Plaque | War served, Civilian war dead | WW2

Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - AFS

Erection date: /11/2020

Inscription

AFS London
In memory of seven members of the London Auxiliary Fire Service who died as a result of injuries received in World War II on the night of 17th/18th September 1940, when a building on this site, then in use as a Sub-Fire Station 72Z, received a direct hit from a high-explosive bomb.
{7 names - see Subjects commemorated}.
This plaque also remembers Fm. Harry Errington who, for saving the lives of two fellow firemen in this place on the same night, was awarded the George Cross for gallantry.

This plaque was unveiled on 18 September 2020 at a small memorial ceremony but was not erected on the building until some time in November.

Site: Rathbone Street WW2 fire station (2 memorials)

W1, Rathbone Street

The plaques are around the driveway entrance under the building to the left in our photo. However, photos at Fitzrovia News make us think that the building that was being used as a fire station and that was hit by the bomb was the building to the right in our photo, with the curved arches over the first floor windows. The photos show that it had been a garage before being taken over by the fire service. Our thoughts about the buildings and the arch way are supported by the description of Errington's route to safety.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - AFS

Subjects commemorated i

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - AFS

Created by i

Auxiliary Fire Service / AFS

The London Fire Brigade website confirms that the Auxiliary Fire Service was ...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - AFS

Also at this site i

Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - Harry Errington

Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - Harry Errington

On the night of 17th September 1940 during The Blitz, a London Auxiliary Fire...

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