Hatton Garden

HATTON GARDEN

14-16 Hatton Garden. Liverpool Fire Salvage Association’s headquarters

On the night of 3rd May 1941 enemy bombs hit the Salvage Brigade HQ, Transport offices and the Fire Brigade HQ, all located in Hatton Garden.

A blaze had broken out at a garage in nearby Johnson Street, just behind the Salvage HQ building. Firemen, A.F.S men and soldiers went to tackle the fire. The Salvage HQ recieved a direct hit, with the bomb crashing through the roof and floors below before exploding, Reports give the time of impact as between 11.58pm and 12.12am.Arthur Thornhill ( acting deputy Superintendent ) was fighting the Johnson Street garage fire at the time of the explosion. A Salvageman working alongside him, Howell AP Einion Jones was sadly killed by the blast. Thornhill kept fighting the blaze despite the risk of danger to himself.

Acting deputy Superintendent Arthur Thornhill
Photo Courtesy of ' Liverpool's Finest '

Inside the Salvage HQ the blast killed second officer Ainsworth Spence Hodgson and Superintendent Henry Cooke. Henry Cooke's wife and children were in the air raid shelter at the HQ and survived the bombing. On 30th May 1941 Henry Cooke ( After his death ) was awarded The British Empire Medal for his bravery while fighting a fire at the Custom House in 1940. Salvageman David William Allister was on duty at the time of the bombing, his wife Doris and daughters Joan and Irene had gone to shelter at the Salvage HQ from their home in Johnson street, sadly they were all killed in the bombing.

Superintendent Henry Cooke
Photo Courtesy of ' Liverpool's Finest '

The buildings on Johnson street that stand directly behind where the Salvage HQ building stood. It was here that the garage fire was fought and where Salvageman Howell AP Einion Jones was killed.

A house still standing in Johnson Street directly behind the old Fire Salvage HQ

Inside the Salvage building was Salvageman J.Kearney who had been in the duty room at the time of the blast. Knowing that the Blackout curtains were gone he threw debris on the fireplace to put out the coal fire. Then he went to the aid of those in the basement shelter and brought out the family of Henry Cooke.

Salvageman John Ingles Hovendon was on duty inside the building as the blast hit. He acted as deputy during the night assiting the rescue of others and showing courage beyond the call of duty.

Salvageman John Ingles Hovendon
Photo Courtesy of ' Liverpool's Finest '

Deputy Superintendent Harry Cooper had sheltered with others beneath the stone staircase of the Salvage building. On noticing the death of his two superiors he took command. He was later commended for his actions this night. He was described as showing coolness and disregard for his own danger. All through that night he gave complete confidence to all in his command at HQ. On 30th May 1941 he was awarded The British Empire Medal for his bravery while fighting a fire at the Custom House in 1940.

Deputy Superintendent Harry Cooper
Photo Courtesy of ' Liverpool's Finest '

The Salvage HQ building was badly damaged and unsafe. Those sheltering in the basement where escorted outside and taken to the shelter in the basement of the Transport department next door. However this building was hit by a high explosive bomb and Incendiary bombs that started a huge fire on the 4th floor. Everyone had to be moved again, this time to the shelter in the Fire department across the street. Incendiary bombs also hit the Fire building causing a blaze up on its roof, but it was dealt with quickly.

Deputy Superintendent Harry Cooper and Acting deputy Superintendent Arthur Thornhill were both stood down for rest at 8pm on 4th May after serving their duties for over 36 hours. Along with many unmentioned Salvagemen they worked tirelessly to protect the city. We owe them so much
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The following people are known to have died as a result of the bombings and are connected in one way or another to Hatton Garden.

DORIS ALLISTER
died 04/05/1941 1941, aged 42
of 5 Salvage Cottages, Johnson Street. Wife of David William Allister. Died at Hatton Garden.

IRENE ALLISTER
died 04/05/1941 1941, aged 13
of 5 Salvage Cottages, Johnson Street. Daughter of David William Allister, and of Doris Allister. Died at Hatton Garden.

JOAN ALLISTER
died 04/05/1941 1941, aged 14
of 4 Salvage Cottages, Johnson Street. Daughter of David William Allister, and of Doris Allister. Died at Hatton Garden.

HENRY COOKE
died 04/05/1941 1941, aged 46
Superintendent Fire Salvage Corps; of 10 Salvage Cottages. Died at North Street.
Awarded the British Empire Medal

AINSWORTH SPENCE HODGSON
died 04/05/1941 1941, aged 54
Second Officer, Fire Salvage Corps; of 46 Teehey Lane, Bebington, Cheshire. Died at North Street, Liverpool

HOWELL AP-EINION JONES
died 04/05/1941 1941, aged 40
Fire Salvage Officer. Husband of Hilda Myfanwy Jones, of 6 Rudd Street, Hoylake, Cheshire. Died at Fire Salvage Station, Hatton Garden.

ALBERT EDWARD OWEN
died 07/05/1941, aged 27
Fireman, London A.F.S.; of 40 Carnegie Street, Barnsbury, London. Husband of Ruby Kathleen Owen. Injured 6 May 1941, at Vauxhall Road, Hatton Garden; died at Royal Infirmary.

