John Coleman was born in 1885 in Whitstable, Kent, one of the 11 children of John Coleman (1858-1921) and Ellen Maria Coleman née Brett (1861-1935). His birth was registered in 3rd quarter of 1885 in the Blean Registration District, Kent.
He was shown as aged 5 years and a scholar on the census that was undertaken on 5 April 1891. He was living in a property in Forge Row, Whitstable, with his parents and two siblings: Walter Coleman (b.1884) - also a scholar and Florence Coleman (1890-1960). His father was listed as a shipwright.
In the census that was compiled on 31 March 1910 he is described as aged 15 years and a shipwright living at 3 Marine Terrace, Whitstable, with his parents and five of his siblings: Florence Coleman; Frank Coleman (b.1892); James Coleman (b.1894); Mary Coleman (b. circa 1897) and Doris Coleman (b.1900). His father continued to be listed as a shipwright.
He was described as aged 25 years and a Fireman on the census that was completed on 2 April 1911. The form was completed by his Station Officer, Francis Belfit and showed him as one of five single Firemen who where living at the seven roomed Fire Brigade Station, 308 Old Kent Road, London, together with his Station Officer, and his Station Officer's wife and their four children.
He was a fireman who was based at Shadwell Fire Station, whose death was registered as aged 35 years in the 4th quarter of 1920 in the Whitechapel Registration District, London.
He died on 1 November 1920, together with Firemen Alfred Best and Harry Joshua Green, from injuries sustained as a result of a gas explosion that occurred whilst fighting a fire at a rubber store at Lower Oliver's Wharf, Wapping, London. Their joint funeral service was held on 6 November 1920 at St Paul's Church, Shadwell, London and their at Fireman's Corner, Highgate Cemetery, Swain's Lane, London, N6 6PJ.
He is shown as "J. COLEMAN" on the London Fire Brigade memorial in Highgate Cemetery. He is also commemorated on the Firefighters National Memorial in Sermon Lane, London, EC4, on the , on the and on the . The has a short film of the funeral of all three of these firemen.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in to see them