Fire Brigade Records

[Brant81uk]

My 2x Great uncle was the Chief of the Evesham and Pershore Fire Brigade in Worcestershire. I am wondering if there is anyway of tracing this? He was a PC with the Metropolitan Ploice and he had left the force by 1920 for reasons I do not know.

I found a document somewhere on Google that says Benjamin Hitchcock was fighting fires in Bristol, Coventry, London and as far south as Southampton during the 2nd WW.

Please let me know if you needmore details...thanks

p.s. I do have two photos of Ben Hitchcock sat and stood by fire engine's off of google.

[Morganllan]

Found a picture with Ben Hitchcock in with fire brigade!

http://broadwayfire.co.uk/photos_1930s/pershore_fire_engine.htm

[acorngen]

Brant,

The Met police have an amazing archive and museum.  I am sure a quick search of Google will provide you with the details, likewise I know the LFB have an amazing archive and museum, also other Brigades have museums etc so a letter to the county fire deaprtment may help you

Rob

[coombs]

Was he a Chief before or after he was a policeman?

[Brant81uk]

Hi Coombs,

he was a fire chief after the police and left the force in 1920. He served the brigade right through the 2nd WW.

thanks.

[kev1n]

My Grandfather was called Leslie Wyatt Ford, he served with the Newbury fire Brigade during ww2. On the 11th March 1941 he was killed fighting a fire at Portsmouth harbour by a bomb. is there any way we can find more details about his death, or that nights action? Thank you

[Valda]

Hi

The records the Metropolitan police retain on police officers date from 1932 onwards. All previous records are held by The National Archives.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=104&j=1


I would check with Worcestershire Record Office for the whereabouts/survival of fire officer records for the county.

http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/cms/community-and-living/records.aspx


Record Offices tend to know about records whereas people employed in present organisations don't tend to know much about where long past records may have been deposited. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service don't seem to have any links to information about historic records or museums

http://www.hwfire.org.uk/


Record Offices usually have bomb maps for where bombs fell in their area during the Second World War and can supply further information about bombing raids.

http://www.portsmouthrecordsoffice.co.uk/

Newbury was in Berkshire so again contacting Berkshire Record Office for the whereabouts of Fire Officer's staffing records may be the quickest route if there is nothing apparent about a Berkshire Fire Brigade museum on the web.

http://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists all military as well as civilian casualties in the First and Second World War

http://www.cwgc.org/

Casualty Details
Name: FORD, LESLIE WYATT
Initials: L W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 28
Date of Death: 11/03/1941
Additional information: Fireman, Newbury A.F.S. Son of Francis James and Elsie Ford, of 38 Jubilee Road, Newbury, Berkshire; husband of Irene Ford, of 16 Adey's Buildings, Stroud Green, Newbury, Berkshire. Injured at Portsmouth Dockyard; died same day at Royal Portsmouth Hospital.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: PORTSMOUTH, COUNTY BOROUGH


Regards

Valda

[kev1n]

thank you. that is a great help.

[Redwoodmazza]

Hi there. Benjamin Hitchcock was my Grandfather! I came across this thread while searching on Google to find out when he died - I was only about 5 at the time...