Person    | Male  Born 20/8/1910  Died 15/12/2004

Fireman Harry Errington

Categories: Emergency Services

War served, WW2 i

Commemorated on a memorial as having served in, and survived, WW2.

Fireman Harry Errington was awarded the George Cross, the highest award for valour alongside the VC - when he saved two firemen colleagues from the flaming ruins of the Rathbone Street fire station on the night 17-18 September 1940.

From Fitzrovia News 1: "Errington was the son of Soloman and Bella Ehrengott (née Carp) who were Jewish immigrants from Lublin, Poland. They had arrived in the UK in 1908 and went to live in Poland Street in Soho. They Anglicised their name to Errington when Harry was born. He went to the Westminster Jewish Free School in Hanway Place, and lived and worked in the West End the whole of his life, including a great number of years living at Bedford Court Mansions on Bedford Avenue — only a short walk from Rathbone Street."

From Fitzrovia News 2: "That night Errington and his colleagues John Hollingshead and John Terry were asleep. The blast from the bomb blew Errington across the basement and trapped his colleagues with debris. As a fire raged Errington protected himself with a blanket and managed to release Hollingshead and carried him up a narrow stone staircase that was partially blocked with debris, then across a courtyard and through an adjoining building and into the street. He then returned to the burning building to rescue Terry. He was later awarded a George Cross for his actions on that night — one of only two firefighters in London to have received this honour. He died in London on 15 December 2004. A replica of his George Cross is displayed on the wall at Soho Fire Station. ... In his prime, Harry ran a firm of high-end Savile Row tailors – Errington and Whyte — and was also a basketball coach!"

Born Westminster. His George Cross (the original) is in the collection of the Jewish Museum London.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Fireman Harry Errington

Commemorated ati

Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - AFS

This plaque was unveiled on 18 September 2020 at a small memorial ceremony bu...

Read More

Rathbone Street WW2 fire station - Harry Errington

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

Read More

Other Subjects

W. J. Bridges

W. J. Bridges

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial
Leonard Roots

Leonard Roots

Fireman killed as a result of an air raid on Old Palace School, Bow, E3 on 20 April 1941. Our colleague Andrew Behan has kindly researched this man: Auxiliary Leading Fireman Leonard Roots was bor...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
St John Ambulance

St John Ambulance

The St John Ambulance Association was set up in 1877 by the Order of St John to teach industrial workers first aid, so that they could provide on-the-spot treatment in emergencies.  The St John Am...

Group, Emergency Services, Medicine

5 memorials
John James Lewis

John James Lewis

Auxiliary fireman killed in the bomb attack on Henry Cavendish School, Balham. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Auxiliary Fireman John James Lewis was born on 23 January 1908 ...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
T. E. H. Theobald

T. E. H. Theobald

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Henry Holland

Henry Holland

W1, Duke Street, 39, Henry Holland pub

The more standard pub signs show a rather cartoony head and shoulders of HH, with his dates. We have failed to find out why this pub is n...

1 subject commemorated
WW2 service men and women who trained in Walthamstow college

WW2 service men and women who trained in Walthamstow college

Thousands of service men and women trained at the Walthamstow college: 1940 RAF; 1941 army; 1942 navy.

Group, Armed Forces, Education

1 memorial
C. E. Wilson

C. E. Wilson

Church Warden of St Alban, Wood Street in 1865.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Anthony Scott Stewart

Anthony Scott Stewart

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
World's first cash machine - 2010

World's first cash machine - 2010

EN2, The Town, 20, Barclays Bank

Plaque unveiled by Jayne Buckland, Mayor of Enfield.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator