Plaque to honour WWII firefighter's death A plaque has been unveiled marking the death of a Leeds firefighter who tried to save a city museum from a German air-raid during World War II. Solomon Belinsky was an upholsterer who volunteered for the city's Auxiliary Fire Service during the war, serving at the fire station in Gipton. He was injured by a falling bomb on 15 March 1941 and died 17 days later. A red plaque was erected at the fire station to honour his "courage and service", the Fire Brigades Union said. Solomon Belinsky was an upholsterer who lived in east Leeds and volunteered for the city's Auxiliary Fire Service during the war Neil Carbutt, secretary of the union, said: "Solomon Belinsky gave his life serving his community, as so many firefighters have done, and this red plaque will help to ensure that his courage and service is recognised and never forgotten." The city centre suffered nine air-raids over the duration of the war. Leeds Beckett University historian Shane Ewen said: "Men and women like Solomon Belinsky risked their lives to help make the fire service an indispensable arm in the country's civil defence, they heroically fought fires while bombs rained down upon them. "Many who survived suffered burns and broken bones as well as post-traumatic stress disorder having witnessed multiple fatalities." The unveiling of the plaque is part of a series of activities to mark the Heritage Open Day at the Gipton fire station, which is now a community centre. The fire station shut in 2015, 80 years after it opened. The building was later renovated and reopened in August 2017 for the public. ========================================================= Casualty Civilian BELINSKY, SOLOMAN Died 01/04/1941 Aged 43 Civilian War Dead Fireman, A.F.S. Husband of Rachel Belinsky, of 19 St. Alban Mount, Harehills. Injured 15 March 1941, at British Museum; died at Leeds General Infirmary. Reporting authority LEEDS, COUNTY BOROUGH St. George's Chapel In Westminster Abbey Location: England, London Of the many civilians of the Commonwealth whose deaths were due to enemy action in the 1939-1945 War, the names of more than 67,000 are commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St. George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.
1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION 19 St Alban Mount, Leeds C.B., Yorkshire (West Riding) NAME - DOB - OCCUPATION Solomon Belinski - 08 Dec 1897 - Upholsterer Rachel Belinski - 21 Nov 1900 - Unpaid Domestic Duties Muriel Duxbury (Belinski) - 31 May 1922 - Coat Machinist Sorry, this record is officially closed Joan Sills (Belinski) - 08 Aug 1926 - At School Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Memorial Tribute by: Firefighters Memorial Trust Fireman Solomon Belinski ( note different surname spelling) Brigade: AFS - Leeds Brigade: AFS - Leeds Date Injured: 15 March 1941 Location Injured: City Museum, Park Row, Leeds Died: 01 April 1941 Age: 41 Location Died: Leeds General Infirmary Cause of Death: Injuries resulting from enemy action Current Fire Authority: West Yorkshire Fireman Solomon Belinski | Names on the Firefighters Memorial Page 297 | The Firefighters Memorial Trust In Memoriam Book
UK, WWII Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945 Name: Soloman Belinsky Estimated Birth Year: abt 1898 Death Date: 1 Apr 1941 Death Place: Leeds, Yorkshire West Riding, England Age at Death: 43 Spouse: Rachel Belinsky UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current Name: Soloman Belinsky Death Date: 1 Apr 1941 Cemetery: Farnley Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: New Farnley, Metropolitan Borough of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England Has Bio?: Y URL: https://www.findagrave.com/mem... TD