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 Cadet Leonard Gordon Winn. Leonard was 13 when he died at the St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Leonard Gordon Winn was the son of Gordon Archibald Winn and Edith C Wright. His father was employed with the H.M. Dockyard and the family lived at 388 Canterbury Street. During the weekend before Leonard's death he had taken part in the Kent Scout marathon. When he was eleven he won a free place scholarship to the County School. He was popular with all that knew him.
Leonard was a gallant and heroic little man of thirteen. His calm and courage was inspirational. In angony and blinded by his burns he asked his father to sit with him. "Daddy, how are the other boys" he asked "Did they get away?". Of the fire he said "Suddenly the whole building seemed to turn into a blaze. There was no time to do anything. The heat was just terrible. But I rushed to the end of the roof and jumped".
Shortly after speaking this heroic child would pass away. His thoughts up until the time of his death were only for the others. Leonard was admitted to St Bartholomew's Hospital at 10:35 on the night of the fire. He was suffering from extensive burns to his face, neck, arms, hands, chest, abdomen and back.
Mr. Winn had said the day after the fire "My boy was only asked last night to play his part. It was late and I asked Len not to go. The boy was so enthusiastic, however, that his mother asked me to grand him permission, and I did. I was not at the park myself, and the first news I had was when a telephone call came in to say that my son had been injured. I raced to the scene of the fete in my car. My little boy, his clothes burnt and still smouldering, lay on the ground. The poor little fellow could hardly see. He was terribly burned. I lifted him gently and placed him in my car, then raced along the road to the hospital. All through the night I sat by his bedside. He was so brave - oh so brave."
Leonard died at 4:45 am the following morning from shock due to his extensive burns. Leonard's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
His mother said of her son after he died ""Len set his father and me an example of magnificent courage and of thought for others" - Mrs. Edith Winn
Leonard's grave remains unmarked.
The men and boys that 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 Leonard Gordon Winn. Leonard was 13 when he died at the St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Leonard Gordon Winn was the son of Gordon Archibald Winn and Edith C Wright. His father was employed with the H.M. Dockyard and the family lived at 388 Canterbury Street. During the weekend before Leonard's death he had taken part in the Kent Scout marathon. When he was eleven he won a free place scholarship to the County School. He was popular with all that knew him.
Leonard was a gallant and heroic little man of thirteen. His calm and courage was inspirational. In angony and blinded by his burns he asked his father to sit with him. "Daddy, how are the other boys" he asked "Did they get away?". Of the fire he said "Suddenly the whole building seemed to turn into a blaze. There was no time to do anything. The heat was just terrible. But I rushed to the end of the roof and jumped".
Shortly after speaking this heroic child would pass away. His thoughts up until the time of his death were only for the others. Leonard was admitted to St Bartholomew's Hospital at 10:35 on the night of the fire. He was suffering from extensive burns to his face, neck, arms, hands, chest, abdomen and back.
Mr. Winn had said the day after the fire "My boy was only asked last night to play his part. It was late and I asked Len not to go. The boy was so enthusiastic, however, that his mother asked me to grand him permission, and I did. I was not at the park myself, and the first news I had was when a telephone call came in to say that my son had been injured. I raced to the scene of the fete in my car. My little boy, his clothes burnt and still smouldering, lay on the ground. The poor little fellow could hardly see. He was terribly burned. I lifted him gently and placed him in my car, then raced along the road to the hospital. All through the night I sat by his bedside. He was so brave - oh so brave."
Leonard died at 4:45 am the following morning from shock due to his extensive burns. Leonard's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
His mother said of her son after he died ""Len set his father and me an example of magnificent courage and of thought for others" - Mrs. Edith Winn
Leonard's grave remains unmarked.
The men and boys that 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 Cadet Leonard Gordon Winn. Leonard was 13 when he died at the St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Leonard Gordon Winn was the son of Gordon Archibald Winn and Edith C Wright. His father was employed with the H.M. Dockyard and the family lived at 388 Canterbury Street. During the weekend before Leonard's death he had taken part in the Kent Scout marathon. When he was eleven he won a free place scholarship to the County School. He was popular with all that knew him.
Leonard was a gallant and heroic little man of thirteen. His calm and courage was inspirational. In angony and blinded by his burns he asked his father to sit with him. "Daddy, how are the other boys" he asked "Did they get away?". Of the fire he said "Suddenly the whole building seemed to turn into a blaze. There was no time to do anything. The heat was just terrible. But I rushed to the end of the roof and jumped".
Shortly after speaking this heroic child would pass away. His thoughts up until the time of his death were only for the others. Leonard was admitted to St Bartholomew's Hospital at 10:35 on the night of the fire. He was suffering from extensive burns to his face, neck, arms, hands, chest, abdomen and back.
Mr. Winn had said the day after the fire "My boy was only asked last night to play his part. It was late and I asked Len not to go. The boy was so enthusiastic, however, that his mother asked me to grand him permission, and I did. I was not at the park myself, and the first news I had was when a telephone call came in to say that my son had been injured. I raced to the scene of the fete in my car. My little boy, his clothes burnt and still smouldering, lay on the ground. The poor little fellow could hardly see. He was terribly burned. I lifted him gently and placed him in my car, then raced along the road to the hospital. All through the night I sat by his bedside. He was so brave - oh so brave."
Leonard died at 4:45 am the following morning from shock due to his extensive burns. Leonard's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
His mother said of her son after he died ""Len set his father and me an example of magnificent courage and of thought for others" - Mrs. Edith Winn
Leonard's grave remains unmarked.
The men and boys that 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 Leonard Gordon Winn. Leonard was 13 when he died at the St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Leonard Gordon Winn was the son of Gordon Archibald Winn and Edith C Wright. His father was employed with the H.M. Dockyard and the family lived at 388 Canterbury Street. During the weekend before Leonard's death he had taken part in the Kent Scout marathon. When he was eleven he won a free place scholarship to the County School. He was popular with all that knew him.
Leonard was a gallant and heroic little man of thirteen. His calm and courage was inspirational. In angony and blinded by his burns he asked his father to sit with him. "Daddy, how are the other boys" he asked "Did they get away?". Of the fire he said "Suddenly the whole building seemed to turn into a blaze. There was no time to do anything. The heat was just terrible. But I rushed to the end of the roof and jumped".
Shortly after speaking this heroic child would pass away. His thoughts up until the time of his death were only for the others. Leonard was admitted to St Bartholomew's Hospital at 10:35 on the night of the fire. He was suffering from extensive burns to his face, neck, arms, hands, chest, abdomen and back.
Mr. Winn had said the day after the fire "My boy was only asked last night to play his part. It was late and I asked Len not to go. The boy was so enthusiastic, however, that his mother asked me to grand him permission, and I did. I was not at the park myself, and the first news I had was when a telephone call came in to say that my son had been injured. I raced to the scene of the fete in my car. My little boy, his clothes burnt and still smouldering, lay on the ground. The poor little fellow could hardly see. He was terribly burned. I lifted him gently and placed him in my car, then raced along the road to the hospital. All through the night I sat by his bedside. He was so brave - oh so brave."
Leonard died at 4:45 am the following morning from shock due to his extensive burns. Leonard's coffin was carried to the cemetery on a fire engine.
His mother said of her son after he died ""Len set his father and me an example of magnificent courage and of thought for others" - Mrs. Edith Winn
Leonard's grave remains unmarked.
The men and boys that 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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