leon21 Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Here's photo's of the AFS and NFS cap badges and helmets used by both services. The Auxiliary Fire Service was formed in 1938 and was organised by town or city they wore a cloth badge on their breast pocket which also had the name of the town or city under the letters AFS, the metal cap badge had no ( Kings Crown ). In August 1941 the AFS amalgamated with regional forces to form the National Fire Service. The new NFS was organised by numbered Fire Forces within the Civil Defence Regions, a circular cloth badge with number was worn on the breast pocket. The metal cap badge worn did have a Kings Crown and was in use from 1941 to 1948. Here is a photo taken in 1939 of Granny Chilvers on her bike wearing her AFS cap and coat she died in 1942 but it shows her cap badge had no Kings Crown. The only AFS badges with the Kings Crown on are button hole versions worn on the lapel. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Here's a list of NFS, Fire Force Regional Numbers of WW2.. England and Wales. 1. Gosforth. 2. Middlesborough. 3. Rotherham. 4. Leeds. 5. Bradford. 6. Hessle. 7. Derby. 8. Nottingham. 9. Leicester. 10. Louth. 11. Southend. 12. Stevenage. 13. Hethersett. 14. Durley. 15. Taplow. 16. Lyndhurst. 17. Bristol. 18. Exeter. 19. Yelverton. 20. LLanishen. 21. Sketty. 22. Colwyn Bay. 23. Worcester. 24. Birmingham. 25. Stone. 26. Liverpool. 27. Cheadle. 28. Bolton. 29. Preston. 30. Maidstone. 31. Brighton. 32. Woking. 33. London ( Administrative ). 34 London ( Ealing ). 35. London ( Highgate ). 36. London ( Ilford ). 37. London ( Eltham ). 38. London ( Wimbledon ). 39. Swindon. 40. Wolverhampton. 41. Warrington. 42. Stalybridge. 43. Kendal. Scotland. 1. Glasgow ( Western No1 ). 2. Paisley. ( Western No2 ). 3. Edinburgh ( South Eastern ) 4. Dundee. ( Eastern ). 5. Aberdeen. ( North Eastern ). 6. Inverness. ( Northern ). Hope this list is of some use. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Excellent Colin , I've had a few Western No1 helmets over the years ,they are actually very nice , might keep the next one that comes in 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 Here's two interesting helmets. 1st is a NFS helmet marked district No 38 ( Wimbledon/London ) looks like this member was attached to the "Lines Bros Ltd" factory ( Fire Brigade ). Lines Bros Ltd were a Pre War Toy Company ( Who Operated under the Tri-ang brand name ). During WW2 the factory was converted to weapons manufacture producing the ( Sten MKIII submachine gun), the helmet is maker marked ( F&L and dated 1/1939 ) with a MKI liner marked JCS&W Ltd size 7 and dated 1/1939. 2nd is a Red G.E.C Works Fire Brigade helmet ( General Electric Company ) with no visible maker marks, with a MKI liner marked Vero size 7 and dated 1/1939. G.E.C made bakolite radio's. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 Here's a MKII-2c=3 holes helmet made from milder steel, which was used first by the AFS volunteer service stills shows the two white rank stripes of a Section Officer. A Section comprised of 5 fire pumps and crew, it was then used by the NFS fire service who added the NFS transfer badge on top of the stripes and the area number to the rim. Looks like they did not bother to change the colour of the stripes from white to the NFS colour of red stripes. It has no maker marks but liner is dated 1939, the number 29 is the Preston area. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 Here's an early AFS buttonhole badge made of sterling silver and numbered. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluelessTommy Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Thanks for sharing this Leon it’s very informative. I wish to add a photo of my grand aunt who I believe from this photo was in the NFS as a driver but that’s only an inference and will have to do some more digging to prove her role. I don’t have a date for this picture but believe it’s from the Second World War or just after as that’s what the pictures around it were dated. Thanks again for the information above. Regards, Jack 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted November 20, 2018 Author Share Posted November 20, 2018 Nice photo jack do you know what area she lived in ? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluelessTommy Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 Thanks, I believe she lived in Cricklewood, north west London, on the side of the truck in the photo there is NFS badge and below it two lines of writing, I think the number 34 is the start of the uppermost line. So from the chart you posted above could be for Ealing. Although it could just be part of a larger number and not related to the area code, so I'm just about to look and see if i can find any pictures of NFS trucks to see what is written on the sides. Regards, Jack I have found a film on the NFS but cannot view it as I don't have the right player but hopefully the link will copy okay below 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluelessTommy Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 The vehicle in the picture is a Austin K2 Auxiliary Towing Vehicle (ATV) the suffix ATV was likely added after the war as there is no period evidence of it, 20,000 were ordered by the government in 1941 however few arrived in time for the height of the Blitz, They remained in service till 1970 with some regional fire services. I've attached a link to the page where I read all that it goes into good detail for anyone interested. http://www.romar.org.uk/page381.html regards, Jack 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 I fixed the link on your film Jack, here's another interesting film and although not NFS it is related being Civil Defense it's the first time I've seen the Civil Defense helmets being worn in a film. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 Here's another film the Auxiliary Fire Service 1930s 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted November 21, 2018 Author Share Posted November 21, 2018 Here's an interesting film Britain's Fire Service at War 1939-1945. Including 400 Canadian Voluntary Fireman who served in Britain from 1942-1945. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted November 23, 2018 Author Share Posted November 23, 2018 Here we have two examples from the Scottish regions of the NFS. Western No 1 -HQ in Glasgow = No 1 Fire Force. Western No 2 -HQ in Paisley = No 2 Fire Force. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted March 19, 2019 Author Share Posted March 19, 2019 Others. South Eastern - HQ in Edinburgh = No 3 Fire Force. Eastern - HQ in Dundee = No 4 Fire Force. North Eastern - HQ in Aberdeen = No 5 Fire Force. Northern - HQ in Inverness = No 6 Fire Force. Khaki/Green Helmet Rank Markings. Senior Company Officer- 1 Narrow Red Band over 1 Broad Red Band. Company Officer - 1 Broad Red Band. Section Officer - 2 Narrow Red Bands. Leading Fireman - 1 Narrow Red Band. White Helmet Rank Marking. Chief Regional Fire Officer - 1 Broad Red Round Band and Broad Red Bar inscribed Chief Regional Fire Officer. Fire Force Commander - 1 Broad Red Circular Band and Broad Red Bar inscribed Fire Force Commander. Assistant Fire Force Officer - 1 Broad Red Band. Divisional Officer - 2 Narrow Red Bands. Column Officer - 1 Narrow Red Band. Each Fire Area had a Fire Force with a Fire Force Commander and an Assistant Fire Force Commander. A Division comprised of 100 pumps with a Divisional Officer ( 1 per Division ). A Column comprised of 50 pumps with a Column Officer ( 2 per Division ) and a Senior Company Officer ( were necessary ). A Company comprised of 10 pumps with a Company Officer ( 10 per Division ). A Section comprised of 5 pumps with a Section Leader ( 20 per Division ). And a Leading Fireman ( 1 per pump ). 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted September 22, 2019 Author Share Posted September 22, 2019 Here's another helmet I spotted used by a Company Officer of fire force 10 most likely Louth in Lincolnshire, looks like they never bothered to put a NFS sticker on the front but just put the rank band over the top of the f10 instead. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Here's another helmet I spotted, a mix of ATS and NFS markings has the Red Band for a NFS Leading Fireman and No 2 sticker for Middlesborough Region. also has owners name and id number on inside of helmet, no other stamp marks that I can see. Photo's from other sources. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 Here we have a helmet for the North Eastern Region No 5 Fire Force HQ Aberdeen, no makers mark but has a liner by BMB dated 1940. These type of helmets are getting harder to find these days. Note the NFS logo has been removed at some stage. Photo's from other sources. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 Here we have a NFS helmet for No3 = Rotherham this belonged to a Section Leader hence the two red stripes helmet is stamped HBH =Harrison Bros & Howson and dated 1939. Photo's from other sources. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted July 13, 2021 Author Share Posted July 13, 2021 And here we have a NFS helmet for No 28 area = Bolton has no makers mark but liner by TTC = Teddy Toy Co Ltd and dated 1939 Photo's from other sources. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 Here's an AFS cloth patch given to me at the weekend. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted April 22, 2022 Author Share Posted April 22, 2022 Here's a nice NFS Ladies Cap dated 1943 made by J. Collett Ltd size 6-3/4 with broad arrow mark. photo's from other sources. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 Is this yours? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted April 23, 2022 Author Share Posted April 23, 2022 No it's up for Auction at the moment. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted August 1, 2023 Author Share Posted August 1, 2023 Here we have a NFS Helmet No 23 = Worcester stamped RO.Co for Rubery Owen & Co Ltd of leeds and dated 1939. Photo's from other sources. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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