Roll of Honour - London - Balham, Auxiliary Fire Service

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

BALHAM AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE
SUB-FIRE STATION 86W WAR MEMORIAL

World War 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Martin Edwards 2025

The Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) Station 86W was a sub-fire station located at Cavendish Road School on Hydethorpe Road in London, which served as a memorial for thirteen AFS members killed by enemy action on 6 November 1940. The memorial plaque was unveiled 7 November 2000. During World War II, AFS volunteers worked alongside the regular fire brigades to combat fires and other emergencies caused by air raids, often operating from improvised stations in buildings like schools, garages, and factories.

Role of the AFS: The Auxiliary Fire Service was a volunteer force formed to support the regular fire brigades. AFS members were often recruited from various professions and volunteered in their spare time, though many eventually became full-time firefighters during the war.

Formation of the National Fire Service (NFS): The AFS was superseded in August 1941 by the National Fire Service, which combined the AFS and local fire brigades into a single, more powerful service to handle the scale of damage from the Blitz.

Station 86W: This specific station was located on Hydethorpe Road in London, with the site now in the SW12 area and near the Henry Cavendish Primary School. It was a site of a tragic event where thirteen members of the AFS were killed during an air raid on November 6, 1940.

Significance: The existence of Station 86W and the tragedy associated with it highlights the dangers faced by the AFS volunteers and their vital role in protecting the home front during World War II.

There is a memorial to the thriteen men from the station that were killed by enemy action in World War 2.

In memory of thirteen members
of the London Auxiliary Fire Service,
killed by enemy action while on duty
on this site, then in use as
Sub-Fire Station 86w,
on the night of 6th November 1940

BALDESSARE	Victor	Fireman, A.F.S.; of 10 Zennor Road. Son of A. Baldessarre. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School, 6 November 1940. Aged 28.
BUTCHER	Henry Hebert	Fireman, A.F.S.; of 3 Langroyd Road. Son of Mrs. B. Butcher, of 37 Cateford Street, Tooting; husband of Dora Maria Butcher. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School, 6 November 1940. Aged 28.
CHILDS	Walter Henry	Fireman, A.F.S. Husband of Violet Grace Childs, of 63 Carminia Road. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 41.
CRANE	Percy	Fireman, A.F.S.; of 31 Moffat Road. Son of Thomas Sydney and Harriet Crane, of 30 Moffat Road; husband of Lilian May Crane. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 32.
DU VERGIER	Stanley George	Fireman A.F.S. Son of Mrs. E. Du Vergier, of 41 Stapleton Road. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 29.
HICKEY	George Alfred	Fireman, A.F.S. Husband of Hilda A. Hickey, of 91 Englewood Road. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 35.
LEGG	Victor Harold	Fireman, A.F.S. Husband of Violet Maud Legg, of 6 Fairlight Road. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 33.
LEWIS	Eric Dudley	Fireman, A.F.S. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Lewis, of 29 Shenley Road, Camberwell; husband of J. Lewis, of 159 Cavendish Road. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 28.
LEWIS	John James	Fireman, A.F.S.; of 24 Holdernesse Road. Son of E. Lewis, of 16 Alston Road, and of the late Henry Thomas Lewis; husband of Florence Louisa Lewis. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 32.
MICHAELSON	Victor	Fireman, A.F.S. Husband of Justina Michaelson, of 6 St. Nicholas Mansions, Trinity Crescent. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 51.
STEELE	Oliver James	Fireman, A.F.S. Husband of Rene Kathleen Steele, of 49 Beechwood Avenue, Kew Gardens, Surrey. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 28.
STEVENS	Stanley Robert	Fireman, London A.F.S. Son of Robert Henry and Daisy Harriet Stevens, of 6 Morella Road. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 27.
DAVIES	Marjorie Winifred	Firewoman, A.F.S. Daughter of Eily Sarah Henry (formerly Davies), of 92 Balham Park Road, Battersea, and of the late Charles Davies. Died at A.F.S. Station, Cavendish Road School 6 November 1940. Aged 27.

Last updated: 4 November, 2025

War Memorials Trust

BALHAM AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE SUB-FIRE STATION 86W WAR MEMORIAL

BALHAM AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE
SUB-FIRE STATION 86W WAR MEMORIAL