Background
He was born in Westminster on 20 August 1910 to a family of Polish immigrants, previously named Ehrengott.
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Harry Errington
Edit ProfileLondon firefighter treasurer of The
Career
He first trained as an engraver and later as a tailor. When war broke out he volunteered as an auxiliary fireman at a station on Shaftesbury Avenue, near the business where he worked. On 17 September 1940 during The Blitz, a bomb demolished a three storey garage being occupied by the London Auxiliary Fire Service.
The basement of the building was being used as an air raid shelter and took the full force of the collapsing floors.
Twenty people, including six firemen, were killed. Errington recovered consciousness to find the basement shelter consumed by fire.
He rescued a trapped colleague and battered his way through the debris to safety up a stone staircase. He returned to the conflagration to rescue another trapped man and, despite his badly burned hands, also carried him to safety.
Errington died in London on 15 December 2004.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
December 15, 2004 (aged 94) -
Nationality
United Kingdom
Awards
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Victoria Cross; George Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour 'in the face of the enemy' to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour 'in the face of the enemy' to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.