Subject

Fireman killed as a result of an air raid on Court Downs Road, Beckenham, Kent on 16 April 1941. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: 

Fireman John Henry Maynard was born on 24 January 1904 in South Norwood, the eldest son of ten children of Henry Albert Maynard and Annie Elizabeth Maynard née Little. His father was a Golf Groundsman. He was baptised on 7 December 1904 in Croydon, Surrey. The 1911 census shows the family living at 20 Donald Road, West Croydon. In 1931 he married Hilda Bertha Esther Kenward and they had two daughters. The 1939 England and Wales register shows the family living at 21 Gowland Place, Beckenham, Kent and his occupation is listed as Asst Golf Professional.

At about 2.00am on 17 April 1941 he was travelling in an Auxiliary Fire Service car towing a pump at Wickham Road, Beckenham. They were returning to their station having been fighting a fire in Chancery Lane, London. As the vehicle turned into Court Downs Road to offer assistance at a fire they had come across, a high explosive bomb exploded about 20 feet behind the car and fragments pierced the petrol tank igniting the petrol and the vehicle was enveloped in flames. One of his colleagues, Fireman Carl Edward Taylor and a Canadian soldier, Gunner J Chambers of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, managed to extract him from the car and both fireman were taken to Beckenham Hospital. Fireman Maynard subsequently died from his injuries, aged 37 years, on 9 November 1941 at Horton Emergency Hospital, Epsom, Surrey and he is buried in Beckenham Cemetery and Crematorium, Elmers End Road, Beckenham. Fireman Taylor was awarded the George Medal for his actions.

See David J. Chalmers for more details of the event.