Postman's Park Memorial (transcript)

The tiled memorial at Postman's Park, just up the road from St Paul's Cathedral, commemorates ordinary lives lost during acts of extraordinary heroism. You can read more about its history on Wikipedia 

The following transcription dates to Monday the 11^th August 2003, when I evidently had nothing better to do other than stand in the park for an hour writing it all down.

I have tried to preserve the original line structure of the memorials although, in some cases, this has been difficult because the text is poorly laid out and words have been sandwiched into small gaps between the lines.

Although the size of the text varies from line to line, and from word to word, I have kept it uniform, in order to make it easier to read.

On some of the memorials the letter ‘V’ is used as a substitute for the letter ‘U’.

Arthur Regelous and Alice Maud (panel 6, bottom row) are also commemorated by a very ornate drinking fountain which can be found in Museum Park, near Bethnal Green Underground station in East London. 

Left to right

1^st Panel
Top Row

ALFRED SMITH
POLICE CONSTABLE
WHO WAS KILLED IN AN
AIR RAID WHILE SAVING
THE LIVES OF WOMEN
& GIRLS
JUNE.13.1917
(Note: This memorial is decorated with a policeman’s helmet design.)

Middle Row

THOMAS. GRIFFIN
FITTERS.LABOURER
APRIL.12.1899 IN A
BATTERSEA SUGAR REFINERY
WAS FATALLY SCALDED IN
RETURNING TO SEARCH
FOR HIS MATE

WALTER.PEART DRIVER
AND HARRY.DEAN FIREMAN
OF THE WINDSOR.EXPRESS
ON JULY.18.1898
WHILST BEING SCALDED & BURNT
SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN
SAVING THE TRAIN

MARY.ROGERS
STEWARDESS OF THE STELLA
MAR.30.1899
SELF SACRIFICED BY GIVING UP
HER LIFE BELT & VOLUNTARILY
GOING DOWN IN THE
SINKING SHIP
(Note: This memorial is decorated with an image of a sinking galleon in the bottom left corner and an anchor in the bottom right, both in green ink.)

GEORGE.STEPHEN.FUNNELL
POLICE.CONSTABLE
DEC.22.1899 IN A FIRE AT
THE ELEPHANT & CASTLE, WICK ROAD
HACKNEY WICK, AFTER RESCUING
TWO LIVES, WENT BACK INTO THE
FLAMES, SAVING A BARMAID
AT THE RISK OF HIS OWN LIFE

Bottom Row

JOSEPH ANDREW FORD
AGED 30. METROPOLITAN FIRE
BRIGADE. SAVED SIX PERSONS
FROM FIRE IN GRAY’S INN ROAD.
BVT IN HIS LAST HEROIC ACT
HE WAS SCORCHED TO DEATH
OCT.7.1871
(Note: The memorials in postman’s park were manufactured by Doulton Lambeth., however this is the only memorial in the park to have the name of Doulton Lambeth printed on one of the tiles)

ANGELA KENNEDY
AGED 19
DIED IN TRYING TO
SAVE HER SISTER
FROM THEIR BVRNING HOUSE
IN EDWARD’S LANE STOKE
NEWINGTON. OCT.18.1871

EDMUND EMERY OF
272 KING’S ROAD CHELSEA.
PASSENGER
LEAPT FROM A THAMES
STEAMBOAT TO RESCUE A
CHILD AND WAS DROWNED
JULY 31.1874

WILLIAM DONALD OF
BAYSWATER. AGED 19
RAILWAY CLERK
WAS DROWNED IN THE LEA
TRYING TO SAVE A LAD FROM A
DANGEROUS ENTANGLEMENT OF
WEED. JULY 16.1876

Panel 2
Top Row

P.C. HAROLD FRANK RICKETTS
METROPOLITAN POLICE
DROWNED AT TEIGNMOUTH
WHILST TRYING TO RESCUE
A BOY BATHING AND SEEN
TO BE IN DIFFICULTY
11.SEPT.1916

P.C. EDWARD GEORGE
BROWN GREENOFF
METROPOLITAN POLICE
MANY LIVES WERE SAVED BY HIS
DEVOTION TO DUTY AT THE
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION AT
SILVERTOWN.19.JAN.1917.

P.C. PERCY EDWIN COOK
METROPOLITAN POLICE
VOLUNTARILY DESCENDED HIGH
TENSION CHAMBER AT KENSINGTON
TO RESCUE TWO WORKMEN
OVERCOME BY POISONOUS GAS
7.OCT.1927

FREDERICK MILLS.A.RUTTER
ROBERT DURANT & F.D.JONES
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN
BRAVELY STRIVING TO SAVE
A COMRADE AT THE SEWAGE
PUMPING WORKS. EAST HAM
JULY 1^ST 1895

Middle Row

ELIZABETH BOXALL
AGED 17 OF BETHNAL GREEN
WHO DIED OF INJURIES RECEIVED
IN TRYING TO SAVE
A CHILD
FROM A RUNAWAY HORSE
JUNE.20.1888

HERBERT PETER CAZALY
STATIONER’S CLERK
WHO WAS DROWNED AT KEW
IN ENDEAVOURING TO SAVE
A MAN FROM DROWNING
APRIL 21 1889

.HERBERT MACONOGHU.
SCHOOL BOY FROM WIMBLEDON AGED 13
HIS PARENTS ABSENT IN INDIA, LOST
HIS LIFE IN VAINLY TRYING TO RESCUE
.HIS TWO SCHOOL FELLOWS WHO WERE.
DROWNED AT GLOVERS POOL, CROYDE,
NORTH DEVON. AUGUST.28.1882

SAMUEL RABBETH
MEDICAL OFFICER
OF THE ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL
WHO TRIED TO SAVE A CHILD
SUFFERING FROM DIPHTHERIA
AT THE COST OF HIS OWN LIFE
OCTOBER 21.1884.

Bottom Row

FREDERICK ALFRED CROFT
INSPECTOR.AGED 31
SAVED A LUNATIC WOMAN
FROM SUICIDE AT WOOLWICH
ARSENAL STATION.BUT WAS
HIMSELF RUN OVER BY THE TRAIN
JAN.11.1878

HARRY SISLEY OF
KILBVRN.AGED 10.
DROWNED IN ATTEMPTING
TO SAVE HIS BROTHER.
AFTER HE HIMSELF HAD
JUST BEEN RESCUED
MAY 24.1878

JAMES HEWERS.
ON SEPT.24.1878
WAS KILLED BY A TRAIN
AT RICHMOND IN THE
ENDEAVOUR TO SAVE
ANOTHER MAN.

GEORGE BLENCOWE
AGED 16.
WHEN A FRIEND BATHING IN
THE LEA CRIED FOR HELP.
WENT TO HIS RESCUE
AND WAS DROWNED
SEPT.6.1880.



Panel 3
Top Row

DAVID.SELWES AGED 12
OF WOOLWICH
SUPPORTED HIS DROWNING
PLAYFELLOW AND SANK WITH HIM
CLASPED IN HIS ARMS.
SEPTEMBER.12.1886

WILLIAM.GOODRUM
SIGNALMAN-AGED 60
LOST HIS LIFE AT KINGSLAND ROADBRIDGE
IN SAVING A WORKMAN FROM DEATH UNDER
THE APPROACHING TRAIN FROM KEW
FEBRUARY.28.1880

MRS.YARMAN WIFE OF GEORGE.YARMAN
LABOURER AT BERMONDSEY
REFUSIN (the corner of this tile is damaged) TO BE DETTERED FROM MAKING
THREE ATTEMPTS TO CLIMB A BURNING
STAIRCASE TO SAVE HER AGED MOTHER
DIED OF THE EFFECTS
MARCH.21.1990

ALEX R. STEWART BROWN
OF BROCKLEY
FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
THOUGH SUFFERING FROM SEVERE SPINAL INJURY
THE RESULT OF A RECENT ACCIDENT DIED
FROM HIS BRAVE EFFORTS TO RESCUE A DROWNING
MAN AND TO RESTORE HIS LIFE
OCTOBER.9.1900



Bottom Row

ERNEST BENNING.
COMPOSITOR.AGED 22.
UPSET FROM A BOAT ONE DARK
NIGHT OFF PIMLICO PIER.
GRASPED AN OAR WITH ONE HAND
SUPPORTING A WOMAN WITH THE
OTHER. BVT SANK AS SHE WAS
RESCUED. AUG.25.1883

THOMAS SIMPSON.
DIED OF EXHAUSTION
AFTER SAVING MANY LIVES
FROM THE BREAKING ICE
AT HIGHGATE PONDS.
JAN.25.1885

WILLIAM FISHER.
AGED 9.
LOST HIS LIFE ON RODNEY
ROAD WALWORTH WHILE
TRYING TO SAVE HIS LITTLE
BROTHER FROM BEING RUN
OVER. JULY 12.1886

GEORGE FREDERICK
SIMONDS OF ISLINGTON
RUSHED INTO A BURNING
HOUSE TO SAVE AN AGED
WIDOW. AND DIED OF HIS
INJURIES DEC.1.1886

Between this and the next panel is the small wooden shrine, commemorating the creator the memorial – George Frederic Watts. On the lintel of the door is the inscription “The utmost for the highest”
At the bottom there is a further inscription:

“In memoriam
George Frederic Watts
Who desiring to honour
Heroic self sacrifice
Placed these records here.”

Panel 4
Top Row



RICHARD. FARRUS LABOURER
WAS DROWNED IN ATTEMPTING TO SAVE A
POOR GIRL WHO HAD THROWN HERSELF
INTO A CANAL AT
GLOBE.BRIDGE.PECKHAM
MAY.20.1878

GEORGE.LEE FIREMAN
AT A FIRE IN CLERKENWELL
CARRIED AN UNCONSCIOUS GIRL TO
THE ESCAPE FALLING SIX TIMES
& DIED OF HIS INJURIES
JULY.26.1876

WILLIAM.DRAKE
LOST HIS LIFE IN AVERTING A
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A LADY
IN HYDE.PARK
APRIL.2.1869
WHOSE HORSES WERE UNMANAGE-
-ABLE THROUGH THE BREAKING
OF THE CARRIAGE POLE

ELLEN.DONOVAN
OF LINCOLN.COURT
GREAT.WILD.STREET
RUSHED INTO A BURNING HOUSE
TO SAVE A NEIGHBOURS CHILDREN
AND PERISHED IN THE FLAMES
JULY.28.1873

Bottom Row



SAMVEL LOWDELL.
BARGEMAN
DROWNED WHEN RESCUING
A BOY AT BLACKFRIARS
FEB.25.1882.
HE HAD SAVED
TWO OTHER LIVES

WILLIAM FREER LUCAS
.M.R.C.S.L.L.D. AT MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL
RISKED POISON FOR HIMSELF
RATHER THAN LESSEN ANY
CHANCE OF SAVING A CHILD’S LIFE.
AND DIED. OCT. 8^TH. 1893

EDWARD BLAKE.
DROWNED WHILE SKATING
AT THE WELSH HARP
WATERS. HENDON
IN THE ATTEMPT TO
RESCUE TWO UNKNOWN
GIRLS. FEB.5.1895

EDWARD MORRIS.
AGED 10
BATHING IN THE GRAND
JUNCTION CANAL
SACRIFICED HIS LIFE TO HELP
HIS SINKING COMPANION
AUG.2.1897



Panel 5



ALICE AYERS
DAUGHTER OF A BRICKLAYER’S LABOURER
WHO BY INTREPID CONDUCT
SAVED 3 CHILDREN
FROM A BURNING HOUSE
IN UNION STREET BOROUGH
AT THE COST OF HER OWN YOUNG LIFE
APRIL 24 1881 (?)

