Charles William Busby
Charles William Busby lost his life in the line of duty on 19th August 1940. His Red Plaque was unveiled on 24th October 2026.
Charles William Busby, a 60 year old retired firefighter, was a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service. Charles died on 19th August 1940 during an air raid on the British Oxygen Works on Armer Street in Rotherham.
At a special ceremony at Rotherham fire station, a red plaque was unveiled in Charles honour alongside four other fallen firefighters; John Pollard, Patrick Dalton, Dennis Thompson and Enoch Leadbetter. The five fallen fighters will be remembered by colleagues, families and the wider community for many years to come. A one-minute silence was observed, the plaques were blessed by the fire service chaplain and wreaths were laid while a piper from The City of Sheffield Pipe Band played. Michael Busby, laid a wreath in remembrance of his great-great grandfather.
Alex Wilson, the FBU’s local organiser in South Yorkshire, said:
“It reminds us in the fire service that despite the passage of time and the improvements in health and safety and PPE and procedure, our profession of firefighting remains sometimes perilous.”
Please help support our Firefighters with the Firefighters 100 Lottery, a weekly online lottery created to support firefighters, their bereaved families and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters killed in the line of duty. With your help we can have schemes such as the Red Plaque Project for memorials to those lives lost.
Learn about the history of the Red Plaque Project and discover other Firefighters that have also received Red Plaques.
Photo credits: Mark Pinder
