Person    | Male  Born 20/6/1946  Died 17/7/1969

Fireman killed in the Dudgeon's Wharf explosion.

Andrew Behan has researched Appleby: Fireman John Victor Appleby was born on 20 June 1946 and his birth was registered in Poplar. He was the son of Charles William Appleby and Iris Rose Appleby née Chinery. His father was an iron & steel labourer. In 1964 in Stepney he married Linda K. Thompson and they had three children.

On 17 July 1969 he was attached to Fire Station F22 Brunswick Road, (this station was closed in the 1970's and given listed grade II listed status and its address is now 30 Gillender Street,London, E14 6RH), and was sent to a fire at Dudgeon's Wharf, Manchester Road, Millwall. He died, aged 23 years, from injuries resulting from an explosion involving flammable vapours in an old oil tank that was in the process of being demolished. He had almost five years service in the London Fire Brigade. Probate records dated 22 December 1969 stating administration of his estate was granted gives his address as 8 Emmanuel Court, 29 Capworth Street, London, E10. His effects totalled £10,587. He is also commemorated on the National Firefighters Memorial in Sermon Lane, London, EC4.

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