The Home Front 1939-1945 in 100 Objects by Ruddy Austin J.;

Author:Ruddy, Austin J.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY/Military/World War II
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Published: 2020-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

When the German V-weapon attacks began in June 1944, due to their tremendous blast power, ironically, they often immediately blew out any fires they started, leaving little for the NFS to extinguish. As a result, their role became more of rescue, assisting the CD services.

Following D-Day, the NFS even left Britain’s shores. In January 1945, No. 4 Column of the NFS Overseas Contingent was attached to the US Army and advanced through Europe into Germany, facing mines and snipers, but helping control fires caused by the enemy.

With the war’s end, true to Morrison’s original word, on 1 April 1948, Britain’s fire services were denationalised and returned to local authority control, a surprising move in an age of nationalisation. However, even today, Britain’s fire service owes much to the reforms of the NFS.

At its peak strength in 1943, the NFS was 370,000 strong. Over 80,000 of these personnel were women, who served in a variety of roles, from canteen or office administration work, to officers or communications staff in control rooms. Others acted as motorcycle despatch riders or drove ancillary vehicles. During the war, twenty-five firewomen lost their lives. One firewoman, twenty-one-year-old Gillian Tanner, was awarded the George Medal for bravery, when she delivered petrol to fire pumps in the London docks at the height of an air raid. Also, twenty-two British Empire Medals and fortyone Kings Commendations for Brave Conduct were awarded to firewomen. This official NFS firewomen’s peaked cap, made by the biggest mass-producing hat company in the world, J. Collett & Co. of London, is dated 1944. It reflects both the smart and organised nature of the NFS.

Leicester NFS firewomen try on their new uniform caps, with the firewoman, centre, wearing the flap folded down, tied under her chin.

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