Holder of the Edward Medal (precursor to the George Cross)
Andrea (papers refer to him also as Andreas and Andrew) was born in Bradford on 9th January 1877, the son of Thomas Angel, an Inland Revenue Supervisor, and his wife Angelina, the daughter of St George Stock, a University Lecturer and philosopher. He had an older brother Lorenzo, and younger sister Muriel. His maternal grandfather was an Italian refugee who, after ten years’ imprisonment in northern Italy, on political grounds, escaped to the UK.
He was educated at Exeter School and won an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford graduating with a First in 1899. He subsequently became an MA in 1903, and was awarded a BSc (today an MSc) “for his brilliant research work”. He then became a Chemistry lecturer at Brasenose and Keble Colleges before returning to Christ Church to run its laboratory as a Tutor and Lecturer in Chemistry.
In 1904 he married Mary Letitia Stock in Headington and they had two daughters. His youngest daughter Heather Grace (born 1909) went on to become a distinguished Hollywood actress of the 1930’s and 40’s, and spent most of her life in California, where she died in 1986. Heather Angel has a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the film industry. Her star is located at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard.
Andrea volunteered for war work and was recruited near the beginning of the First World War by the Brunner Mond Company to oversee TNT processing.
For the next two and a half years, as the world fought, he was hard at work overseeing the production of TNT at the Brunner Mond factory in London’s Silvertown. In the evening of Friday 19 January 1917, a fire broke out in one of the upper rooms of the factory; realising that there was no stopping the fire, Dr Angel’s priority was to get the workers, largely composed of women and girls, into a place of safety. Fearing that not everyone had managed to escape and knowing that a massive explosion was inevitable, he re-entered the building. At 6.52 pm, a huge explosion ripped through the factory; reports told of the explosion being heard 100 miles away in Southampton and the fires which came after were seen 30 miles away in Guildford.
The explosion was caused by 50 tons of TNT (much of which was loaded onto nearby railway wagons ready to be transported out) being set off by a fire in the ‘melt-pot’ room; many buildings in the immediate location were instantly obliterated. Large, red hot lumps of metal erupted from the explosion spreading the fire for miles around and causing damage to an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 properties. The financial loss from the damage caused amounted to £2,500,000; the human cost was the loss of the lives of 73 people and injuries to a further 400. Had the fire not occurred so late in the day and at the end of the working week, the number of fatalities and injuries would easily have been significantly worse.
Dr Angel was 40 years old when he died; he left a widow, Mary and two young daughters, Marion and Heather. He was identified by his clothing by his wife. The Stratford Express reported in 1917 that a memorial service was held at Christ Church, Oxford, where he had been a tutor in chemistry to non-collegiate students since 1903 until the outbreak of war. “His teaching made a great impression on pupils and he was universally respected,” said the paper.
He was laid to rest in a quiet ceremony attended by only a handful of people at East London Cemetery.
“The service was of the simplest nature, except for the fact that the grave was lined the purple cloth,” the Express reporter revealed. “The utmost secrecy was maintained. The cortege consisted of an open hearse and was met at the (cemetery) gates by the Mayor and representative of the Town Clerk’s department, together with directors of the factory. There were less than a dozen people in all, among them being the widow.
“There were floral tributes from the directors of the factory and its employees, one of single daffodils ‘from his children’ and another of pink and red carnations ‘from his wife’.
“A wreath of laurels, tied with scarlet ribbon, was inscribed from “The borough’s respectful homage.”
On 27 January 1917 The Stratford Express stated in its editorial column that: “First and foremost, there is the heroic conduct of Dr Angel whose body has at last been found amongst the ruins of the factory. Had he been a craven coward he might possibly have escaped with his life, but like a true English gentleman – knowing full well the potentialities of such a fire at the factory – he remained on the spot where he felt his duty to be.”
His Estate amounted to £374 18s. 3d. Probate granted 3rd May 1917 to Mary Leticia Angel, Widow, of 15 Banbury Road Oxford.
