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

Ihab Slimane

Ihab Slimane

Ihab Slimane was born on 19 June 1981 in Lyons, France, and came to the UK in June 2005 to improve his English. He set up home near Finsbury Park and was working as a waiter at Gabrielle's, a Frenc...

Person, Tragedy, France

3 memorials
Alexandra Koppke

Alexandra Koppke

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Audrey Holland

Audrey Holland

Mother-in-law to Jane.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Cornelius Hickey

Cornelius Hickey

Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Terror. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial
Jamie Wellington

Jamie Wellington

British, killed by the Bali bomb, age 31.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial