Person    | Male  Born 8/1/1913  Died 20/4/1941

Robert J. Deans

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.

Robert J. Deans

Auxiliary Fireman Robert John Deans was born on 8 January 1913 in West Ham, London, the ninth of the eleven children of Thomas Bell Deans (1868-1927) and Emily Louisa Deans née Stevenson (1870-1952). His father was a Ships Boiler Maker/Repairer who died on 7 September 1927 when the family was living at 173 Coventry Road, Ilford, Essex. His father's estate was administered by a Harold Fossey (1897-1967).

The 1939 England and Wales Register shows him as a solicitor's clerk, a member of the AFS Beckenham and as a single man living with his younger brother, Donald Leslie Deans (1914-1995) at 144 The Grove, West Wickham, Kent. This house was also occupied by Harold Fossey, his wife and child. 

He was attached to the West Wickham Fire Station and died, aged 28 years, on 20 April 1941 when a German parachute mine landed on Auxiliary Fire Service Sub Station 24U, which was housed in Old Palace LCC School, St. Leonards Street, Poplar. He was buried at Beckenham Cemetery and Crematorium, Elmers End Road, Beckenham, BR3 4TD.

He is also commemorated on the Firefighters Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance. His name is also recorded in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour that is held near the entrance to St George's Chapel, at the west end of Westminster Abbey.

Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.

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:
Robert J. Deans

Commemorated ati

Beckenham Auxiliary firemen

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

Read More

Other Subjects

Stanley R. Hudders

Stanley R. Hudders

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 Stanley Richard Hudders was ...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Capt. L. H. R. Claydon, Late RAMC (V)

Capt. L. H. R. Claydon, Late RAMC (V)

Assistant Commissioner in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District, 1919-1924. Serving Brother in the Order of St John.

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
William C. Plant

William C. Plant

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 Fireman William Charles Plant was bor...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Ernest John Purdy

Ernest John Purdy

Member of the ARP/Civil Defence Services - stretcher bearer. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Ernest John Purdy was born on 24 May 1913 in Poplar, a twin with his sister, May Floren...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Oswald Hitchen

Oswald Hitchen

Oswald Hitchen was born on 15 November 1906 in Todmorden, Yorkshire, a son of Elias Hitchen (1874-1949) and Betsy Hitchen née Halstead (1875-1971). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 19...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial