Plaque | Civilian war dead | WW2

Old Bailey - WW2 plaque

Erection date: 14/10/1952

Inscription

Central Criminal Court

Restoration of the north-west corner
The building was partially destroyed by enemy action on the 10th May 1941 but the administration of justice within it continued.
FIAT JUSTITIA RUAT COELUM

The restored north-west corner was opened on the 14th October 1952 by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor Sir Leslie Boyce, KBE.

Sydney Harold Gillett, MC, Alderman, Sidney Joseph Fox, CC - Sheriffs
Sir Gerald Dodson, KT - Recorder
Alfred Samuel Henderson, CC - Chairman, City Lands Committee
George Holliday - City Surveyor

This tablet also commemorates the names of Harry Dart and Harold Sheehy, members of the staff who lost their lives in the faithful discharge of their duties.

The Latin is a very appropriate legal phrase, meaning "Let justice be done though the heavens fall".

The plaque does not definitively state that Dart and Sheehy died as a result of the bomb but that is what it seems to mean. Our colleague Andrew Behan references the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and confirms that James Henry Dart (10/7/1878 - 11/5/1941) and Harold Victor Sheehy (16/10/1900 - 11/5/1941) were both killed at the Old Bailey.

Site: Old Bailey - WW2 (2 memorials)

EC4, Old Bailey, Old Bailey

The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales is normally called the Old Bailey after the street it's on, which itself stands on the route of that early fortification the London Wall.

Originally attached to Newgate prison in the 16th century, the current 1902 building was designed by Edward William Mountford. Newgate prison was demolished in 1904 and South Block, an extension to the Old Bailey, was built there in 1972.

These memorials are on the first floor of the old building. The windows in our photo look out onto Old Bailey and the interior of the central dome can just be glimpsed, directly above the WW2 mural. 

Our photos were taken on an excellent guided tour.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Old Bailey - WW2 plaque

Subjects commemorated i

Old Bailey WW2 bomb

A bomb landed on the Old Bailey on 10/11 May 1941 destroying the north-west c...

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World War 2

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Civilian deaths in London caused by enemy action

This page brings together all the memorials that we have for civilians killed...

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Sir Gerald Dodson

Sir Gerald Dodson, KT, was Recorder of London 1937-59, the longest holder of ...

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Sidney Joseph Fox

Sidney Joseph Fox, CC, was a Sheriff in the City of London in 1952.

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Show all 10

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Old Bailey - WW2 plaque

Created by i

Sir Leslie Boyce

Sir Leslie Boyce, KBE was Lord Mayor of London 1951-2. Born in Australia. Set...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Old Bailey - WW2 plaque

Also at this site i

Old Bailey - WW2 mural

Old Bailey - WW2 mural

{Below the mural:} 1939 - 1945 {Lower right:} G. Moira

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