Person    | Male  Born 16/4/1910  Died 20/4/1941

Leonard Roots

Categories: Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2 i

Commemorated on a memorial as being a civilian who was killed in WW2. Includes mercantile marines and emergency services personnel.

Leonard Roots

Fireman killed as a result of an air raid on Old Palace School, Bow, E3 on 20 April 1941.

Our colleague Andrew Behan has kindly researched this man: Auxiliary Leading Fireman Leonard Roots was born on 16 April 1910 in Beckenham, Kent, the son of Herbert Roots and Elizabeth Emma Tombs née Roots. His father was a Pewterer. The 1911 census shows the family living at 142 Victor Road, Penge, Kent.

In 1936 he married Emily S. Martin in Bromley, Kent and on 4 March 1938 their son, John was born but unfortunately died only four days later on 8 March 1938. The 1939 England and Wales Register shows them living at 10 Avenue Court, Avenue Road, London, S.E.20. and that he was also a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service at the Elmers End Road London Passenger Transport Board Garage, Section No.3 AFS, Beckenham. His normal occupation was shown as a Pewterer. He died when a German bomb landed on Auxiliary Fire Service Sub Station 24U, which was housed in Old Palace LCC School, St. Leonards Street, Poplar, aged 31 years, on 20 April 1941. His death certificate shows that his body was not found until two days later on 22 April 1941. He was buried at Beckenham Cemetery and Crematorium, Elmers End Road, Beckenham, BR3 4TD.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Leonard Roots

Commemorated ati

Beckenham Auxiliary firemen

Those killed at Old Palace School are also commemorated (not by name) on a pl...

Read More

Other Subjects

Auxiliary Fireman Sidney Alfred Holder

Auxiliary Fireman Sidney Alfred Holder

Crushed under a collapsing wall in Shoe Lane or St Bride Street while fighting a fire in the Blitz. Our picture, 'House Collapsing on Two Firemen, Shoe Lane' is a painting by Leonard Rosoman who, a...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Fireman Terence Joseph Patrick Breen

Fireman Terence Joseph Patrick Breen

Terence Joseph Patrick Breen was born on 19 May 1932, his birth being registered as Terence Breen in the 2nd quarter of 1932 in the Stepney Registration District, London. He was a son of Patrick Jo...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

2 memorials
Auxiliary Fire Service / AFS

Auxiliary Fire Service / AFS

The Auxiliary Fire Service was formed in 1938 as part of the Civil Defence Service and was superseded in August 1941 by the National Fire Service. After the war the AFS was reformed alongside the C...

Group, Emergency Services

18 memorials
Auxiliary Firewoman Joan Fanny Mary Bliss Bartlett

Auxiliary Firewoman Joan Fanny Mary Bliss Bartlett

Firewoman with the Auxiliary Fire Service. Killed during an air-raid at Cubitt Town School which was being used as an emergency depot. She was aged 18. Joan Fanny Mary Bliss Bartlett was born on 2...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
2 memorials
John H. Maynard

John H. Maynard

Fireman killed as a result of an air raid on Court Downs Road, Beckenham, Kent on 16 April 1941. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man:  Fireman John Henry Maynard was born...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial