A.F.S
A.F.S N.F.S HORSHAMS WAR TIME FIRE SERVICE
 
 A.F.S 
 WAR TIME 
 THE FIREMEN AND WOMEN 
 WAR TIME DIARY 
 THE SOCIAL CLUB 
 N.F.S. Photo Album 
 2nd PHOTO PAGE 
 BEFORE THE WAR AND THROUGH IT 
 EARLY PHOTOS THE FIRST VEHICLES 
 HORSHAM A.F.S. 1893 
 THE COLEGATE BOMB 
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
 GUEST BOOK 
 
 



In Memory ROBERT CHARLES BLAKE 1908 -1991



HOW IT BEGAN


Up Dated 30 DECENBER 2006

My Father was a Fireman in the Horsham Fire Brigade during World War Two. I had been researching into our Family History and
found that there is little knowledge, of the work Horsham Fire Brigade did at this time.
The Record Office at Chichester has very little in the way of documents.
Horsham Museum, told me that they have one wartime photograph, They suggested that I contact the Council, this I did. They
were very helpful, but unable to come up with any information. It seems that when the fire brigade moved to Hurst Road, the
council took over the building for offices. A skip was used to take away the “ rubbish”, and lots of local History
was lost
forever.
I wrote to the Fire Brigade, it transpired that the Brigade had very few war time artifacts, No war time records, but a lot
of interest in the subject, they agreed it would be nice to know more.
I thought it was time something was done to record this important part of Horsham’s History.
It was difficult to know where to start. So I began with my father, Robert Blake, with the help of his diary’s, the Records
Office, a few of my father's colleagues, and of course my very patient husband, I have put together, as much information as
I have been able to find.
And I dedicate it to the men and women, of Horsham’s Auxiliary and National Fire Service 1938 – 1945.

Written by
MARGARET BALDWIN

Please look at my other pages for more information



Guestbook of eipgam
 
13-02-2012 - 16:22
 
Thanks for visiting my website if you would like to leave a message, please do so here.
 
Total messages: 43 - Messages viewed: 10
 
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NameComments
Margaret Baldwin
 afs@baldwin77.wanadoo.co.uk
 http://http://afs-nfs.webs.com/
13-02-2011 - 21:04 - from 95.146.157.244
I have move the information from this site to a new web site because of the amount of advertising shown here. Please follow the link and take a look.
thankyou.
Barrie Lambeth
 barrie.lambeth@yahoo.co.uk
09-10-2010 - 10:58 - from host86-159-138-169.range86-159.btcentralplus.com
In 1944, the Horsham NFS took delivery of a brand new Fordson Hose Layer. This is basically a box body on a lorry chassis. It has, as the only one to have done so, survived to this day and has been bought by the Fire Station Group at Amberley Museum. It is in need of some restoration so we are now fund raising. If anybody has any photos of this or any of the other Horsham vehicles we would be most interested.We have one post war shot taken in Chichester at the West Sussex Fire Brigade workshops which was located in the cattle market. I do have a couple of photos of it as it left its previous owner and arrived with us.Hope this is of interest. Regards, Barrie Lambeth
bob graham
 histfire@aol.com
22-04-2010 - 07:14 - from cache-ntc-ac04.proxy.aol.com
Hi,
do you have the original photo of the early Bedford and Dispatch Rider, and if so would youj be interested in allowing it to be included in a book of fire apparatus which I am working on. I'm really interested in the DR's picture as I think that I met him years ago when I was a NFS Dispatch Rider(1942-43).
Thanks
Bob Graham.
Richmond, California
brian glass
 brianglass@live.co.uk
12-03-2010 - 20:16 - from 212.183.140.36
My Father in Law Albert James Champ was in the Gillingham Kent AFS and served at Dartford in the War. We have a photograph of him in Uniform and lapel buttons and a badge. No record of his service other than by memory.
Kevin Noakes
 knoakes@f2s.com
02-02-2010 - 01:42 - from i-194-106-52-49.freedom2surf.net
Thanks to Ian and Joyce for posting insightful articles. We've just bought Alstons in Colgate (the house next to the post office visible to the left of the third image on Joyce's post). This week I met a very nice elderly gentleman by the name of John Barnes who just happens to be the Brother of Heather Barnes who was tragically killed and mentioned in both Ian and Joyce's posts. I was originally searching for history about the house which has been left empty for many years and felt pretty moved reading these stories.
Lesley Boshell
 redripple89@manx.net
17-11-2009 - 12:25 - from adsl87.254.93.133.manx.net
My father Frederick "Norman" Jones b30.03.1905, joined the AFS during WW2 (1942c)and served on the fire boats on the Thames in London during the Blitz, after the war he stayed on as a full time fireman in the NFS stationed in Manchester (1946c) then transferred to a small rural station at Hague Bar Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I would love to hear from anyone who may have some information.
Margaret
 afs@baldwin77.wanadoo.co.uk
 http://http://members.webs.com/MembersB/EditPage/index.jsp?pageID=116414892
06-10-2009 - 16:30 - from user-54471147.wfd83a.dsl.pol.co.uk
Lycos has now closed down please go to
http://members.webs.com/MembersB/EditPage/index.jsp?pageID=116414892
Perry
 pmartin04@yahoo.co.uk
25-11-2008 - 22:07 - from host81-155-175-165.range81-155.btcentralplus.com
My Grandfather was Henry (Harry) Ackland who joined the AFS full time on the 24/08/1939, Class 'B' AFS number 18393.
He was stationed at Bethnal Green Fire Station (East London E2) where he served until the end of the war. He covered most of the East/ West End especially the Docks, after narrowly escaping death on several occasions
tackling fires he had to contend with UXB's (Unexploded Bombs).
My Grandfather wasn't the one to talk about his experiences apart from the fact that he was buried alive for several
hours before being rescued and after losing several of his fellow fireman to falling buildings.
If you need an AFS or NFS badge visit this site
http://www.divpatch.com/page10.htm
Hope this helps.
smartie
 selwood247@aol.com
20-10-2008 - 02:52 - from 92.21.141.45
got an afs badge want info please help
David Lampard
 dave.lampard@btinternet.com
08-10-2008 - 11:26 - from host86-132-191-230.range86-132.btcentralplus.com
Great website. Both my parents served in Horsham Fire Brigade during WW2. Their details are below.

