London Fire Brigade

[Clive Temple]

Pals,

Was there a London Fire Brigade Pals Battalion? Also was any particular use made of fire fighters skills at the front or behind the lines?

Thanks.

[sotonmate]

CT

If you look through the Battalions of the London regiment in the Long Long Trail,at top left of this page,you will see the various groups from which Battalions were made up. I see no specific Fire Brigade complement,but there were quite a few zonal "Pals-type" (but not in the accepted sense)Battalions raised. Here:

http://www.1914-1918.net/london.htm

Sotonmate

[auchonvillerssomme]

Surely to make up a Pals bn would require some mass recruitment, not a good idea for the Fire Services I wouldn't have thought.

Mick

[CliffF]

Although I'm not answering your direct question, the London Salvage Corps, although not strictly the London Fire Brigade, recruited mainly from seamen leaving the Royal Navy. As a result, many were still in the Royal Fleet Reserve and on the outbreak of war many (including my Great Grandfather), were immediately given their orders to report to Chatham, or elsewhere.