Grave No.9 - John Richard Rolfe.

This is the grave of a local man who is now recorded nationally in the Police Roll of Honour as he lost his life during police service when he perished at a fire on the premises of George Mence Smith, Market Square, Margate, on January 23rd 1905. The shop owners paid for the memorial in recognition of his bravery.

The fire started at 1.20am on the morning of Monday the 23rd of January 1905. 

The shop contained quantities of paraffin, turpentine, methylated spirits, linseed oil, matches and candles. Mr Richard Haddon, 51 year old manager, lived on the premises with his wife Mary Ann, 48, his 16 year old daughter Dorothy, son Harry Bayley and servant Alice Steadman, aged 19. Hearing cries for help Constables Lepper, Creed and Rolfe rushed from the nearby Police Station. They saw Mr Haddon wearing his nightclothes standing in the doorway of number 17 number 18 was burning fiercely.

Once Mr Haddon had summoned help he darted back through the flames to rescue his wife and family, closely followed by Constable Rolfe. Mr Haddon, finding escape through the shop impossible, got his wife and daughter to the middle landing of number 18 where they would be able to drop from a passage window, about 14 feet, onto the lower roof of number 17. Mr Haddon went first, followed by his wife. While he was attempting to break his wife’s fall his daughter jumped and landed on top of them, breaking his arm, and three of his wife’s ribs with Dorothy suffering serious head injuries. Meanwhile, Constables Creed and Lepper, with help from Mr George Miles of the Crown Hotel, Mr T Stroud of the Wellington Hotel and Mr. J Crowther a fruiterer of 7b Market Place who obtained a ladder and raised it against the side of the wall, found Mr Haddon with his wife and daughter on the roof; the rescue party then helped them to the ground. Harry, the son, managed to escape through the front entrance of number 17 and the servant Alice made her escape via the rear entrance. Mr and Miss Haddon were taken to the Crown Hotel, Mrs Haddon was taken to the premises of Mr Crowther; they all received medical attention. But Mr Haddon re-entered the building and was followed by P.C. Rolfe. Once inside P.C. Rolfe asked Mr Haddon if he had a light, as the smoke was so thick, Mr Haddon turned up the gas light, but it would not burn, so that indicated that there was very little oxygen in the building. Mr Haddon heard P.C. Rolfe stumble, he warned him to be careful and that was the last he heard of him. It seems that when Mr Haddon turned off the stairs onto the middle landing, P.C. Rolfe made his way to the top floor to see if anyone was there and was almost immediately overcome, as the heat and fumes were trapped at the top of the stairwell, with no outlet. The Fire Brigade received the call at 1.22am and were on the scene at 1.30am; Mr Haddon had managed to vacate the building and reported to them that there was no one left on the premises, mistakenly believing that P.C. Rolfe had made his way out. The fire was under control remarkably quickly, but in the confusion it was not until well after 2am that P.C. Rolfe was missed. Two firemen entered the building and found him lying on his back on the top of the landing, grasping the banister, calling for help. They took P.C. Rolfe out to Newbys Place and tried artificial resuscitation.

The Police Surgeon arrived and had him taken to the Police Station where he carried out a full examination and pronounced him dead at 3.15am, asphyxiation being the cause. The poor man had been due to marry in three months time.

Turn around from Richard Rolfe’s Grave and opposite the Surf Boat Memorial you will see the Grave of George Baker. George Baker is the first grave you visit in this section who died as a result of a tragic accident.