Fire Service during WWII

[debsy]

My grandfather was in the Fire Service during WWII and possibly a bit before.
Is there anywhere that I can get information regarding this occupation at this time? I have a nice photo of him in his uniform. He lived in the London and environs area but I don't know where he was during the war.
- Deb

[Sue Mackay]

He might have known my father, who served in the London Fire Brigade during the war. I can thoroughly recommend Neil Wallington's book "Firemen at War, The Work of London's Firefighters in the Second World War"
ISBN 0 7153 7964 X (1981)

My father was actually an auxiliary. He was refused by the army because he was asthmatic and ended up in the fire service!!! He had some wonderful stories about the firemen, who teased him mercilessly at first because he was a weedy looking drama student, then roped him into their Christmas entertainment. It was apparently a sight to behold to watch three stevedore-like firemen dressed in tutus hurling my father about the stage, but he took it in such good part that he became accepted. When my parents house was bombed, and my mother badly injured, the firemen rallied round and managed everything, including the house move.

[debsy]

Sue, that is really interesting. The only thing I know is that my mum said she and her sisters were evacuated while her dad was away which he didn't know about and when he came back the area was bombed and he didn't know if they were still alive. I shall read your post to my mum and see if it triggers any memories. I don't know why he was in the Fire Service but I think he was in before the war so I guess he would have just carried on. I will check that with mum too. Did your mother recover ok?
regards - Deb

[debsy]

Sue, by the way, my grandfathers name was Ernest Wood.

[Sue Mackay]

Did your mother recover ok?


Indeed, as I wasn't born till 1949 :D. Actually that is a very nice story on its own. My father was born with a caul, which is when part of the foetal membrane still surrounds the head at birth. It is supposed to be good luck, especially for sailors, so his mother put it in a tiny silver pill box, and when my father got married she gave it to Mum as a good luck talisman. During that particular bombing raid Dad was on duty, and Mum was at home. When the bomb hit she was going through a glass door, which cut her virtually in two. When Dad arrived home to a pile of rubble he had no idea what had happened to her, but refused to believe she was dead. He toured the hospitals and found her - they had stitched her up and she bore a scar the length of her body for the rest of her life - but Dad arrived in time to hear the doctors say they were going to have to prise open her right hand, as even unconscious she had it tightly clenched. When they did so they found the little silver box clutched in her hand. She had no memory of even picking it up. She died ten years ago and I now have the box, which has clear indentations of her finger marks. I treasure that box, battered and "worthless" as it is in monetary terms, as without it I wouldn't be here!

PS Both my parents are dead, so I'm afraid I only have memories of Dad's stories of the firemen and not any actual names.

[Colin Moretti]

Hello Deb

I don't have any direct interest myself but we had a speaker from the Hants Fire Brigade to my local genealogy group last year; he recommended the following:

... a Network of like-minded organisations who can field queries to see if anyone has an answer www.
fire-heritage-network.org.uk

Good luck

Colin

[Peter Goodey]

From 1941 there was a National Fire Service which presumably he would have been in. After the war, the fire service reverted to local authority control.

The records of the NFS have gone out to county brigades or archives. In your case you would need to contact the London Fire Brigade.

[debsy]

Thanks Colin and Peter, I did go to the website and via a link went to the London Fire Brigade Museum. They provide a service for relatives wishing to trace their family’s WWII fire brigade records although due to relocation the service is not available until November.
The museum is still able to search for records for relatives who served in the London Fire Brigade before 1920.
www.
london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/our_history/your_history.asp

Sue, that is a touchng and amazing story! To come through an ordeal like your mother did is hard to comprehend. Thankyou for sharing it with me|hug|
- Deb

[David Annis]

