He was the first fireman to die in the line of duty in Toronto possibly all of Canada.
Information from the Retired North York Firefighters Publication
William Thornton, a member of the Number One Hook and Ladder Company, along with other members of the Brigade, answered a fire alarm, on King Street near Church Street, signaled by the St. James Church bell in the early morning hours of November 22nd, 1848. The Brigade faced a rapidly advancing fire in a row of three storey buildings. They set up a defensive action to prevent the spread of the fire and in this endeavour they were partly successful as they stopped the spread to the west. During the overhaul phases William Thornton was struck on the head by a falling stone window sill and suffered a severely fractured skull. He was carried back to the fire hall by his fellow fire fighters where he was tended to by Dr. Telfer and then taken home. He passed two days later. He lay in an unmarked grave for one hundred and fifty five years.
From member 7884946, William was a volunteer firefighter with the Toronto Fire Department. He was laid to rest on Nov. 26, 1848. National Memorial Location 13.
Information from the Retired North York Firefighters Publication
William Thornton, a member of the Number One Hook and Ladder Company, along with other members of the Brigade, answered a fire alarm, on King Street near Church Street, signaled by the St. James Church bell in the early morning hours of November 22nd, 1848. The Brigade faced a rapidly advancing fire in a row of three storey buildings. They set up a defensive action to prevent the spread of the fire and in this endeavour they were partly successful as they stopped the spread to the west. During the overhaul phases William Thornton was struck on the head by a falling stone window sill and suffered a severely fractured skull. He was carried back to the fire hall by his fellow fire fighters where he was tended to by Dr. Telfer and then taken home. He passed two days later. He lay in an unmarked grave for one hundred and fifty five years.
From member 7884946, William was a volunteer firefighter with the Toronto Fire Department. He was laid to rest on Nov. 26, 1848. National Memorial Location 13.
He was the first fireman to die in the line of duty in Toronto possibly all of Canada.
Information from the Retired North York Firefighters Publication
William Thornton, a member of the Number One Hook and Ladder Company, along with other members of the Brigade, answered a fire alarm, on King Street near Church Street, signaled by the St. James Church bell in the early morning hours of November 22nd, 1848. The Brigade faced a rapidly advancing fire in a row of three storey buildings. They set up a defensive action to prevent the spread of the fire and in this endeavour they were partly successful as they stopped the spread to the west. During the overhaul phases William Thornton was struck on the head by a falling stone window sill and suffered a severely fractured skull. He was carried back to the fire hall by his fellow fire fighters where he was tended to by Dr. Telfer and then taken home. He passed two days later. He lay in an unmarked grave for one hundred and fifty five years.
From member 7884946, William was a volunteer firefighter with the Toronto Fire Department. He was laid to rest on Nov. 26, 1848. National Memorial Location 13.
Information from the Retired North York Firefighters Publication
William Thornton, a member of the Number One Hook and Ladder Company, along with other members of the Brigade, answered a fire alarm, on King Street near Church Street, signaled by the St. James Church bell in the early morning hours of November 22nd, 1848. The Brigade faced a rapidly advancing fire in a row of three storey buildings. They set up a defensive action to prevent the spread of the fire and in this endeavour they were partly successful as they stopped the spread to the west. During the overhaul phases William Thornton was struck on the head by a falling stone window sill and suffered a severely fractured skull. He was carried back to the fire hall by his fellow fire fighters where he was tended to by Dr. Telfer and then taken home. He passed two days later. He lay in an unmarked grave for one hundred and fifty five years.
From member 7884946, William was a volunteer firefighter with the Toronto Fire Department. He was laid to rest on Nov. 26, 1848. National Memorial Location 13.
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