This book, with over 100 previously unpublished and unique photographs, offers a new insight into the many roles of Britain’s Fire Services through personal anecdotes and the use of recently discovered archive documents. Whatever the enemy threw at this country, these ‘ordinary’ men and women fought the war on the streets and in the towns and cities on the Nations home front. This fascinating timeline of firefighting history takes the reader from the emergency caused by the air raids in the First World War through the subsequent planning of Civil Defence in the 1930’s and the formation of the NFS to the preparations for D-Day in 1944. 

Adapting from a peace time role to one of greater magnitude than anyone could have expected, resourcefulness, bravery and self-sacrifice were to become the cornerstones of the nation’s fire-fighting services, referred to as ‘those heroes with grimy faces’ by Winston Churchill. Rising to great challenges during air raids and always exceeding the expectations of a grateful population, the men and women of the Auxiliary Fire Service, the Regular Fire Service and the National Fire Service however, still remain the unsubg heroes of the desperate days of the Second World War. 

Uniquely, the virtually unknown story of the 406 volunteer members of the Corps of Canadian Fire-fighters, which served in England between 1942 and 1945, is told here using rare and unpublished photographs, transcripts of Canadian Government documents and previously untold anecdotes. 

This officially endorsed book will be of great interest to all those who want to know more about life in Britain during the Second World War and will also be fascinating read for retired and serving fire-fighters.

"An excellent piece of work that fills a slot in the recorded history of the fire service' Sir Graham Meldrum CBE OSTJ QFSM CCMI Formerly HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services"