Ronald Lampard
The Fire Brigade was a very important part of Ronald's life. It was during WW2 that Ronald met his wife Betty, who was also serving as a fire woman, they married in 1948.
Ron first joined Horsham Fire Brigade on the 9 September 1930. Up until WW2 the official uniform was still the Victorian pattern including a traditional brass helmet, large black leather boots and a wide leather belt with a large brass buckle. All these items I still have and are cherished.
After the beginning of WW2 the Fire brigade changed on 16 Aug 1941 to the National Fire Service. Due to the war Ronald began full time service on 1 Oct 1941 and spent the duration of WW2 serving locally in Horsham. On the 8 Nov 1945 he ceased full time service and resumed part time service again on 8 Nov 1945. The service changed from the NFS to the West Sussex Fire Service on 1 April 1948. Ronald continued with the rank of Leading Fireman until he retired from the Fire Brigade on 31 March 1962 after 31 years service.
He had many stories relating to his days in the Fire Service, particularly relating to various bombs that fell in the Horsham area and numerous plane crashes both German and Allied. I will always remember as a child the bell in our house the siren and the rush when he was called out to a fire.
He was awarded the following medals -
Long Service Medal 28 Sept 1943
Defence Medal for Service in the Second World War.
Exemplary Service Medal.

Betty Lampard [Mascall]
Betty was a Fire Woman during WW2, joining the local Brigade on 13 October 1941. While on duty, she was stationed in a large rambling house called Glen Arun, on the eastern side of Horsham; this was the residence of the Fire Brigade’s lady members.
Her memories of the local area during this period were always fascinating, and her wartime diaries formed a part of two books by Cliff White on the history of Horsham during the war years. Cliff White was a woodwork teacher at the Forest Boys School in Comptons Lane, Horsham and was at one time my woodwork teacher.
There are many stories she liked to tell. One particular one was when she was stationed in Worthing for a short while. A German plane was flying low overhead on its way back from a raid on London. She had just about enough time to shelter in a doorway before a line of machine bullets thudded along the road just missing her.
Most of her time was spent in the watch room. One particular message she always remembered was a call from another station to the south of Horsham saying “They are sending planes over without pilots, Miss”. This was the first report of a V1 “Doodlebug” flying bomb.
Her war years in the Fire Brigade were always very important to her and she was always referring fondly to them.
She left the Fire Brigade on 9 September 1945.
My father Ron continued as a part time fireman until he retired from the Brigade on 31 March 1962.
Ronald and Betty were married on 3 July 1948 in St Mary’s Church, Horsham. They had a guard of honour at the church from Horsham Fire Brigade. Their reception was in the garden of Betty’s parents home North Heath Lodge, Holbrook, Horsham.

Ron Lampard died on 7th October 1993, his wife Betty died on
Betty

 
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