World War II Fireman
During World War II, the German Luftwaffe, or Air Force, bombed the city of London. At the time London was the world’s second busiest port in the world. It was also the political, economic and religious seat of the British Empire. Near the docks were a huge natural gas work and the Ford Motor Company plant. Some of the businesses along the Thames included flourmills, grain storage silos, tar works and chemical plants. Any of these could trigger a major conflagration. Also near the river were the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, businesses, and homes for millions of Londoners.
During the war the number of men serving as firemen would swell to 273,000 nationwide. In addition, 70,000 women, both full-time and part-time performed such duties as dispatchers, couriers, canteen operators, and in some areas as pump operators for the fire department. Personnel worked 48-hour shifts and were then given 24 hours off. When not fighting fires, the men often produced war materials at the firehouse. In their off-duty time many firefighters worked in factories that made more war goods.
The British wisely planned ahead for fires caused by war. They strategically placed equipment and firehouses in high-risk areas and a top-secret alarm center opened near Parliament. A backup plan for coordinating communications was in place if the need arose.
Apparatus used at this time consisted of fire pumps and pump escapes units. These rigs were engines with a rear-mounted, two-wheeled portable ladder. This enabled the ladders to fit into narrow spaces. They could also serve a dual purpose when a nozzle was mounted at the end of the ladder, thus providing another way for firefighters to attack the blazes. An innovative taxi driver devised a quick hookup device that enabled jitneys, automobiles and light vans to pull them to fires. This may have been the first time auxiliary firemen rode to fires in taxis. This made it possible for them to get to fires with limited personnel and equipment.
Anticipating the possibility of ruined or malfunctioning water mains the Londoners placed 6-inch steel piping in gutters with hose connections spaced along them. Each supplied five streams. They also used large lorries (trucks or vans) with pre-connected hose in various sizes. Up to 6000 feet of rubberized canvas hose could be laid when the truck moved forward. Throughout the city were thousands of camouflaged water tanks. They used flatbed trucks to hold 1000 feet of steel pipes. When the city was under attack, nine firemen coupled 1000 feet of pipe in 16 minutes. Forty stationary pumps were installed along London bridges. Each could suction 3000 gallons of water from the Thames per minute.
A memorial now stands in Old Change Court, near St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Cathedral survived due to the efforts of the fire department. The memorial contains the names of the 1027 firemen and over 24 firewomen who died in the line of duty during the war. Winston Churchill said it well when he called all firefighters, “heroes with grimy faces.”
This was part of a display at the 2019 Odiham Fire Show. The weekend of August 3rd and 4th 2019 at Odiham in Hampshire saw the last ever “Fire Show” to be staged by the staff and friends of Odiham Fire Station. This event has been running for over 20 years and with the very sad passing of its founder and perpetual organiser, Mick Paull, the decision was made to make this the final show.
The group of LFB appliances made up by far the largest contingent of vehicles and between them they covered the service period from the 1920’s right through to the 2000’s.
firehistory.weebly.com/firefighting-during-the-blitz-in-l...
World War II Fireman
During World War II, the German Luftwaffe, or Air Force, bombed the city of London. At the time London was the world’s second busiest port in the world. It was also the political, economic and religious seat of the British Empire. Near the docks were a huge natural gas work and the Ford Motor Company plant. Some of the businesses along the Thames included flourmills, grain storage silos, tar works and chemical plants. Any of these could trigger a major conflagration. Also near the river were the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, businesses, and homes for millions of Londoners.
During the war the number of men serving as firemen would swell to 273,000 nationwide. In addition, 70,000 women, both full-time and part-time performed such duties as dispatchers, couriers, canteen operators, and in some areas as pump operators for the fire department. Personnel worked 48-hour shifts and were then given 24 hours off. When not fighting fires, the men often produced war materials at the firehouse. In their off-duty time many firefighters worked in factories that made more war goods.
The British wisely planned ahead for fires caused by war. They strategically placed equipment and firehouses in high-risk areas and a top-secret alarm center opened near Parliament. A backup plan for coordinating communications was in place if the need arose.
Apparatus used at this time consisted of fire pumps and pump escapes units. These rigs were engines with a rear-mounted, two-wheeled portable ladder. This enabled the ladders to fit into narrow spaces. They could also serve a dual purpose when a nozzle was mounted at the end of the ladder, thus providing another way for firefighters to attack the blazes. An innovative taxi driver devised a quick hookup device that enabled jitneys, automobiles and light vans to pull them to fires. This may have been the first time auxiliary firemen rode to fires in taxis. This made it possible for them to get to fires with limited personnel and equipment.
Anticipating the possibility of ruined or malfunctioning water mains the Londoners placed 6-inch steel piping in gutters with hose connections spaced along them. Each supplied five streams. They also used large lorries (trucks or vans) with pre-connected hose in various sizes. Up to 6000 feet of rubberized canvas hose could be laid when the truck moved forward. Throughout the city were thousands of camouflaged water tanks. They used flatbed trucks to hold 1000 feet of steel pipes. When the city was under attack, nine firemen coupled 1000 feet of pipe in 16 minutes. Forty stationary pumps were installed along London bridges. Each could suction 3000 gallons of water from the Thames per minute.
A memorial now stands in Old Change Court, near St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Cathedral survived due to the efforts of the fire department. The memorial contains the names of the 1027 firemen and over 24 firewomen who died in the line of duty during the war. Winston Churchill said it well when he called all firefighters, “heroes with grimy faces.”
This was part of a display at the 2019 Odiham Fire Show. The weekend of August 3rd and 4th 2019 at Odiham in Hampshire saw the last ever “Fire Show” to be staged by the staff and friends of Odiham Fire Station. This event has been running for over 20 years and with the very sad passing of its founder and perpetual organiser, Mick Paull, the decision was made to make this the final show.
The group of LFB appliances made up by far the largest contingent of vehicles and between them they covered the service period from the 1920’s right through to the 2000’s.
firehistory.weebly.com/firefighting-during-the-blitz-in-l...