Auxiliary fireman killed in the bomb attack on Henry Cavendish School, Balham.
Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Auxiliary Fireman Oliver James Steele was born on 11 July 1912. On the 1939 England and Wales Register he is shown as a single man living at 62 Carminia Road, London, SW17. His occupation was recorded as a Bar Fitter Representative and that he was a full time member of the Auxiliary Fire Service, his service number being 5096. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website shows that he was married to a Rene Kathleen Steele of 49 Beechwood Avenue, Kew Gardens, Surrey.
He died, aged 28 years, on 6 November 1940 as a result of enemy action at AFS Fire Station 86W, that was located in the Cavendish Road School, Balham. The school was rebuilt after the war following the bomb damage and is now the Henry Cavendish Primary School, Hydethorpe Road, Balham. He is also commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey, London and his name appears on the National Firefighters Memorial at the junction of Carter Lane and Sermon Lane, London, EC4.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
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