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Fireman George William Dendle Erdington

Lady Penelope

Lady Penelope

master brummie
Can anyone help me with information about the funeral of this fireman please? I was sent the photo but with no information. He must have died in the line of duty and this is taken in Church Road, just by the lych gate of St Barnabas church. I think he 'milk bar' is opposite but it was Erdington Meat. It would be really good if I could put a name to him and how he died but anything would be great.

Many thanks,

Penny
 

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Narrowing it down to an estimated date might help Pen. It looks to me that Burton's building wasn't built at the time of the funeral, so possibly pre-late 1920s. For comparison, attached is a 1960s view to show how it looked after Burton's the Tailors was built.

I thought someone might be able to, at least, date the funeral by the engine vehicle in use, but that might be much older (used for ceremonies ?)
 

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Pedro, does the Erdington Meat date refer to the opening of the business or that the business was in existence on that site at that time ? (An aside - it was still there in the 1960s).

Be useful to get a date for the opening of Burton's - don't seem to be able to track it down. Can someone do a directory look-up please ? And the earliest entry for (T or J) Johnsons next door (left) would help too. (An aside - it later became the Milk Bar - I expect c1950s when they became popular and still there in the 1960s).

If we can narrow down the date, I feel certain the funeral would have been reported in newspapers.
 
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Yes, I wondered, too, Janice. He must have still been in service if he passed at the Fire Station. So perhaps a local fire incident.

But at least LadyP can pass on the info uncovered and help to locate his death certificate - if that was the purpose of the query.
 
Report 2 March 1931 says he died the previous Tuesday (48). 17 years service and leaves a wife and two children.

As he died on the previous Tuesday it would have been covered in the Birmingham February papers, unfortunately not covered in the Archives.
 
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Thank you all. It doesn't look as though he died in a fire as it would have been reported. His name and dates are really helpful, really fills in the details. I think it was reported due to his long service.

Thanks again,

Penny
 
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