On July 11 1929 the local fire brigade held a fire demonstration during the annual fair. During the afternoon two of the men dressed up as a "bride" and "groom" and went around collecting contributions for the local hospital. In the evening they headed to a 40 foot structure made 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 Scout William Spinks.
William Herbert Jack Spinks (called Jack) was the only son of Herbert Cecil Spinks and his wife Amy Tuxill. Herbert had lost a brother, Percy Reginald Spinks in the Great War. As both their parents were deceased Herbert was listed as Percy's next of kin on his war records. Herbert died in 1973 in London, England. Amy died in 1968 also in London, England. Jack had one sister Dorothy (also known as "Jill") who was born in 1918 in Medway.
Herbert Cecil's siblings included Emily (who died 1919), Annie (Mrs. Thomas William Eley), Arthur Ernest (died 1971), Lauretta May (died 1948 - single), Mabel Daisy (Mrs. Albert Edward Newman), Edith Nellie (Mrs. Leonard Allen Hutchinson - immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Percy Reginald (Casualty of the Great War).
In 1929 the family had been living at 61 Seaton Road in Gillingham. Mr. Spinks worked as a garage attendant. The Spinks family was just moving to London when the tragedy happened. Jack's heart was broken knowing he was soon to be parted from his very best friend Robert Usher. The two boys were more like brothers and were inseparable. They were found together at the bottom of the ruins of the tower after the fire. Said Mrs. Spinks ""The were both terribly upset but now they have gone together they will always be pals" Mr. Spinks identified his son's remains. Jack's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
William's grave remains unmarked.
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 Scout William Spinks.
William Herbert Jack Spinks (called Jack) was the only son of Herbert Cecil Spinks and his wife Amy Tuxill. Herbert had lost a brother, Percy Reginald Spinks in the Great War. As both their parents were deceased Herbert was listed as Percy's next of kin on his war records. Herbert died in 1973 in London, England. Amy died in 1968 also in London, England. Jack had one sister Dorothy (also known as "Jill") who was born in 1918 in Medway.
Herbert Cecil's siblings included Emily (who died 1919), Annie (Mrs. Thomas William Eley), Arthur Ernest (died 1971), Lauretta May (died 1948 - single), Mabel Daisy (Mrs. Albert Edward Newman), Edith Nellie (Mrs. Leonard Allen Hutchinson - immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Percy Reginald (Casualty of the Great War).
In 1929 the family had been living at 61 Seaton Road in Gillingham. Mr. Spinks worked as a garage attendant. The Spinks family was just moving to London when the tragedy happened. Jack's heart was broken knowing he was soon to be parted from his very best friend Robert Usher. The two boys were more like brothers and were inseparable. They were found together at the bottom of the ruins of the tower after the fire. Said Mrs. Spinks ""The were both terribly upset but now they have gone together they will always be pals" Mr. Spinks identified his son's remains. Jack's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
William's grave remains unmarked.
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 dressed up as a "bride" and "groom" and went around collecting contributions for the local hospital. In the evening they headed to a 40 foot structure made 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 Scout William Spinks.
William Herbert Jack Spinks (called Jack) was the only son of Herbert Cecil Spinks and his wife Amy Tuxill. Herbert had lost a brother, Percy Reginald Spinks in the Great War. As both their parents were deceased Herbert was listed as Percy's next of kin on his war records. Herbert died in 1973 in London, England. Amy died in 1968 also in London, England. Jack had one sister Dorothy (also known as "Jill") who was born in 1918 in Medway.
Herbert Cecil's siblings included Emily (who died 1919), Annie (Mrs. Thomas William Eley), Arthur Ernest (died 1971), Lauretta May (died 1948 - single), Mabel Daisy (Mrs. Albert Edward Newman), Edith Nellie (Mrs. Leonard Allen Hutchinson - immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Percy Reginald (Casualty of the Great War).
In 1929 the family had been living at 61 Seaton Road in Gillingham. Mr. Spinks worked as a garage attendant. The Spinks family was just moving to London when the tragedy happened. Jack's heart was broken knowing he was soon to be parted from his very best friend Robert Usher. The two boys were more like brothers and were inseparable. They were found together at the bottom of the ruins of the tower after the fire. Said Mrs. Spinks ""The were both terribly upset but now they have gone together they will always be pals" Mr. Spinks identified his son's remains. Jack's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
William's grave remains unmarked.
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 Scout William Spinks.
William Herbert Jack Spinks (called Jack) was the only son of Herbert Cecil Spinks and his wife Amy Tuxill. Herbert had lost a brother, Percy Reginald Spinks in the Great War. As both their parents were deceased Herbert was listed as Percy's next of kin on his war records. Herbert died in 1973 in London, England. Amy died in 1968 also in London, England. Jack had one sister Dorothy (also known as "Jill") who was born in 1918 in Medway.
Herbert Cecil's siblings included Emily (who died 1919), Annie (Mrs. Thomas William Eley), Arthur Ernest (died 1971), Lauretta May (died 1948 - single), Mabel Daisy (Mrs. Albert Edward Newman), Edith Nellie (Mrs. Leonard Allen Hutchinson - immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada) and Percy Reginald (Casualty of the Great War).
In 1929 the family had been living at 61 Seaton Road in Gillingham. Mr. Spinks worked as a garage attendant. The Spinks family was just moving to London when the tragedy happened. Jack's heart was broken knowing he was soon to be parted from his very best friend Robert Usher. The two boys were more like brothers and were inseparable. They were found together at the bottom of the ruins of the tower after the fire. Said Mrs. Spinks ""The were both terribly upset but now they have gone together they will always be pals" Mr. Spinks identified his son's remains. Jack's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
William's grave remains unmarked.
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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