonard throw up his arms and die amid the flames. "I know he's gone, I know he's gone" were her cries. Mrs. Mable Mitchell and her five year old daughter Vera both witnessed Vera's father Royal jump from the burning structure in flames and run, burning, to a trough of water and plunge into it. He died an agonizing thirty hours later in hospital, Mable never leaving his side. Mrs. Lottie Brunning watched as her only child, twelve year old David perished in the fire. Mrs. Sindon, a widow, watched as her son, eleven year old Ivor, frantically screamed for help before slipping back into the fire which claimed his life. Gordon Winn raced to the park upon hearing that his thirteen year old son Leonard had been injured. "I raced to the scene of the fete in my car. My little boy, his clothes burnt and still smoldering, lay on the ground. The poor little fellow could hardly see. He was terribly burned. I lifted him gently and placed him in my car, then raced along the road to the hospital. All through the night I sat by his bed side. He was so brave - oh so brave." In agony and blinded by his burns Leonard asked his father to sit on his bed beside him. This heroic and brave little boy could only think of the others. "Daddy, how are the other boys" he asked "Did they get away?" Concern for the other boys would occupy his thoughts right up until the moment of his death the following morning at 4:45 am.
Fireman John Tabrett who had participated in the event, ran back inside the burning structure in a futile effort to save the victims. In the words of Chief Officer Frederick White, Fireman Frances Bull Cokayne could have saved himself, but he considered it his duty to try and save those trapped. These two heroic and brave firemen, without a single thought to their own safety, tragically gave up their lives for the others trapped in the structure. Fireman Cokayne was seen jumping from the burning structure with a boy tucked under each arm. In his dying words, Leonard Winn told his father that he was on the top of the dummy house with Fireman Cokayne when the fire engulfed the structure. He stated that the heat was terrible and that it was impossible to descend the structure.
Despite the valiant and heroic efforts of the fire brigade, police, St John Ambulance and many others who were present, all fifteen people including the nine children, who had participated in the demonstration perished in the fire - burned alive in front of a crowd of hundreds of spectators which included many of their family members. The few that initially survived the fire would sadly succumb to their injuries soon after.
The grand finale of the fete was a demonstration of the prowess and skills of the fire brigade as they rescued all of the guests from the house after it mysteriously catches fire. Safety equipment such as hooks and slings were placed in strategic locations and a fireman was charged with the task of lighting smoke fires to simulate the fire. He would then make his way to the top of the building and sound the alarm to signal the rescue. The boys would wave their hands and cry for help. The escape equipment would be released and the fire brigade, waiting near by would rush in from both the front and rear of the building to rescue the occupants. Once the house was safely emptied of its guests, flammable substances already in place on the first floor would be lit. In an exciting and well anticipated finale the house would go up in flames for real.
On Thursday, the 11th of July 1929, this well-rehearsed demonstration went tragically wrong. Inexplicably the fire had began on the first floor. The fire fiercely shot upwards blocking all the exits and trapping the occupants inside - nine of them children, young boys between the ages of ten and fourteen. At the first sight of the flames, the spectators, not realizing the fire was real, laughed and applauded as the boys cried out desperately for their lives. The fire brigade realizing at once the fire was real leapt into action. The crowd applauded more, still thinking this was part of the show. Little six year old Molly Cheesman, sister of Eric Edward Cheesman - a Naval Cadet inside the house, and her mother Elizabeth were in the crowd. It was Molly's frantic and desperate screams which first alerted spectators that something had gone horribly wrong. "Eric's burning, Eric's burning" was her cry heard above the crowd's sounds of merriment. Others in the crowd only realized the horror unfolding in front of them when they saw figures leaping from the building in flames. A search light was shone onto the building and by its light the people saw two of the boys leap from the building. Eye-witnesses, even forty years later, vividly recall the horrific sight of a burned body of a boy half hanging over the edge of the roof, illuminated by the search light. Many relatives of the victims were present in the crowd and could only helpless watch as their love ones perished in this terrible inferno.
Mrs. Olive Searles saw her ten year old son Leonard throw up his arms and die amid the flames. "I know he's gone, I know he's gone" were her cries. Mrs. Mable Mitchell and her five year old daughter Vera both witnessed Vera's father Royal jump from the burning structure in flames and run, burning, to a trough of water and plunge into it. He died an agonizing thirty hours later in hospital, Mable never leaving his side. Mrs. Lottie Brunning watched as her only child, twelve year old David perished in the fire. Mrs. Sindon, a widow, watched as her son, eleven year old Ivor, frantically screamed for help before slipping back into the fire which claimed his life. Gordon Winn raced to the park upon hearing that his thirteen year old son Leonard had been injured. "I raced to the scene of the fete in my car. My little boy, his clothes burnt and still smoldering, lay on the ground. The poor little fellow could hardly see. He was terribly burned. I lifted him gently and placed him in my car, then raced along the road to the hospital. All through the night I sat by his bed side. He was so brave - oh so brave." In agony and blinded by his burns Leonard asked his father to sit on his bed beside him. This heroic and brave little boy could only think of the others. "Daddy, how are the other boys" he asked "Did they get away?" Concern for the other boys would occupy his thoughts right up until the moment of his death the following morning at 4:45 am.
Fireman John Tabrett who had participated in the event, ran back inside the burning structure in a futile effort to save the victims. In the words of Chief Officer Frederick White, Fireman Frances Bull Cokayne could have saved himself, but he considered it his duty to try and save those trapped. These two heroic and brave firemen, without a single thought to their own safety, tragically gave up their lives for the others trapped in the structure. Fireman Cokayne was seen jumping from the burning structure with a boy tucked under each arm. In his dying words, Leonard Winn told his father that he was on the top of the dummy house with Fireman Cokayne when the fire engulfed the structure. He stated that the heat was terrible and that it was impossible to descend the structure.
Despite the valiant and heroic efforts of the fire brigade, police, St John Ambulance and many others who were present, all fifteen people including the nine children, who had participated in the demonstration perished in the fire - burned alive in front of a crowd of hundreds of spectators which included many of their family members. The few that initially survived the fire would sadly succumb to their injuries soon after.
This photo is of the actual Gillingham building, still smoldering. With respect, for the 90th Anniversary of this fire, Lori Oschefski has now released the photo through Kent newspaper reporter Peter Cook. The photo was purchased by Ms. Oschefski through an United States auction of vintage photos. In Nottingham Evening Post 12 July 1920, Leonard Winn's father stated that in his son dying words, Leonard stated he was at the top of this structure with Fireman Cockayne when this structure was engulfed in flames.
Mr. Cook's article can be viewed here:
Gillingham Park Firemen's Wedding tragedy anniversary
Mr. Cook's article can be viewed here:
Gillingham Park Firemen's Wedding tragedy anniversary
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The picture above is a burning dummy house demonstration in Battersea Park.
To the left is a burning dummy house demonstration in London. From the Derby Daily Telegraph July 12, 1929 |
The Victims of the Gillingham Fire Demonstration
The 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 & Scout Ivor Douglas Weston Sinden (11)
Scout William Herbert Jack Spinks (13)
Robert Dennis Usher (14)
Scout Leonard Gordon Winn (13)
The Men
Fireman Francis Bull Cokayne (52)
Royal George Mitchell (37)
Fireman Albert Joseph Nicholls (56)
Fireman Arthur John Tabrett (45)
Petty Officer John Thomas Nutton (37)
Frederick Arthur Worrall (30)
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This drawing of David Stanley Brunning was recently recovered. Found sealed in tube, a relative of his mother had kept it safe for years. The only marking was an address on the tube, Mrs D J Brunning, Stanley House, Gillingham and it was sent from Hong Kong 12 May 1931. She recently took the drawing to a friend who likes to do family history research and they found our web site, and were able to match him to a photo on the site of David.