My Father was an auxillery fireman in the small country town of Pershore before WW11 and remain one untill ill health forced him to give it up in the mid 1950s. He worked on the land during the war because he was selected for essential war work and that he had had a serious illness just before the break of war. My Mother also was an auxillery as well and worked on the telephone switchboard. My Father fought the blitz in Coventry and Bristol and he told me that on on journey down to Bristol the fire engine was fired upon by enemy aircraft. Another story my mother told me was that one night there was a heavy raid on Coventry, they could see the glow from Pershore. During the early hours they heard the enemy bombers droning above Pershore. My mother had left some washing out on the line that night.The next day she went to bring them in and her white sheets were streaked with blood.
I remember the sound of the fire siren well. If they were in reach of the fire station they would drop what ever they were doing, whether at work or play and race to the station. I can see my father now jumping on his bike, shaving cream on his face and his braces dangling down behind him. In time the siren was replaced for night call outs and an electric alarm was fitted in the house. Always went off at some un-godly hour and the whole house was awake. Dad would just put his clothes over his pajama's and be biking down to the station in 2 minutes. He would attend what ever fire it was, come home then go to work on the land not having any sleep.
Just as a footnote. Working on the land in those days was hard grueling work.
You worked through all the seasons in all weather conditions, no stopping if it was raining or snowing and you were only paid for the hours you did. No work no pay. Towards the end of his life my father became ill, in truth he had burnt himself out, tree and crop spraying without any face mask or skin protection didnt help either. My father had been ill and had not been able to go to work, it was Christmas. The owner of the land came to the house on Christmas day and told my father that he no longer had a job. My Father died at the age of 57.
Dave.

[Fireman's Son]

Hi, I was living in Pershore and working in Fine Fare Grocery Shop from 1958 until 1962, on the corner of Broad Street opposite the Three Tuns. We could see the Fire Station from the Window.
Two incidents I recall.
1/ One summers night there was a call out to a Barn Fire on the Worcester Road After the appliance had turned out I was leaving work and one of the Firefighters asked if I would like to help. We piled into a van and were taken too the site. On arriving they were trying to get the Coventry Climax Pump, towed type, down near the stream, so we all helped . At the last few yards the Appliance managed to get near and give the Pump a nudge! Which sent it over the bank and into the stream!! A rope was fixed to it and the appliance hauled it out!! We ran out the hoses and as the Firefighters poured in water onto the hay rick we used big rakes to pull the hay apart. Couple of hours later it was down and just smouldering, the barn supports 6" RSJs were bent and twisted all ways. My Mum was furious as I was Black, muddy and wet when I got home. Brilliant!!
2/ Bells went down and lads arrive at Fire Station, newish appliance with on-board pump, wider than the previous appliance. Roar of engine, bells and lights flashing, exits station - big bang!! - passenger door and fireman on ground in middle of road!!! We run out, fireman back on unit and of they go - we rescue door and put it inside station. Much laughter as everyone OK.
My Father at the time was Leading Fireman at RAF Pershore as a Ministry Fireman, I know they ran joint exercises and My Father was friendly with the Retained Men. He was AFS and NFS during the War. His name was Reg Lisseman. Ring any bells!!

[David Annis]

Fine Fare
In that case we were working just a few yards away from each other because I was working in a gentlemens outfitters just up the road from you, next to Mrs Gustertons tobacco shop. It was called "Hemming and Mills".
My father went to work up at the RRE airdrome at Tylsford, so I bet he knew your father. When my father died all the local firemen provided a guard of honour. Every Christmas, for a few years these good people sent my mother a christmas hamper.
Cheers
Dave.

[Fireman's Son]

Hi, Ok I am Ian Lisseman, used to attend the Abbey and it's Youth Club. When my Dad (Reg Lisseman) died in 1968 all the Fireman from RAF Pershore turned out as Honour Guard in full dress uniform. That really got to me!! I learned a lot more about him from the people he had trained and mentored in the Fire Service. I know they did joint exercises with the local brigades and he was always speaking to people in the street I did'nt know! Your shop was where I bought my first brimmed hat, because I was fed up of the rain going down my neck!!
The RAF Brigade kept in touch with my Mother for years, the Chief Officer even came to visit me in London when he was on a course!
Cheers

[sueannbowen]

From 1941 there was a National Fire Service which presumably he would have been in. After the war, the fire service reverted to local authority control.

