LADDER UP!

Photo: How Stuff Works

Classic photo of London Fire Brigade turntable ladder

SEPT. 18, 1940

Photo: Imperial War Museum
AFS recruits

During the Battle of Britain, Sept. 18, 1940 was a costly day for auxiliary fire crews on duty in London's famed Soho district.

German raiders pounded the city for 10 consecutive hours with especially lethal results in Soho.

Nine members of the Auxiliary Fire Service died:

• Auxiliary Fireman Myer Wand - at Rathbone Place
• Auxiliary Fireman Robert George - at Rathbone Place
• Leading Auxiliary Fireman George Bowen - at Rathbone Place
• Auxiliary Fireman Arthur Batchelor - at Rathbone Place
• Auxiliary Fireman Benjamin Mansbridge - at Rathbone Place
• Leading Auxiliary Fireman Jack Bathie - at Rathbone Place
• Auxiliary Fireman George Abrahart - at Rathbone Place
• Auxiliary Fireman Harold Gillard - at Oxford Street
• Auxiliary Fireman Donald Mackenzie - at Oxford Street

REGENT III PUMP ESCAPE

Photo: http://www.aecsouthall.co.uk/
MAUDSLAY REGENT III: ``With its low centre of gravity, the AEC Regent III double deck bus chassis was a particularly suitable carriage for a 100' turntable ladder, and in its shortened form, a pump escape,'' according to web site http://www.aecsouthall.co.uk/ ``From March 1950 until April 1957, the Regent III was supplied to fire brigades in the UK and around the world.''

FREDERICK DAVIES

London Auxiliary Fireman Frederick Davies, who died Aug. 23, 1945, was posthumously awarded the George Cross - the highest British award for bravery out of combat - for attempting to rescue two girls from a fire in Harlesden. He was 32.

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The citation, published in the London Gazette, said the firefighter climbed an escape ladder as flames licked at the front of the building and upon reaching a window "he at once tried to enter but bursts of flame momentarily halted him. Undaunted, however, he climbed into the window with his back to the flames and entered the room. He was seen to endeavour to remove his tunic presumably to wrap it around and protect the children."

CHURCH FIRE

Photos: BBC web site

July 29, 2008
06:51
G36 HAMMERSMITH
15 PUMP PERSONS REPORTED FIRE
136619081
SHEPHERDS BUSH ROAD W6
Church of 1, 2 and 3 floors 20 metres by 35 metres, 70% of first floor, 70% of roof damaged by fire. 6 jets, 2 aerial monitors, breathing apparatus, thermal image camera, all persons accounted for, same as all calls.