Subject

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 Fireman George John Joseph Hall was born on 15 October 1910 in Gillingham, Kent, the second child of George Hall and Annie Bessie Hall née Kemp. The 1911 census shows him living with his mother at 1 Cornwall Road, Gillingham. On 20 September 1915 he was admitted to the Gordonbrock Road School, Brockley, London, where he remained until the family moved to Peckham. The 1939 England and Wales Register shows him as member of the Auxiliary Fire Service at the Elmers End Road London Passenger Transport Board Garage, Section No.3 AFS, Beckenham and his normal occupation was shown as an Electrician.

In mid 1940 he married Ethel Beatrice Jackson and they lived with his parents at 44 Warwick Road, Anerley, Kent. He died when a German bomb landed on Auxiliary Fire Service Sub Station 24U, which was housed in Old Palace LCC School, St. Leonards Street, Poplar, aged 30 years, on 20 April 1941. He was buried at Beckenham Cemetery and Crematorium, Elmers End Road, Beckenham, BR3 4TD. Administration of his estate was not granted to his widow until 16 October 1944 by which time she had remarried to a Harry Jack Thomas Phillips. His effects totalled £680-0s-0d.