Plaque to honour Leeds WWII firefighter Solomon Belinsky

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by dbf, Nov 3, 2018.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Plaque to honour WWII firefighter's death
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    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.

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    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.


    =========================================================
    :poppy:

    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.
     
  2. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    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.
     
  3. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    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
     
    harkness, Leeds Andy, 4jonboy and 2 others like this.
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    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
    41234_1831109387_0495-00047.jpg

    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
     
    CL1, 4jonboy and dbf like this.

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