Joseph Newark

Died

:

7 April 1914

Age

:

32

Rank

:

Police Fireman

Force

:

Liverpool Police Fire Brigade

Cause

:

Drowned

Duty Status

:

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Got into difficulties at a warehouse fire and drowned in the flooded cellar.

PFmn Newark along with colleagues, attended a fire in a warehouse on Grundy Street in the Sandhills area, containing 4000 bales of cotton belonging to Zerega & Co. It proved to be the largest fire in the City for years.

The fire spread to an adjoining warehouse where as it developed a gas explosion took place. The roof of the first warehouse later collapsed, venting the fire. In all it took 18 hours to subdue the flames.

It was only later after the fire had been brought under control that PFmn Newark was missed. His helmet was found discarded in the street. A search was made and his body was found lying in several feet of water that had pooled in the basement of the building.

He was survived by his wife and six children, the youngest child a baby 2 weeks old. He joined the Liverpool City Police in August 1908, as a Constable then in November 1913 went on the permanent staff of the Police Fire Brigade