​​With estimates of 20,000-30,000 incendiary bombs being dropped on this area of London during the Luftwaffe (German Airforce) raid, hundreds of fires would breakout. 

​The Auxiliary Fire Service would deploy and try to do its best to manage all different scales and sizes of fire across this area of the city.  

​It was here at this location, Shoe Lane, that years later a scene from that night would be captured in a painting. An official British war artist, Leonard Rosoman painted the artwork ‘The Falling Wall, Shoe Lane’. 

​Rosoman was present at Shoe Lane on that night and narrowly escaped being injured or killed. He witnessed what took place and the memories remained with him. His artwork of the scene at Shoe Lane recalls images of that night. 

​Auxiliary Fireman Sidney Alfred Holder was here at this location on that night carrying out his duties and died when a building wall collapsed onto him causing catastrophic injuries. He is commemorated and remembered by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission that states he was 33 years of age and lived at 49 Cool Oak Lane, Hendon. He was injured at Wine Office Court and died the same day of his injuries near St Batholomew’s Hospital. Wine Office Court is just along Shoe Lane beyond where the memorial plaque is located. 

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​The plaque was unveiled on 11 August 2011 and reads- 

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​‘In Memory of 

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​Auxiliary Fireman 

​Sidney Alfred Holder 

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​Who died as a result of injuries received from a collapsing wall while fighting fire on this site in World War II on the night of the City Blitz 29-30 December 1940.’ 

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​The artwork of ‘The Falling Wall, Shoe Lane’ can be viewed here, https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/23296