Person    | Male  Born 1/12/1907  Died 6/11/1940

Auxiliary fireman killed in the bomb attack on Henry Cavendish School, Balham.

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out further research: Percy Crane was born on 1 December 1907 in Clapham, a son of Sidney Thomas Crane and Harriet Crane née Lowman. His father was a Wheelwright - Van Building according to the 1911 census. This census shows Percy Crane living at 50 Nelsons Row, Clapham, Surrey with his parents, his half-brother Edward Crane who was born c.1901 to his father and his previous wife Annie Crane née Darling, his elder brother Sydney Thomas Crane (1906-1974) and sister Hettie Annie Crane (1910-1982). When his brother Ruben James Crane (1914-2005) was baptised on 5 February 1914 the family were living at 30 Moffat Road, London, SW17. The 1932 electoral register shows him on the the absent voter register for 30 Moffat Road, as a Corporal serving in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), service number 6283096. Electoral registers for 1935 and 1936 show him living at the same address with his parents and brother Ruben J. Crane.

In 1936 he married Lilian May Lanham in Wandsworth. and they went to live (next door to his parents) at 31 Moffat Road, London, SW17. The 1939 England and Wales Register shows his occupation as a Coppersmiths Labourer.

He died, aged 32 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 buried in Streatham Cemetery, Garret Lane, London, SW17 0LT. 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.

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