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

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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

Henry Herbert Gwynn

Henry Herbert Gwynn

Henry Herbert Gwynn is 3rd from the right of the nine boys standing in the photograph of the scout troop. He was born in 1899 in Newington, Walworth, Surrey, the youngest of the six children of Ja...

Person, Children, Community / Clubs, Tragedy

2 memorials
Samuel Lowdell

Samuel Lowdell

For more information about this hero click on the picture of his plaque.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
PC Alfred Smith

PC Alfred Smith

From Islington Tribune: "PC Smith heard the German Gotha G.V aircraft approaching and warned panicking factory workers in Central Street, Finsbury, to stay inside. He died when a bomb exploded a fe...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

War dead non-military, WW1
2 memorials
Lionel Erisey

Lionel Erisey

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Lincoln David Abraham

Lincoln David Abraham

Lincoln David Abraham was born on 15 October 1970. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1970 in the Paddington registration district and his mother's maiden name was Shaw. According to t...

Person, Tragedy, Southeast Asia

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Louise Simson

Louise Simson

London-based sculptor. When she won the competition to make the Alleyn statue the Dulwich Society provided a short biography. Born London. 1986-90 worked in film, television and theatre. “... her c...

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial