Monument to Thomas George Ashford and Henry Berg

The monument commemorates Thomas George Ashford and Henry Berg and consists of a high square plinth topped with a simple cross featuring fireman’s tools in high relief, including a helmet, a belt, two nozzles, and two axes with covered blades. The original inscription carved directly onto the plinth is now illegible. A granite plaque mounted over the original inscription honors only Thomas George Ashford, stating: ‘Thomas George Ashford, Assistant Officer stationed at Southwark, died as a result of injuries sustained at the Alhambra Theatre Fire 1882’. The original inscription, which has been lost, read: ‘In memory of First Class Fireman Thomas George Ashford, aged 34 years, and Fourth Class Fireman Henry Berg, aged 24 years, of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, who both died from the effects of the injuries they received at the burning of the Alhambra Theatre Leicester Square on the 7th December 1882. This memorial was erected by their Officers, comrades and friends to commemorate the loss of two good men, whose lives were sacrificed by their devotion to their duty.’