Though a civilian, Dr Angel’s name appears on the World War One memorials at Exeter School, Christ Church Cathedral and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He is also remembered on the memorial stone located near the site of the explosion, now in the middle of the Royal Wharf development.
A Blue Plaque was unveiled in 2018 on the site of his Banbury Road home by the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board.
For his bravery, on 24 March 1917, the Edward Medal was accepted by Mary Angel on behalf of her husband from King George V
EM CITATION: (The Edward Medal was replaced in 1941 by The George Cross)
Also the Edward Medal of the First Class to the representatives of Dr Andrea Angel and Mr. George Wenborne, who lost their lives in endeavouring to save the lives of others on the occasion of a fire which broke out at the Silvertown Chemical Works on the 19th January, 1917, and His Majesty has been graciously pleased to award the King's Police Medal to the representative of Police Constable George Brown Greenoff, who lost his life on the same occasion.
The location of his medal is unknown.
(majority of the biography reproduced with kind permission of Mark Green from his VC Online website)
Andrea (papers refer to him also as Andreas and Andrew) was born in Bradford on 9th January 1877, the son of Thomas Angel, an Inland Revenue Supervisor, and his wife Angelina, the daughter of St George Stock, a University Lecturer and philosopher. He had an older brother Lorenzo, and younger sister Muriel. His maternal grandfather was an Italian refugee who, after ten years’ imprisonment in northern Italy, on political grounds, escaped to the UK.
He was educated at Exeter School and won an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford graduating with a First in 1899. He subsequently became an MA in 1903, and was awarded a BSc (today an MSc) “for his brilliant research work”. He then became a Chemistry lecturer at Brasenose and Keble Colleges before returning to Christ Church to run its laboratory as a Tutor and Lecturer in Chemistry.
In 1904 he married Mary Letitia Stock in Headington and they had two daughters. His youngest daughter Heather Grace (born 1909) went on to become a distinguished Hollywood actress of the 1930’s and 40’s, and spent most of her life in California, where she died in 1986. Heather Angel has a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the film industry. Her star is located at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard.
Andrea volunteered for war work and was recruited near the beginning of the First World War by the Brunner Mond Company to oversee TNT processing.
For the next two and a half years, as the world fought, he was hard at work overseeing the production of TNT at the Brunner Mond factory in London’s Silvertown. In the evening of Friday 19 January 1917, a fire broke out in one of the upper rooms of the factory; realising that there was no stopping the fire, Dr Angel’s priority was to get the workers, largely composed of women and girls, into a place of safety. Fearing that not everyone had managed to escape and knowing that a massive explosion was inevitable, he re-entered the building. At 6.52 pm, a huge explosion ripped through the factory; reports told of the explosion being heard 100 miles away in Southampton and the fires which came after were seen 30 miles away in Guildford.
The explosion was caused by 50 tons of TNT (much of which was loaded onto nearby railway wagons ready to be transported out) being set off by a fire in the ‘melt-pot’ room; many buildings in the immediate location were instantly obliterated. Large, red hot lumps of metal erupted from the explosion spreading the fire for miles around and causing damage to an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 properties. The financial loss from the damage caused amounted to £2,500,000; the human cost was the loss of the lives of 73 people and injuries to a further 400. Had the fire not occurred so late in the day and at the end of the working week, the number of fatalities and injuries would easily have been significantly worse.
Dr Angel was 40 years old when he died; he left a widow, Mary and two young daughters, Marion and Heather. He was identified by his clothing by his wife. The Stratford Express reported in 1917 that a memorial service was held at Christ Church, Oxford, where he had been a tutor in chemistry to non-collegiate students since 1903 until the outbreak of war. “His teaching made a great impression on pupils and he was universally respected,” said the paper.
He was laid to rest in a quiet ceremony attended by only a handful of people at East London Cemetery.
