MY LIFE IN THE NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE 1940-46

A very brief “Potted” history of my experience in the National Fire Service, which I joined in the early part of 1940 initially being posted to Ammanford.

The Fire Station at this time was situated at the rear of a building well known as the “Pick and Shovel”, in Wind Street.

The Fire Station consisted of a brick building of limited size, the ground floor had been gutted and converted to house a Tender and Pump. At the rear of which was the “Watch Room”, the domain of the regular Fire Women who controlled all the movements of the men and machines on site.

The floor above consisted of one large room separated by a partition, the main part being used for domestic and eating facilities. The remainder was occupied by a boxing ring utilised by the local boxing fraternity and used by us as sleeping quarters with two blankets each on the floor.

After being a fireman for a considerable time I was instructed to report to Gorseinon Training Centre, where I was met by a large number of colleagues from various parts of South Wales.

Subsequently, after a few weeks of intensive instruction in administration, as well as comprehensive training in all types of equipment held on site, we had to under go an oral and written examination as to whether or not we had reached the required standard. I then returned to my station much wiser in the art of fire fighting.

After a considerable time at Ammanford I was transferred to Carmarthen Fire Station, which housed more men, equipment and vehicles of various types.

Later I was transferred to take charge of Llandeilo and subsequently returned to Ammanford, where once again I was instructed to report to a large training area situated near the town centre of Swansea.

This was very different experience with men drawn from all parts of England and Wales.

We consisted of 100 men plus, who under went a military type of training. On this base there were many engines of all types and when the training day was over all personnel were allocated to fire engines for instant availability.

I recollect that on an occasional evening, men were allowed an off duty period of three hours and it was at such a time when I was off duty that the sirens went and I immediately returned to duty. Whilst doing so I motored through the Uplands area and observed a stack of incendiary bombs penetrating the roofs of several houses, setting them alight.

While approaching the square at the lower end of Oxford Street, adjacent to the old Swansea Hospital, a bomb exploded demolishing a building that sealed off the main road. I was forced to make a detour to return to my training area.

I was allocated to a fire engine, which was dispatched within minutes and found myself at the same building, which had been set alight by the explosion.

This was the beginning of the Blitz on Swansea.

Later that year, having returned to Ammanford, we were called to report to Fishguard Harbour where we were greeted by the sight of several fire engines and fifty or more personnel. On reporting to the Head quarters I was instructed to return to the quay, where a ship of approx six to eight thousand tons was on fire in the harbour. This ship was bound for North Africa with supplies for the 8 th Army.

Several vehicles were lashed on the top deck, which were off loaded to gain entrance to the holds below. When this was accomplished, breathing apparatus were used when first entering the hold, which was will alight. Subsequently when supplies of air cylinders were exhausted, volunteers were required and another fireman and myself stepped forward to go below,

We were there for approx one and a half hours before Divisional Officer Wade who had arrived from the Swansea area and taking control of the situation, ordered us up on deck where we found ourselves three miles out to sea. Later we where informed that there were a distinct possibility of the ship blowing up endangering the inhabitants of Fishguard.

Whilst stationed at Ammanford and acting as a Station Officer, I was involved in many fires stretching from Tally Lakes to Llandovery in the north, to the Amman Valley in the south.

These are but a few highlighted experiences of my life in the NFS during the 1939 – 1945 war. They are war year memories of friendships and courage that will always remain a treasure in my life.

Alstair M Rees