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24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool Corporation Transport Department

The Merseyside May Blitz lasted between 1 and 8 May 1941. During this time 681 German bombers dropped 870 tonnes of high explosive bombs and over 112,000 incendiaries.

This was the last major air raid on the area and, by the end of it, much of the city centre and docks were devastated with 1,450 people killed in Liverpool and many more casualties. In the middle of the May Blitz, 24 Hatton Garden suffered damage.

At 12 minutes past midnight on the morning of Sunday 4 May 1941, the Fire Salvage Association’s headquarters at 14-16 Hatton Garden (next door to No.24) suffered a direct hit and collapsed. At this time there were service cottages for the families of the Association’s officers at the rear in Johnson Street. A number of them who were sheltering in the basement were killed including DSO Major Hodgson (who had only commenced his duties with the Association the previous day), the wife and two children of Sm Allister, Superintendent Cooke and Sm Jones who was running a hose out to fight a fire in Johnson Street.

The impact blew the Association’s Chevrolet tender across the street and a car was also thrown across Hatton Garden where it rested on two wheels against the gates of the fire station yard.

Other family members who had not been sheltering in the Association’s building then took refuge in the shelters that had been constructed in the basement of No. 24 but had to be evacuated when the top floor of the building caught fire. The fire was contained but the top floor remained out of action for the remainder of the War.

Letter from the Transport archives stating the damage to the building and repair work needed.

On 1 December 1945, The Ministry of War Transport Authority authorised the rebuilding of the fourth floor at an estimated cost of £17,000 and tenders were invited which were to be submitted to the Passenger Transport Committee.

Entrance to 24 Hatton Garden. LCPT Department home during WW2 and now the head office for Merseytravel

Front View of 24 Hatton Garden. A wonderful Building

During the bombing some members off staff ran back into Hatton Garden and rescued many of the record books.

Another "war record" document which was done at the end of the war states that 18 Liverpool members of staff were killed due to "enemy air action" and 45 were killed in action or reported missing.

24 Hatton Garden. You can see along the side wall where the 4th floor was rebuilt. The bottom photo shows the newer building to the far right, this is where the Fire Salvage Association’s headquarters stood

Many of the LCPT staff joined the Liverpool passenger transport 90th battalion of the Home Guard to serve their country on the home front.

The staff did so much to help the war effort, such as ARP training, assembly of government vehicles, training of army personnel in the maintenance of heavy vehicles, training of ambulance and PAC drivers, distribution of civil defence uniforms, emergency lighting at the docks, painting of warden and fire guard helments, adn much more! There does not seem to be much out there at all to recognise these people who kept the cities moving in the most strenuous of situations. For this reason alone we think it would be great to recognise these people.

With thanks to Erica Johnston and Merseytravel for their help with the research of this story

Plaque from the 2nd floor at 24 Hatton Garden. In appreciation to it's workforce

A recent and old photo of the Transport Office. Note the top floor ( 4th ) You can see how it was altered due to rebuilding after the WW2 bombing.

The former Strong Room for the Liverpool Corporation Transport Department. This is where the days takings where kept overnight. Located in the basement of the building the room was used as an Air Raid shelter during WW2 and is probably where they moved people too when the Fire Salvage HQ was bombed. It is now used as a storeroom for Merseytravel.

The old Tram Garage showing the Tram lines

Tram lines and old window in the former Tram garage

An old Light fitting in the Tram Garage. It also shows the tiles that cover this building almost everywhere, and still after all this time remain in fantastic condition

The 18th Hussars stand guard outside the Tramway offices during the 1911 transport strike

Old photo of the Transport Building

At the bottom of this page you will find Transport Posters from WW2 from the Merseytravel archives
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Liverpool Central Fire Station, Hatton Garden

The Central Fire Station first opened in 1858 and served the Liverpool area until its closure in 2002. It was a major player during WW2 as its workers fought to save the city from the countless fires that were brought on by the blitz.

The work done by the Fire Brigade, Auxiliary fire Service, Salvage Brigade, Police, ARP, Rescue Parties, Doctors, Nurses, First Aid, and the many other workers and civilians of this city during these awful times should never be forgotten or underestimated. They gave so much themselves in their efforts to save and protect others. So many people owe them their lives. We should always remember just how much they did.

The Central Fire Station. In the above photo you can see the Fire Watch Tower. This was also Hatton Garden Police Station. Until Sept 41 the Liverpool Fire Brigade was H Division of the Liverpool City Police.

Looking at the Fire Station from Dale Street

Doorways at the Fire Station

An early photo of the Fire Station

LIVERPOOL'S FINEST by GAVIN BASSIE; I would recommend people to read this excellent book. It contains detailed accounts of incidents dealt with by the fire service as well as a history of the brigade. Superb photographs throughout. A must read for anyone with an interest in the Liverpool Fire Service.

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A selection of wartime transport posters and tickets from the Merseytravel archive

Not the war. But it made me laugh