In Postman’s Park, the memorial celebrates Elizabeth Boxall, aged 17, who, amongst the other heroes celebrated here, holds the sad record for the longest period between the incident in which she saved a child from a runaway horse and her subsequent death. History has more to say about Elizabeth’s treatment at the London Hospital than her act of bravery.

Elizabeth was one of eight children who lived in the family home in Bethnal Green. In July, 1887, a commotion was heard in her street caused by a child in the path of a runaway horse. Elizabeth rushed out of her home and threw herself onto the child, thus saving it from any harm. Unfortunately, the horse kicked our heroine causing an injury which failed to heal. In a matter of weeks, she was barely able to walk and a fall sustained on 9th October necessitated hospital treatment.

At the London Hospital a partial amputation was made to her leg without either her permission or that of her parents. The hospital staff claimed to have discovered a cancer in Elizabeth’s thigh and in December a second amputation was made. After this, Elizabeth was taken to a convalescent home in Folkestone. For months,Elizabeth suffered agonising pain and eventually died on 20th June, 1888. The cause of death was given as shock precipitated by the second amputation.

At the inquest, Elizabeth’s father stood up and claimed the hospital had practised unnecessary butchery on his daughter. For a working class man from London’s east end to openly criticise the establishment was unheard of and although he was shuffled away from the court, the newspapers picked up the story. A great furore followed and the indignant director of the hospital made a statement that was both defensive and aggressive saying Elizabeth would have died from the cancer in any case. It was as if the initial bravery had been almost forgotten.