Richard Daniel Stocking was born on 19 November 1926, the third of the five children of Richard Daniel Stocking (1903-1953) and Rose Florence Stocking née Oates (1902-1951). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1926 in the St Olave (Bermondsey) registration district. His father was a greengrocer's assistant.
His elder sisters were Florence Margaret Stocking (1920-1993) and Lilian Elizabeth Kathleen Stocking (1924-1983). His younger siblings were Roy E. Stocking (b.1938) and Pauline Stocking (b.1943). The 1939 England and Wales Register shows the family living at 2 Gomm House, Gomm Road, Bermondsey.
He married Joan Margaret Emery (1924-1973) in the 1st quarter of 1946 in the Bermondsey registration district and the birth of their daughter, Cherry L. Stocking, was registered in the 4th quarter of 1946 in the Bethnal Green registration district.
He became a Fireman and was based at Clerkenwell Fire Station. On 23 January 1958, aged 31 years, he was overcome by smoke and fumes whilst wearing breathing apparatus during fire fighting operations in the basement of Smithfield Poultry Market. He and Station Officer Jack Fourt-Wells became lost in the basement labyrinth beneath the market and were not missed nor reported missing until it was too late. He was taken to St Bartholomew's Hospital but was tragically pronounced dead on arrival.
Probate records show his address to have been 134 Avalon Road, Orpington, Kent, and that when administration of his estate was granted on 6 June 1958 to his widow, his effects totalled £1,206-15s-0d.
His name is also shown on the National Firefighters Memorial, Sermon Lane, London, EC4 and in the Firefighters Memorial Trust's Book of Remembrance.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
