An elderly woman today told how she watched the only Colchester firefighter killed in the line of duty fall to his death.

Phyllis Whittaker was just nine years old and on a birthday outing to Colchester on the fateful day, July 31, 1923.

She had travelled with a neighbour from her home in Ardleigh for a treat - a glass of lemonade at a High Street tea shop next to the Hippodrome.

She never got her lemonade, because while they were in town they saw firefighters from Colchester Corporation Fire Brigade tackling a blaze at Paul's cycle shop.

They joined a crowd which had gathered to watch the drama.

Mrs Whittaker, 84, of Abbots Road, Colchester, said: "We stopped and looked up. The blaze was not so bad then but I could see a fireman up there on the roof. They didn't have long ladders in those days.

"I saw the chimney stack wobbling, it was as if it was waving in the breeze and it came down and it looked as if the fireman went straight into the flames.

"He crashed to the ground and the whole crowd screamed, the ladies cried and I screamed as well.

"They didn't have ambulances in those days and he was taken by handcart to Essex County Hospital."

Mrs Whittaker came forward to speak about her memories after reading last week the dead firefighter Lieutenant Frank Naylor had lain in an unmarked grave for more than 70 years.

She said: "I have got an extremely good memory. I realised a fireman had fallen but now know he didn't fall into the fire.

"That's all I ever saw and that was quite enough."

Her birthday treat was cut short and instead her neighbour took her back into town the following week, unaware it was the day of Mr Naylor's funeral.

Mrs Whittaker said: "We saw the fire engine come slowly down High Street with the coffin on it. The firemen were collecting for the widow and my neighbour gave me tuppence to put in it.

"I am so glad that he is to get a headstone at last."

Mr Naylor's headstone will be unveiled at a special ceremony at Colchester Cemetery on July 31.

His grandson Brian Baker, of Shelley Road, Lexden, organised the event and other family members will attend along with Colchester firefighters and borough dignitaries.

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