Auxiliary Fire Service WW2

[Margaret in Burton]

My uncle Frank was in the Auxiliary Fire Service during the war. He is named in a book written by a Burton firefighter.
I think he was involved in the fires in Coventry.

Is there anyway I can find out more about his service?

[Merry]

I saw a post on Rootschat suggesting no AFS records survive and no one disagreed. I have no idea if that's correct though.

Do you know anything about the Coventry Cathedral Crypt Fire Nozzle?:

In 1941, on the first anniversary of the bombing, the Friends of Coventry Cathedral presented the brass Crypt Fire Nozzle, to Solihull AFS in recognition of the bravery of their volunteer fireguards who fought, in vain, to save the Cathedral.
Engraved on the nozzle are the names of those who attended the fire from the AFS, alongside the names of those from the Cathedral who worked with them.
It was presented to the AFS, as they were the first firemen to arrive after the telephone call to say that the Cathedral was on fire, as a result of incendiary bombs penetrating the roof. The Coventry City Fire Brigade was fully occupied elsewhere in the City

I don't know if this means only names from Solihull AFS were included and/or if that means people from Burton were helping elsewhere? Might be worth investigating.

[Margaret in Burton]

Originally Posted by Merry

I saw a post on Rootschat suggesting no AFS records survive and no one disagreed. I have no idea if that's correct though.

Do you know anything about the Coventry Cathedral Crypt Fire Nozzle?:



I don't know if this means only names from Solihull AFS were included and/or if that means people from Burton were helping elsewhere? Might be worth investigating.

Guinevere and Anstey Nomad any ideas?

I only know what my mum told me that they could see the fire in Coventry from Burton and that Uncle Frank was there.

[kiterunner]

You could ask Staffordshire Archives whether they have any Auxiliary Fire Service records. I tried searching their online catalogue but the search just hung forever.

[Margaret in Burton]

Originally Posted by kiterunner

You could ask Staffordshire Archives whether they have any Auxiliary Fire Service records. I tried searching their online catalogue but the search just hung forever.

Yes I’ll try that tomorrow

[Margaret in Burton]

Reply from Staffordshire archives.


Dear Mrs Harrison

Thank you for your email. I regret that we have almost no records relating to the Auxiliary Fire Services, and certainly nothing with any personnel information. From the records I have spotted on our catalogue it may have operated under local authorities at the time, before the County fire service was started after the end of WWII. But there is certainly nothing in the records of Burton Borough like registers of names, although there are some files about wartime planning, fire prevention, etc.

I am sorry that we cannot help you further regarding your uncle, but do please ask if you have any other questions.

Yours sincerely
Liz Street