The records of the NFS have gone out to county brigades or archives. In your case you would need to contact the London Fire Brigade.

That is interesting Peter. My late father was an auxiliary up until the war at Hadleigh Fire Station, Essex. He wanted to go in the Navy and was refused and ended up fighting fires at Tilbury Docks mostly. After the war he stayed in for a few more years. We have his 10 year service medal and photos of him in his uniform.

When I contacted Essex Fire Service they said they could not trace him or his service. they said they only had electronic records left. So we gave up which is a shame because his war doesn't exist anywhere it always made me feel a bit sad.

S

[Shelleysgirl]

Hi I also had a photograph of a great uncle in uniform during the second world war and contacted the London fire Brigade Museum. They couldn't help me unfortunately but put me in the right direction with their very swift response -

'The fire service during the Second World War became a national service from 1941 until 1948. Therefore the insignia NFS 35 featured in your Great Uncle’s uniform stands for National Fire Service Fire Force Area 35 which was north and central London.
At the museum we only keep individual’s service records up to 1920’s. Wartime records and beyond are looked after by Records Services, and I have provided their email address below as you would need to contact them directly providing as much information as you can regarding your relative'

[email protected]

I hope this helps
Good Luck
SG

[David Annis]

Hi, Ok I am Ian Lisseman, used to attend the Abbey and it's Youth Club. When my Dad (Reg Lisseman) died in 1968 all the Fireman from RAF Pershore turned out as Honour Guard in full dress uniform. That really got to me!! I learned a lot more about him from the people he had trained and mentored in the Fire Service. I know they did joint exercises with the local brigades and he was always speaking to people in the street I did'nt know! Your shop was where I bought my first brimmed hat, because I was fed up of the rain going down my neck!!
The RAF Brigade kept in touch with my Mother for years, the Chief Officer even came to visit me in London when he was on a course!
Cheers

I was in Pershore Abbey choir, as a chorister and as head choirboy.
1950 -1958
Cheers
Dave.

[sueannbowen]

Hi I also had a photograph of a great uncle in uniform during the second world war and contacted the London fire Brigade Museum. They couldn't help me unfortunately but put me in the right direction with their very swift response -

'The fire service during the Second World War became a national service from 1941 until 1948. Therefore the insignia NFS 35 featured in your Great Uncle’s uniform stands for National Fire Service Fire Force Area 35 which was north and central London.
At the museum we only keep individual’s service records up to 1920’s. Wartime records and beyond are looked after by Records Services, and I have provided their email address below as you would need to contact them directly providing as much information as you can regarding your relative'

[email protected]

I hope this helps
Good Luck
SG

thanks very much indeed SG . Firemans son I am so sorry to pinch this thread but it was very close to home.

S:D

[Fireman's Son]

thanks very much indeed SG . Firemans son I am so sorry to pinch this thread but it was very close to home.

S:D

No problem at all, nice too know others are interested in the War Time Fire Service.
Cheers

[Fireman's Son]

I was in Pershore Abbey choir, as a chorister and as head choirboy.
1950 -1958
Cheers
Dave.

Well,well, I was Head Server but after your dates, about 1960 on. I suppose the name Rev Dr Peter Moore, my Mentor into the Church Army, means something! Who was the Chior Master and Organist?, he was the Music Teacher at the High School, Straying from the thread a bit, but can't help it.
Regards
Ian Lisseman

[daisynook]

I came across this Forum whilst searching for information on my father who was in the AFS in WW2. He was in the Manchester blitz on Piccadilly. The family thought he was dead as he didn't come home for 4 days. I have some photo's of him in his uniform but have no idea what rank he was or his service number. Anyone any idea where I can find these things out?