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The graves of these victims had been left uncared for and had fallen into serious disrepair over the years. No public memorial existed. The memory in the community, of this tragedy and these lost lives, was fading away to nothing. As result of a campaign launched and led by Lori Oschefski of Barrie, Ontario, Canada, in March of 2010, the Medway council restored the existing graves and erected a memorial in the Gillingham Park to honor and remember the fifteen lives lost and the tragic event which took their lives. This beautiful new memorial was unveiled in an emotional unveiling ceremony on the 10th of July 2011, the eve of the 82nd anniversary of the tragedy.
Each year on the anniversary of the tragedy, the 5th Gillingham Scouts visit the monument, leaving flowers
in remembrance of the victims. This is their Monday July 11, 2016 flowers.
Photos by Snowy Ellson, Grandson of John Thomas Nutton.
in remembrance of the victims. This is their Monday July 11, 2016 flowers.
Photos by Snowy Ellson, Grandson of John Thomas Nutton.
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The Mayor of Medway, Councillor Ted Baker and campaign leader Lori Oschefski
with the newly unveiled memorial
10th July 2011
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Past News Articles
Fete display turned into a catastrophe
This is Kent December 9 2011
Canadian wins memorial fight for victims of 1929 tragedy
KOS Newspaper July 16th and 17th 2011
Remembering one of the towns darkest days
The Medway News
Ruth Banks, Meridian TV segment
July 11th 2011
Memorial unveiled to "forgotten" dead
The Medway Messenger - July 15th 2011
Closure, at last, for victims of Gillingham fire tragedy
July 10th 2011 Alan William Collins
BBC Radio Kent interview with Lori Oschefski
aired July 9th 2011
June 20th 2011 edition of Bygone Kent
Firefighters to attend 1929 disaster memorial
Kos Saturday, Kos Sunday - April 16, 17 2011
Date set for unveiling of memorial to fire victims
Medway Messenger - February 28 2011
Memorial to be erected for fete's blaze victims
Medway News - January 21 2011
Radio interview with kmfm radio for Kent
segment aired January 11 2011
Campaigners joy as fire victims get fitting memorial
Medway Messenger - January 10 2011
Fire tragedy memorial design wins approval
Kent on Sunday January 2 2011 page 26
British town to remember victims of long-forgotten fire
Canadian Post Media News - December 30th 2010
Memorial chosen to mark location of Gillingham Park fire tragedy
Kentnews.co.uk -December 28th 2010
Fireman's Wedding graves restored
Kent on Saturday November 13 2010
Kent on Sunday November 14 2010
Relative of 1929 fire tragedy victim calls for memorial
The Medway Messenger - October 22 2010
Campaigners journey to the graves of those lost in forgotten 1929 tragedy
Kent on Sunday - page 16 - October 17 2010
Kent on Saturday - October 16 2010
Canadian leads effort to remember U.K. fire victims
Post Media News Canada - July 30 2010
Fireman's Wedding tragedy memorial hopes kept alive
Kent On Sunday - page 12 July 25 2010
Kent on Saturday - July 24 2010
Granddaughters fight for victims of forgotten inferno
Kent on Saturday and Kent on Sunday page 24 July 10th & July 11th 2010
Memorial wanted for 15 deaths in Gillingham Fire
published by BBC online Kent
BBC Radio Kent Interview
Aired on 09/07/2010 - interview no longer available on line
Two interviews were aired on October 11 2010 one aired live from the gates of the cemetery
the second recorded beside the graves.
Interview also aired on July 9th 2011
This web site is dedicated to the memory of my cousin
Eric Edward Cheesman
who perished in this fire
You will not be forgotten
Eric Edward Cheesman
who perished in this fire
You will not be forgotten
Another memorial web site created by Lori Oschefski
The Gillingham & Battle B-26 Crashes of 1944
On June 6th 1944 two B-26 Marauders on route to France suffered a mid air collision and crash in Gillingham, Kent. The crew of both planes perished as well as four civilians on the ground. Less the half an hour later two more B-26 Marauders from the same squadron suffered the same type of accident over Battle, Sussex. Only the pilot of one plane was to survive.
