| Original caption: “Over five hundred firemen and members of the London Auxiliary Fire Fighting Services, including many women, combined in a war exercise over the ground covered by Greenwich (London) Fire Station.” On the evening of July 29, 1939, 500 regular firefighters from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and the London Auxiliary Firefighting Services (AFS) convened in Greenwich Park to practice their response to an air raid. In 1938, only 2,500 LFB firefighters were available at 58 stations and 3 river bases. After the Munich Agreement, AFS planned to recruit 28,000 men and women at 360 makeshift substations, such as requisitioned schools and garages. During the Phoney War, the AFS were mocked as the “darts and snooker brigade” and labeled as draft dodgers. But after September 7, 1940, the start of heavy air raids, AFS were hailed as heroes as they fought blazes for 57 consecutive nights. Firewomen operated mobile canteens, drove petrol lorries, and were dispatch riders. After the Blitz, the LFB and AFS merged with other fire services across the country into the National Fire Service. The LFB contended with V1 and V2 rocket strikes on London until April 1945. 327 firemen and firewomen were killed in the line of duty and more than 3,000 were wounded during World War II. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0283.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.14 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2916 x 2261 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | July 1, 1939 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-306-NT-901-19 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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