[smiffy]

I recently came across this postcard which may be related to this tragedy. I've identified the location as Canterbury Street, near the Beacon Court Tavern. The Salvation Army seem to be leading, and in the distance can be seen what appear to be officers of the Fire Brigade. The fashions look of the period, 1929-30. None of the men, apart from those in uniform, are wearing their hats - which leads me to believe that this is a funeral rather than some other occasion.

[merc]

Yes it is the same lady seafordpete. 'Lori Oschefski' did a lot of the research and led the campaign to have the memorial placed in the park.  

[seafordpete]

I take it the Canadian woman Lauren O..... interviewed on TV  is the same Laureno that was making enquiries on here last year?

[merc]

It has seafordpete. Sorry i've left it off because i had some trouble with the picture.

[seafordpete]

Has the other side got an explanation on?

[merc]

Some pictures of the memorial which was unveiled in the park yesterday.

[Mary E]

My Dad was a Naval Cadet at the time and was on the way to take part in the fire fighting demo.  It was a hot day and his Mum stopped to buy them an ice cream and that made him too late to join in.  Dad still talks about what fate dealt him that day.  And he went on to do his '22' in the Navy.

[MOK]

It beggars belief. Who in their right minds would put children inside a burning structure, then rescue them as a stunt. What could possibly go wrong ?

[Chatham_Girl85]

Wow that picture from Battersea Park just shows how frightening it must have been to be trapped inside...I've never seen that photo before, did they (in Battersea Park) have a similar fund raising scheme to that of the the Gillingham fire brigade???

[merc]

The picture on the left is a burning dummy house demonstration in Battersea Park. The people inside the house were successfully rescued by the Fire Brigade. The structure in the picture on the right, is the remains of the tragic Gillingham Park dummy house, where the fire caught too soon, and trapped the people inside.

[busyglen]

Some further information for any interested parties.

The official opening of the new Gillingham Park Tragedy Memorial.

The unveiling ceremony will take place on Sunday July 10th at 11.30am, at the Park Avenue entrance of the Gillingham Park.  The Mayor of Medway will give an address and officially unveil the new memorial.  Exhibitions include local historian Philip MacDougall who will be presenting `Gillingham at work, rest and play in 1929.'  The Fire Service Preservation Group, The Kent Family History Society Medway, The Kent Fire & Rescue Service will all be in the opening parade, and a fire engine will also be on display at the park.

[busyglen]

I don't know if anyone has seen this?  Thought it might be of interest.


www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2011/january/10/fire_memorial_for_park.aspx

[afsrochester]

 I can identify the young lad in the photograph.

It is the late Stuart Hadlum, seen here raising funds following the disaster, whose Uncle's were members of the Gillingham Fire Brigade.  He died about four years ago. I worked with him back in my Housing days at Medway Borough Council until he retired in early 1983. A really smashing bloke.

[oldsunset]

I helped set up some exhibits at the old maidstone fire museum in the 80's, a lady sent this photo in for scanning, it shows her dad as a boy raising funds for the gillingham park fire.

love his cardboard helmet with GFB on it...so sweet

[kyn]