“The service was of the simplest nature, except for the fact that the grave was lined the purple cloth,” the Express reporter revealed. “The utmost secrecy was maintained. The cortege consisted of an open hearse and was met at the (cemetery) gates by the Mayor and representative of the Town Clerk’s department, together with directors of the factory. There were less than a dozen people in all, among them being the widow.
“There were floral tributes from the directors of the factory and its employees, one of single daffodils ‘from his children’ and another of pink and red carnations ‘from his wife’.
“A wreath of laurels, tied with scarlet ribbon, was inscribed from “The borough’s respectful homage.”
On 27 January 1917 The Stratford Express stated in its editorial column that: “First and foremost, there is the heroic conduct of Dr Angel whose body has at last been found amongst the ruins of the factory. Had he been a craven coward he might possibly have escaped with his life, but like a true English gentleman – knowing full well the potentialities of such a fire at the factory – he remained on the spot where he felt his duty to be.”
His Estate amounted to £374 18s. 3d. Probate granted 3rd May 1917 to Mary Leticia Angel, Widow, of 15 Banbury Road Oxford.
Though a civilian, Dr Angel’s name appears on the World War One memorials at Exeter School, Christ Church Cathedral and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He is also remembered on the memorial stone located near the site of the explosion, now in the middle of the Royal Wharf development.
A Blue Plaque was unveiled in 2018 on the site of his Banbury Road home by the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board.
For his bravery, on 24 March 1917, the Edward Medal was accepted by Mary Angel on behalf of her husband from King George V
EM CITATION: (The Edward Medal was replaced in 1941 by The George Cross)
Also the Edward Medal of the First Class to the representatives of Dr Andrea Angel and Mr. George Wenborne, who lost their lives in endeavouring to save the lives of others on the occasion of a fire which broke out at the Silvertown Chemical Works on the 19th January, 1917, and His Majesty has been graciously pleased to award the King's Police Medal to the representative of Police Constable George Brown Greenoff, who lost his life on the same occasion.
The location of his medal is unknown.
(majority of the biography reproduced with kind permission of Mark Green from his VC Online website)
Holder of the Edward Medal (precursor to the George Cross)
Andrea (papers refer to him also as Andreas and Andrew) was born in Bradford on 9th January 1877, the son of Thomas Angel, an Inland Revenue Supervisor, and his wife Angelina, the daughter of St George Stock, a University Lecturer and philosopher. He had an older brother Lorenzo, and younger sister Muriel. His maternal grandfather was an Italian refugee who, after ten years’ imprisonment in northern Italy, on political grounds, escaped to the UK.
He was educated at Exeter School and won an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford graduating with a First in 1899. He subsequently became an MA in 1903, and was awarded a BSc (today an MSc) “for his brilliant research work”. He then became a Chemistry lecturer at Brasenose and Keble Colleges before returning to Christ Church to run its laboratory as a Tutor and Lecturer in Chemistry.
In 1904 he married Mary Letitia Stock in Headington and they had two daughters. His youngest daughter Heather Grace (born 1909) went on to become a distinguished Hollywood actress of the 1930’s and 40’s, and spent most of her life in California, where she died in 1986. Heather Angel has a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the film industry. Her star is located at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard.
Andrea volunteered for war work and was recruited near the beginning of the First World War by the Brunner Mond Company to oversee TNT processing.
For the next two and a half years, as the world fought, he was hard at work overseeing the production of TNT at the Brunner Mond factory in London’s Silvertown. In the evening of Friday 19 January 1917, a fire broke out in one of the upper rooms of the factory; realising that there was no stopping the fire, Dr Angel’s priority was to get the workers, largely composed of women and girls, into a place of safety. Fearing that not everyone had managed to escape and knowing that a massive explosion was inevitable, he re-entered the building. At 6.52 pm, a huge explosion ripped through the factory; reports told of the explosion being heard 100 miles away in Southampton and the fires which came after were seen 30 miles away in Guildford.
