Event    From 18/1/1981  To 18/1/1981

New Cross Fire

Categories: Tragedy

A fire at a teenagers' birthday party caused the death of 14 young people, 13 at the fire. The 14th victim was Anthony Berbeck, who escaped the fire, but became mentally disturbed and died after falling from a balcony on 9th July 1983, a possible suicide. Originally the fire was thought to be a racist attack as all the victims were black. Two inquests reached open verdicts.

We are grateful to I Rise, our source for the thumbnail photos of each of the 14 dead.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
New Cross Fire

Commemorated ati

New Cross Fire - Fordham Park

In memory of the young people who died as a result of the New Cross fire 18th...

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New Cross Fire - Hackney

These trees were planted in the memory of the 13 children who died in the New...

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New Cross Fire - site of fire

New Cross Fire, took place at this site on January 18, 1981, Claiming the liv...

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New Cross Fire - Town Hall

Unveiled by Sybil Phoenix, a community leader who had been called to the scen...

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Other Subjects

John Hammond

John Hammond

Role on the lost expedition: Royal marine on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Belkıs Çakır

Belkıs Çakır

18 years old, artist

Person, Tragedy, Turkey

1 memorial
Paul Hutcheson

Paul Hutcheson

Cycling to work in the Monday morning rush hour he was hit by a car and killed.  Aged 41 with two children.  A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and fa...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy

1 memorial
Annie Short

Annie Short

Drowned in the 1898 HMS Albion disaster, aged 33. Buried in grave 5 at the memorial in East London Cemetery.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
PC William Frederick Tyler

PC William Frederick Tyler

William Frederick Tyler was the third child of Alfred Tyler (1853-1900) and his first wife, Susan Tyler née Fenn (1852-1883). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1877 in the Hendon, Midd...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

1 memorial