JOHN CRANMER
CAMBRIDGE
AGED 23 A CLERK IN
THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL
WHO WAS DROWNED NEAR OSTEND
WHILST SAVING THE LIFE OF
A STRANGER AND A FOREIGNER
AUGUST 8 1901

G GARNISH
A YOUNG CLERGYMAN.
WHO LOST HIS LIFE
IN ENDEAVOURING TO
RESCUE A STRANGER
FROM DROWNING AT PUTNEY
JANUARY 7 1885

JOHN CLINTON
AGED 10
WHO WAS DROWNED NEAR
LONDON BRIDGE
IN TRYING
TO SAVE A COMPANION
YOUNGER THAN HIMSELF
JULY 16.1894



Bottom Row



GODFREY MAULE NICHOLSON
MANAGER OF A STRATFORD DISTILLERY
GEORGE ELLIOT AND ROBERT UNDERHILL. WORKMEN
SUCCESSIVELY WENT DOWN
A WELL TO RESCUE COMRADE
AND WERE POISONED BY GAS
JULY.12.1901

SOLOMAN GALAMAN
AGED 11. DIED OF INJURIES
SEPT.6.1901 AFTER SAVING
HIS LITTLE BROTHER FROM
BEING RUN OVER IN
COMMERCIAL STREET
“MOTHER I SAVED HIM BUT
I COULD NOT SAVE MYSELF.”

JAMES BANNISTER
OF BOW. AGED 30.
RUSHED OVER WHEN AN
OPPOSITE SHOP CAUGHT
FIRE & WAS SUFFOCATED
IN THE ATTEMPT TO SAVE
LIFE. OCT.14.1901.

ELIXABETH COGHLAM
AGED 26. OF CHURCH PATH
STOKE NEWINGTON.
DIED. SAVING HER FAMILY
AND HOUSE BY CARRYING
BLAZING PARAFIN TO THE
YARD. JAN.1.1902



Panel 6
Top Row

SARAH SMITH
PANTOMIME ARTISTE
AT PRINCE’S THEATRE
DIED OF TERRIBLE INJURIES RECEIVED
WHEN ATTEMPTING IN HER INFLAMMABLE DRESS
TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WHICH HAD
ENVELOPED HER COMPANION
JANUARY.24.1863

ROBERT. WRIGHT
POLICE CONSTABLE
OF CROYDON
ENTERED A BURNING HOUSE TO SAVE A WOMAN
KNOWING THAT THERE WAS PRETROLEUM STORED
IN THE CELLAR – AN EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE
AND HE WAS KILLED
APRIL.30.1893

HENRY.JAMES.BRISTOW
AGED EIGHT – AT WALTHAMSTOW
ON DECEMBER 30 1890 – SAVED HIS LITTLE
SISTER’S LIFE BY TEARING OFF
HER FLAMING CLOTHES
BUT CAUGHT FIRE HIMSELF
AND DIED OF BURNS AND SHOCK

JOSPEH WILLIAM
ONSLOW
LIGHTERMAN WHO WAS
DROWNED AT WAPPING
ON MAY 5.1885
IN TRYING TO SAVE
A BOY’S LIFE

Bottom Row



ARTHUR REGELOUS
CARMAN (“LITTLE PETER”) AGED
25. WHO
WITH ALICE MAUD
DENMAN. AGED 27.
DIED IN TRYING TO SAVE HER
CHILDREN FROM A BURNING HOUSE
IN BETHNAL GREEN. APRIL 20. 1902

ARTHUR STRANGE.
CARMAN OF LONDON. AND
MARK TOMLINSON.
ON A DESPARATE VENTURE
TO SAVE TWO GIRLS FROM A
QUICKSAND IN LINCOLNSHIRE
WERE THEMSELVES ENGULFED
AUG.25.1902

JOHN SLADE.
PRIVATE 4^TH . BATT.ROYAL
FUSILIERS OF STEPNEY
WHEN HIS HOUSE CAUGHT
FIRE SAVED ONE MAN. AND
DASHING UPSTAIRS TO ROUSE
OTHERS LOST HIS LIFE.
DEC.26.1902.

DANIEL PEMBERTON
AGED 61
FOREMAN. L.S.W.R.
SURPRISED BY A TRAIN WHEN
GAUGING THE LINE. HURLED HIS
MATE OUT OF THE TRACK.
SAVING HIS LIFE AT THE COST
OF HIS OWN. JAN.17.1903



Since I made this transcript a further memorial has been added to the wall, dating to 2007 and commemorating the heroism of Leigh Pitt.