On July 11 1929 the local fire brigade held a fire demonstration during the annual fair. During the afternoon two of the men would dress up as a "bride" and "groom" and go around collecting contributions for the local hospital. In the evening they headed to a 40 foot structure constructed out of wood and canvas. This house was filled with "guests" of the wedding, local firemen, naval cadets and sea scouts. The plan was to light a fire in the house to make it appear that the house was on fire. The "guests" would cry for help and the Gillingham Fire Brigade would "rescue" them. Somehow this fire became real trapping the people in the structure.
All 15 men and boys that participated in this demonstration died including Cadet David Stanely Brunning. He was only 12 when he died and his parents only child. Buried with David in 1932 was his father, David Joseph Brunning and in 1945 his mother Lottie would be laid to rest with her family. David was the grandson of John Woolnough and his wife Annie Elizabeth Robbie. His was also the grandson of Joseph and Emma Brunning.
David Joseph Brunning was a Petty Office joiner in the Royal Navy. David had the grim task of identification of his son's body. He would also give evidence at the inquest.
The men and boys who died are:
Scout Reginald Henry Lewis Barrett
Cadet David Stanley Brunning
Cadet Eric Edward Cheesman
Leslie George Neale
Cadet Leonard Charles Searles
Cadet Ivor Douglas Weston Sinden
William Herbert Jack Spinks
Robert Dennis Usher
Scout Leonard Gordon Winn
Fireman Francis Bull Cokayne
Ronald Royal George Mitchell
Fireman Albert Joseph Nicholls
Petty Officer John Thomas Nutton
Fireman Arthur John Tabrett
Frederick Arthur Worrall
More detailed information about this incident can be found at:
http://firemanswedding.weebly.com/
All 15 men and boys that participated in this demonstration died including Cadet David Stanely Brunning. He was only 12 when he died and his parents only child. Buried with David in 1932 was his father, David Joseph Brunning and in 1945 his mother Lottie would be laid to rest with her family. David was the grandson of John Woolnough and his wife Annie Elizabeth Robbie. His was also the grandson of Joseph and Emma Brunning.
David Joseph Brunning was a Petty Office joiner in the Royal Navy. David had the grim task of identification of his son's body. He would also give evidence at the inquest.
The men and boys who died are:
Scout Reginald Henry Lewis Barrett
Cadet David Stanley Brunning
Cadet Eric Edward Cheesman
Leslie George Neale
Cadet Leonard Charles Searles
Cadet Ivor Douglas Weston Sinden
William Herbert Jack Spinks
Robert Dennis Usher
Scout Leonard Gordon Winn
Fireman Francis Bull Cokayne
Ronald Royal George Mitchell
Fireman Albert Joseph Nicholls
Petty Officer John Thomas Nutton
Fireman Arthur John Tabrett
Frederick Arthur Worrall
More detailed information about this incident can be found at:
http://firemanswedding.weebly.com/
On July 11 1929 the local fire brigade held a fire demonstration during the annual fair. During the afternoon two of the men would dress up as a "bride" and "groom" and go around collecting contributions for the local hospital. In the evening they headed to a 40 foot structure constructed out of wood and canvas. This house was filled with "guests" of the wedding, local firemen, naval cadets and sea scouts. The plan was to light a fire in the house to make it appear that the house was on fire. The "guests" would cry for help and the Gillingham Fire Brigade would "rescue" them. Somehow this fire became real trapping the people in the structure.
All 15 men and boys that participated in this demonstration died including Cadet David Stanely Brunning. He was only 12 when he died and his parents only child. Buried with David in 1932 was his father, David Joseph Brunning and in 1945 his mother Lottie would be laid to rest with her family. David was the grandson of John Woolnough and his wife Annie Elizabeth Robbie. His was also the grandson of Joseph and Emma Brunning.
David Joseph Brunning was a Petty Office joiner in the Royal Navy. David had the grim task of identification of his son's body. He would also give evidence at the inquest.
The men and boys who died are:
Scout Reginald Henry Lewis Barrett
Cadet David Stanley Brunning
Cadet Eric Edward Cheesman
Leslie George Neale
Cadet Leonard Charles Searles
Cadet Ivor Douglas Weston Sinden
William Herbert Jack Spinks
Robert Dennis Usher
Scout Leonard Gordon Winn
Fireman Francis Bull Cokayne
Ronald Royal George Mitchell
Fireman Albert Joseph Nicholls
Petty Officer John Thomas Nutton
Fireman Arthur John Tabrett
Frederick Arthur Worrall
More detailed information about this incident can be found at:
http://firemanswedding.weebly.com/
All 15 men and boys that participated in this demonstration died including Cadet David Stanely Brunning. He was only 12 when he died and his parents only child. Buried with David in 1932 was his father, David Joseph Brunning and in 1945 his mother Lottie would be laid to rest with her family. David was the grandson of John Woolnough and his wife Annie Elizabeth Robbie. His was also the grandson of Joseph and Emma Brunning.
David Joseph Brunning was a Petty Office joiner in the Royal Navy. David had the grim task of identification of his son's body. He would also give evidence at the inquest.
The men and boys who died are:
Scout Reginald Henry Lewis Barrett
Cadet David Stanley Brunning
Cadet Eric Edward Cheesman
Leslie George Neale
Cadet Leonard Charles Searles
Cadet Ivor Douglas Weston Sinden
William Herbert Jack Spinks
Robert Dennis Usher
Scout Leonard Gordon Winn
Fireman Francis Bull Cokayne
Ronald Royal George Mitchell
Fireman Albert Joseph Nicholls
Petty Officer John Thomas Nutton
Fireman Arthur John Tabrett
Frederick Arthur Worrall
More detailed information about this incident can be found at:
http://firemanswedding.weebly.com/
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