Red plaque unveiled at Sheffield's Pound's Park to honour eight firefighters killed during Blitz
A new Red Plaque has been unveiled in Sheffield’s Pound’s Park in tribute to eight firefighters who died during the first day of the Sheffield Blitz, 1940.
Eight-five years to the day on December 12, firefighters Norman Elliot, Alfred Garlick, Arthur Moore, Fredrick Parkes-Spencer, Stanley Slack, Tom Stacey, John William Swaby and Albert Wallace lost their lives fighting fires caused by the bombings.
On Friday, Pound’s Park was filled with fire fighters, members of the FBU and the family members of the eight firefighters to see the plaque unveiled and lay wraths.
In a poignant moment, a fire engine that attended the unveiling and parked on Carver Street had to leave with sirens blaring midway through the ceremony to attend an emergency.
It is estimated that approximately 450 bombs, in addition to six parachute mines and many thousands of incendiaries, were dropped during the raid of December 12th-13th. Between the 12 and 15 December, over 660 people were killed in Sheffield, 1,500 injured and 40,000 made homeless. 3,000 homes were demolished, with a further 3,000 badly damaged.
One fire engine was hit directly by as the crew was working, killing three of the crew and injuring another, while another fire engine was wrecked by the blast of a nearby bomb.
Firefighters included thousands of war-time volunteers through the Auxiliary Fire Service.
Christopher Eyre, a firefighter who survived the first night of the Blitz told the Sheffield Star that: “It was almost impossible to describe. We could hear the whistling and the crashes, we were ringed in by flame… I remember looking down The Moor once and seeing the whole place alight from end to end with buildings collapsing into the street.”
The plaque is part of the Red Plaque project, run by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and funded by the Firefighters 100 Lottery.
The plaque unveiling ceremony was attended by firefighters, serving and retired, relatives, speakers from the FBU and fire service, and the Deputy Lord Mayor. A wreath laying was followed by a piper's recital and a minute's silence.
Alex Wilson, Fire Brigades Union South Yorkshire brigade organiser said: “Today’s Red Plaque unveiling was a moving tribute to the eight firefighters who lost their lives during the first day of the Sheffield Blitz. On this day eight five years ago, large parts of Sheffield were devastated by Nazi bombs.
“This plaque will stand as a reminder of the bravery of those firefighters who ran towards the flames in the midst of the bombings. We will make sure they are remembered as part of the proud history of our city.”
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said: “The FBU Red Plaque project is funded by our Firefighters 100 lottery, with proceeds enabling us to commemorate firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty in the places they served.
“The modern fire and rescue service has its roots in the response to the Blitz, when thousands of volunteers signed up to tackle fires caused by the bombings.
“Their heroism, saving countless lives and buildings across the UK, led to the formation of the first national fire service. We will always remember the eight who died during the first day of the Sheffield blitz for their bravery and sacrifice.”
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