About the Author

Joining the London Fire Brigade as a cadet at the tender age of sixteen, David Pike
was destined to become very much an operational firefighter. Awarded the Queens
Commendation for Brave Conduct as a young fireman, he rose steadily through the ranks
during his thirty-plus years service within the LFB. He commanded one of Londons
busiest and most challenging fire stations, Brixton. Heavily committed to raising monies
for fire service charities, he rowed himself into The Guinness Book of Records whilst
attracting many thousands of pounds through his, and his companions, endeavours. A
regular contributor to the Brigades in-house magazine, he now brings together many
of its most notable stories and articles, combining them with a generous selection of the
London Fire Brigades most iconic images. He retired in senior rank from the Brigade
in 1996. He is directing all the profits from this book to the fire service charity, Firemen
Remembered. David now lives in Devon.

By the same author

Beyond the Flames, David Pikes first book, charts his career and life in the London
Fire Brigade. Published by Austin Macauley in 2013, it was shortlisted for the
prestigious Peoples Book Prize in 2014 and was runner up in the non-fiction
category. The book was also nominated for the Beryl Bainbridge Book Award
and was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards 2014/15.
A fascinating peek into the world of the London Fire Brigade. A FINALIST
and highly recommended.
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, 2014/15

David C. Pike

Londons
Firefighters
Stories and articles from the
London Fire Brigade

With images of Londons firemen, firewomen

and other firefighters too

Text selection, editorial text and introduction copyright David C. Pike (2015)
Foreword copyright Gordon White (2015)
Texts previously published in the London Fireman and London Firefighter
magazines are republished here with the kind permission of the London Fire
Brigade.
The copyright details of the published images are given in the relevant captions.
The right of David C. Pike to be identified as selector and editor of this
work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781784555412 (paperback)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2015)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ

Printed and bound in the EU.

Dedication
To the men and women of the London Fire Brigade, past and present.

Contents
Foreword......................................................................................................... ix
Introduction................................................................................................... xi
Acknowledgments.......................................................................................xii
A
Alcoholism.................................................................................................. 1
At a Basement Fire................................................................................... 8
Auxiliary Fire Service ...........................................................................10
B
Blitz upon London.................................................................................27
Brigade Band............................................................................................36
Brigades Coldest Fire...........................................................................39
Brixton Riots:1981.................................................................................41
C
Calamity in London ..............................................................................53
D
Dunkirk.....................................................................................................55
E
Eldon Street ASixty Pump Fire......................................................64
Entrapped Procedure............................................................................69
F
Fireboats 1: Fire Floats..........................................................................74
Fireboats 2: Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma...................................80
Fireboats 3: Firebrace and River Training......................................85
Fireboats 4: Fire Hawk, Fire Swift and Phoenix............................92
Fire Stations.......................................................................................... 100
First Fatal............................................................................................... 108

G
The George Cross................................................................................ 113
Ghost Story: TheSitter ..................................................................... 117
H
The Hills Hotel FatalFire ................................................................. 122
Horses..................................................................................................... 133
I
Incident at St Johns ........................................................................... 141
J
Joe .......................................................................................................... 147
K
Kleinman................................................................................................ 162
L
London Salvage Corps ...................................................................... 166
Londons First: Braidwood .............................................................. 170
M
MasseyShaw TheMan.................................................................. 175
M2FH Out............................................................................................. 183
N
Night Shift ............................................................................................ 188
O
Out of the Ordinary ........................................................................... 195
P
Prose and Poems.................................................................................. 201
Q
QueenElizabeth theQueen Mother.............................................. 211
R
Requiem for the OldFire Bell ......................................................... 217

S
Sidney Street Siege.............................................................................. 218
Smithfield Meat Market fire 1958.................................................. 223
Southwark ............................................................................................ 225
T
Turn-outs............................................................................................... 236
U
Uniformed Fears TheMind Lockers ........................................ 241
V
Victorian London Rescues and Fatalities..................................... 245
W
Weird Ship Fire and the Helping Hand .................................... 250
When the Smoke Thinned Out ....................................................... 258
Whitechapel Hero................................................................................ 262
Y
Yellow bag of Courage ...................................................................... 267
Postscript................................................................................................. 271
APPENDIX ONE: FiremenRemembered........................................ 275
APPENDIX TWO: RollofHonour .................................................... 278
APPENDIX THREE: Timelineof Londons FireBrigades........... 293

