Event    From 18/1/1981  To 18/1/1981

New Cross Fire

Categories: Tragedy

A fire at a teenagers' birthday party caused the death of 14 young people, 13 at the fire. The 14th victim was Anthony Berbeck, who escaped the fire, but became mentally disturbed and died after falling from a balcony on 9th July 1983, a possible suicide. Originally the fire was thought to be a racist attack as all the victims were black. Two inquests reached open verdicts.

We are grateful to I Rise, our source for the thumbnail photos of each of the 14 dead.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
New Cross Fire

Commemorated ati

New Cross Fire - Fordham Park

In memory of the young people who died as a result of the New Cross fire 18th...

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New Cross Fire - Hackney

These trees were planted in the memory of the 13 children who died in the New...

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New Cross Fire - site of fire

New Cross Fire, took place at this site on January 18, 1981, Claiming the liv...

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New Cross Fire - Town Hall

Unveiled by Sybil Phoenix, a community leader who had been called to the scen...

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Other Subjects

Edmund Hoar

Edmund Hoar

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Henry Sait

Henry Sait

Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
John F. Joseph St Prix

John F. Joseph St Prix

John Fitzgerald St.Prix was born on 22 November 1963 and his birth was registered in the Stepney registration district. He died, aged 23 years, on 18 November 1987 in the King's Cross Underground S...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Edward Smith

Edward Smith

Edward Smith is the 3rd on the right of the seven boys sitting in the photograph of the scout troop. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1901 in the Lambeth registration district. As a...

Person, Children, Community / Clubs, Tragedy

2 memorials
William Goddard

William Goddard

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial