George Stephen Funnell

PC Funnell died in the infirmary from shock and inflammation of the lungs, eleven days after suffering from smoke inhalation and sustaining burns to his face, neck and arms, while rescuing two barmaids from a fierce fire and going back to rescue the landlady.

While assisting the landlady to a rear exit, George collapsed and was later found unconscious on the floor of the bar parlour. The landlady managed to escape.

The fire at the Elephant and Castle public house on Wick Road, Hackney, took hold before 1:00am on Friday 22nd December 1899.