The explosion was caused by 50 tons of TNT (much of which was loaded onto nearby railway wagons ready to be transported out) being set off by a fire in the ‘melt-pot’ room; many buildings in the immediate location were instantly obliterated. Large, red hot lumps of metal erupted from the explosion spreading the fire for miles around and causing damage to an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 properties. The financial loss from the damage caused amounted to £2,500,000; the human cost was the loss of the lives of 73 people and injuries to a further 400. Had the fire not occurred so late in the day and at the end of the working week, the number of fatalities and injuries would easily have been significantly worse.
Dr Angel was 40 years old when he died; he left a widow, Mary and two young daughters, Marion and Heather. He was identified by his clothing by his wife. The Stratford Express reported in 1917 that a memorial service was held at Christ Church, Oxford, where he had been a tutor in chemistry to non-collegiate students since 1903 until the outbreak of war. “His teaching made a great impression on pupils and he was universally respected,” said the paper.
He was laid to rest in a quiet ceremony attended by only a handful of people at East London Cemetery.
“The service was of the simplest nature, except for the fact that the grave was lined the purple cloth,” the Express reporter revealed. “The utmost secrecy was maintained. The cortege consisted of an open hearse and was met at the (cemetery) gates by the Mayor and representative of the Town Clerk’s department, together with directors of the factory. There were less than a dozen people in all, among them being the widow.
“There were floral tributes from the directors of the factory and its employees, one of single daffodils ‘from his children’ and another of pink and red carnations ‘from his wife’.
“A wreath of laurels, tied with scarlet ribbon, was inscribed from “The borough’s respectful homage.”
On 27 January 1917 The Stratford Express stated in its editorial column that: “First and foremost, there is the heroic conduct of Dr Angel whose body has at last been found amongst the ruins of the factory. Had he been a craven coward he might possibly have escaped with his life, but like a true English gentleman – knowing full well the potentialities of such a fire at the factory – he remained on the spot where he felt his duty to be.”
His Estate amounted to £374 18s. 3d. Probate granted 3rd May 1917 to Mary Leticia Angel, Widow, of 15 Banbury Road Oxford.
Though a civilian, Dr Angel’s name appears on the World War One memorials at Exeter School, Christ Church Cathedral and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He is also remembered on the memorial stone located near the site of the explosion, now in the middle of the Royal Wharf development.
A Blue Plaque was unveiled in 2018 on the site of his Banbury Road home by the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board.
For his bravery, on 24 March 1917, the Edward Medal was accepted by Mary Angel on behalf of her husband from King George V
EM CITATION: (The Edward Medal was replaced in 1941 by The George Cross)
Also the Edward Medal of the First Class to the representatives of Dr Andrea Angel and Mr. George Wenborne, who lost their lives in endeavouring to save the lives of others on the occasion of a fire which broke out at the Silvertown Chemical Works on the 19th January, 1917, and His Majesty has been graciously pleased to award the King's Police Medal to the representative of Police Constable George Brown Greenoff, who lost his life on the same occasion.
The location of his medal is unknown.
(majority of the biography reproduced with kind permission of Mark Green from his VC Online website)
Andrea (papers refer to him also as Andreas and Andrew) was born in Bradford on 9th January 1877, the son of Thomas Angel, an Inland Revenue Supervisor, and his wife Angelina, the daughter of St George Stock, a University Lecturer and philosopher. He had an older brother Lorenzo, and younger sister Muriel. His maternal grandfather was an Italian refugee who, after ten years’ imprisonment in northern Italy, on political grounds, escaped to the UK.
He was educated at Exeter School and won an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford graduating with a First in 1899. He subsequently became an MA in 1903, and was awarded a BSc (today an MSc) “for his brilliant research work”. He then became a Chemistry lecturer at Brasenose and Keble Colleges before returning to Christ Church to run its laboratory as a Tutor and Lecturer in Chemistry.
In 1904 he married Mary Letitia Stock in Headington and they had two daughters. His youngest daughter Heather Grace (born 1909) went on to become a distinguished Hollywood actress of the 1930’s and 40’s, and spent most of her life in California, where she died in 1986. Heather Angel has a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the film industry. Her star is located at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard.