F oreword
By Gordon White, Editor of the London Fireman,
197082 and the London Firefighter, 19922002

he London Fireman magazine was spawned following the creation of

the Greater London Council (GLC) in the mid-1960s. This was at a
time when firemens pay was very poor the main reason why many
members of the London Fire Brigade had to take second jobs purely
to make ends meet. Morale was also low a common complaint being that the
Brigade rarely received any recognition by the news media or, even more galling,
that the police were often reported as being responsible for work that firemen
had carried out!
Under the GLC the Brigade opened a public relations department and the
London Fireman came into being. It was published every quarter and every
member of the Brigade had a copy delivered to their fire station. The magazine
was generally well received and, fortunately, was more or less free of management-speak. Apart from the editorial page (which was written by the Brigades
Public Relations Officer but was published under the name of the Chief Officer
at the time), the London Fireman opened its pages to firemen, control room staff
and civilian employees across the length and breadth of Greater London.
Apart from the front cover, which initially featured a large red circle placed
carefully alongside a photograph, the magazine was entirely monochrome.
Of great benefit to successive editors, the Brigade had a photographic section
with a uniformed Sub Officer attached to each of the three watches, which later
increased to four Sub Officers. The photographers, all previous operational
firemen, attended major incidents, any fires involving fatalities, ceremonial occasions and, increasingly, sporting and social functions.
In 1970, after six years as a reporter with the South London Press and some
freelancing for the London evening newspapers, I applied for a job as a Press
Officer with the GLC, and rather to my surprise actually got it. I was told that
after a one-month induction in the Press Office at County Hall I would be going
to the London Fire Brigade for a year or two as a Press Officer. That actually
turned out to be 32 years! I was also told that I would be responsible for editing
the London Fireman.
At the relatively tender age of 24 I had some trepidations about editing and
overseeing the production of a prestigious house magazine but I did not need

ix

London Firefighters

to have any worries. Following the departure of the Brigades previous Public
Relations Officer, Geoff Bonell, work on the magazine had been left in the very
capable hands of one Gordon Cruickshank. (I do believe he was the father of the
television historian and architectural expert Dan Cruickshank, but I have never
been able to find out if this is true.)
My arrival at Brigade HQ coincided nothing to do with me! in a revamped
magazine: it was slightly larger than before and now, with the Brigade having
access to colour photography, had more interesting front and back covers.
In any event, Gordon guided me through the various tasks involved in taking
a magazine from start to finish and I shall forever be indebted to him for his
kindly guidance. Interestingly, he later switched to County Hall to become a
highly respected Press Officer. This, of course, was long before the computer
era. All fire stations had typewriters but, more often than not, copy for the magazine arrived in various styles of hand writing and, I kid you not, we did actually
received a small tit-bit written on the back of a cigarette packet.
The magazine retained its overall format for most of its life, apart from changing its title to London Firefighter in the 1980s when the Brigade started recruiting
female firefighters in 1982. The increasing use of colour photography, coupled
with the fact that the profession of firefighting is often a highly visual subject,
added much to the composition of the magazine.
The demise of the GLC meant we no longer had use of County Halls expert
print department, but fortunately a small design and layout department opened
at Brigade HQ. They served us equally well. Londons firefighters made good
use of the magazine, not only with articles and reports but also with a small ads
page that we introduced. Eventually we started to sell advertising space in the
magazine to well-vetted outside companies.
Towards the end of the 1990s and approaching the end of the London Fire and
Civil Defence Authority, which had taken on responsibility for the Brigade from
the GLC, I was given the task of seeking external sponsorship for the Brigade as
a whole. This was time-consuming and I handed over the editorial reins to my
very capable deputy Helen Atha. I remained as managing editor but, apart from
writing The Chief Writes column, my only role was to help Helen if there was a
tricky subject to deal with.
I departed in 2002; not long afterwards, the London Firefighter closed and was
replaced by an intranet magazine. I was sad to learn of this as I have always been
a great supporter of the printed word and published photographs. On reflection I think that London Fireman and London Firefighter served a very useful
purpose, principally in helping to unite a very widespread workforce. I should
like to thank all of those who contributed to or worked on these magazines over
so many years.

I ntroduction
by David Pike

or very many years the London Fireman, later re-branded the London
Firefighter, was the in-house magazine for the London Fire Brigade.
Contained within its pages were a wealth of pictures and stories; tales
of derring-do, of heroic deeds and acts of bravery. They were combined
with an array of sometimes amusing and occasionally sad anecdotes, plus a fair
sprinkling of fire service prose and poetry. In the twenty-first century financial
cutbacks, and the growth of other forms of communication, sounded the deathknell of this acclaimed publication. This anthology seeks to resurrect many of
those extraordinary stories and reflect upon the times and the people that made
them: the protectors of Londons population from fire and other emergency
situations.
As London grew, expanded and became ever more complex, the London Fire
Brigade had to rise to these challenges. Sometimes change in the LFB was not as
some might have liked. Other changes, frequently driven by outside or financial
forces, brought about alterations to previous working practices. In this collection of writings we cover various accounts of the history of the London Fire
Brigade, its highs and lows, and the people that made it one of the premier fire
brigades in the world.
With almost forty years of publications to choose from, the selected and edited
material aims to deliver both a coherent history of Londons fire brigade and a
fascinating portrait of its people. It was, at times, a difficult and painful journey
marked by the sacrifice of others. Yet it was also driven by the bravery, dedication and sense of humour of those most of whom you will never have heard of,
but whose combined writing and photographic talents provide a unique insight
into what made ordinary people who they were: Londons firefighters.

xi

A cknowledgments

am indebted to the copyright owners for their kind permissions to reproduce the images and tales that pay tribute to a once-excellent periodical, the
London Fire Brigades in-house magazine. In particular a special mention
to those without whose active help this book would not have been possible.
Gordon White.
Terry Jones, London Fire Brigade.
Tom Gilmore, The Mary Evans Picture Library.
The London Fire Brigade.
Past London Fire Brigade photographers and contributors to the London
Fireman/London Firefighter magazine.
Tim Jones.
Paul Wood.
Alan Dearing.
Walter Stephenson, Austin Macauley Publishers.

xii

Alcoholism

lcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol. It is

generally used to mean a compulsive and uncontrolled
consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinkers health, personal relationships, and
social standing. It is medically considered a disease, an addictive
illness; several other terms are used, such as alcohol abuse or dependence. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, alcohol dependence in
general was called dipsomania. People suffering from alcoholism are
often called alcoholics. Alcohol misuse has the potential to damage
almost every organ in the body, including the brain. The cumulative toxic effects of chronic alcohol abuse can cause both medical and
psychiatric problems.
Liam Hackett joined the London Fire Brigade in 1969 at
the tender age of nineteen. His background was little different from
so many of his generation, older teenagers who discovered the joys
of having a drink with their mates, the occasional over-indulgence
maybe and the odd happening of getting totally drunk. In those days
Liam called himself Alf. His was not a unique story: many in the
London Fire Brigade were known to have a drink problem. Some
cleverly managed to disguise their drinking habits and their secretive dependency. What was special about Liams tale is that he went
public. He published his personal account for dealing with his alcoholism in the London Fireman magazine. This is his story as he told it.

A triumph over one individuals

demons

magine you are seated in groups of four listening to an

after dinner speech at a medical convention. The speaker
announces with some solemnity than one in four people in
the community will suffer from cancer. He then goes on to
describe the symptoms of the disease and, as each symptom is
described a natural self-diagnosis will occur. With some nervousness the diagnosis may prove negative. Satisfied that you
are not a sufferer your gaze will now be projected at your table
companions and a feeling of sympathy will naturally ensue
towards them, for you know one in four will be, or is a cancer

Londons Firefighters

victim all perfectly natural, all rather sad, a situation which

brings out fear and sympathy .
The speaker then goes on to say that one in four of the
drinking community will become alcoholics and then continues to describe the symptoms. The same logical expectation of
feelings? Not on your life! An evocation of fear or sympathy?
No. More than likely, waggish remarks that, Im not an alcoholic but my companion is, amid gales of laughter. It wouldnt
happen, you might say but this is not a figment of my imagination. The above did happen not so long ago in America.
Unfortunately alcoholism is now the second biggest killer
in this country after heart disease. According to NHS figures
13,500 sufferers pass through specialised units, of which there
are only 23 [in the 1970s] in the UK, per annum. Of these only
30 per cent will achieve recovery.
You may wonder why on earth I am writing this. Alcoholism
is not confined to any particular social class. Indeed I once
thought that alcoholics were winos derelicts of society,
contemptibles not fit to live! Drink is consumed at all levels
of society. Ethyl alcohol is a drug; addiction will follow with
familiarity and abuse. Its as terrible as that. Indeed, one finds
that people in the professions journalists, lawyers, doctors,
the military, even firemen, develop a dependence syndrome,
simply because of the nature of the job and the socialising that
goes with it.
I had to learn the hard way. My name is Alf and Im an
alcoholic.
My drinking started innocently enough. My father was a
publican and once or twice a week Id have a drink with my
friends, nothing alarming, one or two pints, thats all. Life went
on for me very normally, so I got drunk once in a while. Dont
we all? I got married when I was 19, and needless to say, I had
quite a stag night, but thats normal isnt it? I joined the Fire
Brigade in 1969. This was the only job l ever wanted and I was
determined to succeed.

