Gerard was my great grand father. He was a fireman at Rozelle in Sydney NSW. He died on duty as described in "Fighting Fire" a history of NSW Fire Brigades.
"The hazards faced by firemen are exemplified by the bizarre death of Station Officer Augustus Gerard from burns received following a fire at Elliot Bros wholesale druggists in Terry St Balmain on June 3 1920. The fire itself was relatively minor confined to a quantity of phosphorus within the factory area. This was quickly subdued by being smothered with sand. However returning to Rozelle, Gerard's clothing burst into flame due to the friction of the air on red phosphorus adhering to his uniform and due to his proximity to the steam boiler. Within seconds Gerard was a living torch.
Despite the efforts of his comrades who immediately enveloped him in a blanket, he was badly burnt about the arms, body and face and he died three months later on 10th September 1920.
Just for noting, for many years his portrait hung in Fire Headquarters in Sydney, later being removed to the fire museum at Penrith. He is buried at Rookwood Cemetery in a relatively hard to find grave.
if annyone has any more info on Augustus it would be graefully received as he is a bit of a mystery man in our family.