Andrea volunteered for war work and was recruited near the beginning of the First World War by the Brunner Mond Company to oversee TNT processing.
For the next two and a half years, as the world fought, he was hard at work overseeing the production of TNT at the Brunner Mond factory in London’s Silvertown. In the evening of Friday 19 January 1917, a fire broke out in one of the upper rooms of the factory; realising that there was no stopping the fire, Dr Angel’s priority was to get the workers, largely composed of women and girls, into a place of safety. Fearing that not everyone had managed to escape and knowing that a massive explosion was inevitable, he re-entered the building. At 6.52 pm, a huge explosion ripped through the factory; reports told of the explosion being heard 100 miles away in Southampton and the fires which came after were seen 30 miles away in Guildford.
The explosion was caused by 50 tons of TNT (much of which was loaded onto nearby railway wagons ready to be transported out) being set off by a fire in the ‘melt-pot’ room; many buildings in the immediate location were instantly obliterated. Large, red hot lumps of metal erupted from the explosion spreading the fire for miles around and causing damage to an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 properties. The financial loss from the damage caused amounted to £2,500,000; the human cost was the loss of the lives of 73 people and injuries to a further 400. Had the fire not occurred so late in the day and at the end of the working week, the number of fatalities and injuries would easily have been significantly worse.
Dr Angel was 40 years old when he died; he left a widow, Mary and two young daughters, Marion and Heather. He was identified by his clothing by his wife. The Stratford Express reported in 1917 that a memorial service was held at Christ Church, Oxford, where he had been a tutor in chemistry to non-collegiate students since 1903 until the outbreak of war. “His teaching made a great impression on pupils and he was universally respected,” said the paper.
He was laid to rest in a quiet ceremony attended by only a handful of people at East London Cemetery.
“The service was of the simplest nature, except for the fact that the grave was lined the purple cloth,” the Express reporter revealed. “The utmost secrecy was maintained. The cortege consisted of an open hearse and was met at the (cemetery) gates by the Mayor and representative of the Town Clerk’s department, together with directors of the factory. There were less than a dozen people in all, among them being the widow.
“There were floral tributes from the directors of the factory and its employees, one of single daffodils ‘from his children’ and another of pink and red carnations ‘from his wife’.
“A wreath of laurels, tied with scarlet ribbon, was inscribed from “The borough’s respectful homage.”
On 27 January 1917 The Stratford Express stated in its editorial column that: “First and foremost, there is the heroic conduct of Dr Angel whose body has at last been found amongst the ruins of the factory. Had he been a craven coward he might possibly have escaped with his life, but like a true English gentleman – knowing full well the potentialities of such a fire at the factory – he remained on the spot where he felt his duty to be.”
His Estate amounted to £374 18s. 3d. Probate granted 3rd May 1917 to Mary Leticia Angel, Widow, of 15 Banbury Road Oxford.
Though a civilian, Dr Angel’s name appears on the World War One memorials at Exeter School, Christ Church Cathedral and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He is also remembered on the memorial stone located near the site of the explosion, now in the middle of the Royal Wharf development.
A Blue Plaque was unveiled in 2018 on the site of his Banbury Road home by the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board.
For his bravery, on 24 March 1917, the Edward Medal was accepted by Mary Angel on behalf of her husband from King George V
EM CITATION: (The Edward Medal was replaced in 1941 by The George Cross)
Also the Edward Medal of the First Class to the representatives of Dr Andrea Angel and Mr. George Wenborne, who lost their lives in endeavouring to save the lives of others on the occasion of a fire which broke out at the Silvertown Chemical Works on the 19th January, 1917, and His Majesty has been graciously pleased to award the King's Police Medal to the representative of Police Constable George Brown Greenoff, who lost his life on the same occasion.
The location of his medal is unknown.
(majority of the biography reproduced with kind permission of Mark Green from his VC Online website)
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