A drink and a nag

Training School was enjoyable but hard work. The most natural
thing in the world, maybe once a week, was for all the lads to
meet next door, after work, in the pub and have a drink and a
nag. I did well at Southwark and was posted to Chiswick fire
station. Two days, two nights, two days off. Sometimes after
days it would be down to the Hole in the Wall for a jar or two,
2

Alcoholism
just to unwind and let the traffic die down. At no time did I, my
wife or friends consider me to have a drink problem in those
early days and, of course, I hadnt. I was one of the ordinary
millions of social drinkers. One or two pints, occasionally, was
all I needed.
Chiswick fire station, however, was not for me so I moved
to Paddington fire station. I was in my heyday, I think, with
plenty of jobs, plenty of excitement, a feeling of euphoria at
work and a social centre on the station. I had plenty of good
times at Padders but it was about this time that I started to
pursue my ambition, a simple enough one, to become Chief
Officer of the London Fire Brigade. In those heady, youthful
days I quite believed it. I started studying. It was all absorbing
and my family life began to suffer. However, I thought I just had
a nagging wife. Well, I was promoted to Leading Fireman and
stayed at Paddington. The next stage was Sub Officer which
came two years later. My total, consuming passion for study
was beginning to take its toll. I found that I would drink more
and more often. I would even take my books down to the local
in order to establish a pattern for my study. If my wife objected
I would storm out of the house using that as an excuse to drink.
My drinking was forming a habit and my waistline was
getting bigger. Now this was causing me some little concern so
like many others I decided to go on a diet but, alas, not to cut
down on my booze. In 1976 I decided to go to Training School
as an instructor. On reflection, and in absolute honesty, I went
there for all the wrong reasons. I told them at the interview
I wanted to give something back to the Brigade after all they
had given me. They fell for it. What I didnt tell them was that I
was on a gross ego trip of self-interest, not the Brigade interest.
I wanted to be a Station Officer, even a temporary one, like,
immediately.
I went to Southwark and found to my horror that I was
bored stiff within a week. My inflated ego, however, prevented
me from being honest and admitting it. Instead I went into the
business of being an instructor with a resentment. This quickly
developed into depression which as we all know has a panacea.
My universal remedy for the ridiculous situation I had placed
myself in was, youve guessed, drink.
I began to develop a taste for lunchtime drinking, something
I had only done on Sunday before. However, drink is a depressant. After the initial lift from alcohol the return to melancholy
is greater. I found myself going to the pub after work. Almost
every night I would arrive home drunk. The rows got worse at
home but I didnt care, because by now I was obese. I switched

Londons Firefighters

from pints of lager to Pils lager, which is sugar free. I lost a few
pounds but I was drinking more than before. I was now well
and truly on the road to insanity.
I was promoted to substantive Station Officer and posted
to Silvertown fire station, in East London. I didnt go home in
between nights but would start the day in all good faith exploring the ground. Come midday something would trigger in my
brain and Id end up in the pub. My habit was well established.

Alarming symptoms
Next I was posted to Southall fire station, near where I live,
one week before the national firemens strike. I remember little
of the strike as the public, in their generosity, reduced me to a
stage of semi-coma most of the time. I was developing alarming
symptoms, retching in the morning without being sick, occasional trembling, a loss of memory following drinking bouts,
but worst of all was a complete Jekyll and Hyde personality.
More and more the monster came out in me. I would be violent,
especially with my family, and always, always so remorseful the
following day. I used to promise to stop but never went more
than one day without booze.
I became the Fire Brigades Union rep, and then the divisional
officers rep. I used to preach the union gospel according to the
word of Pils lager. More and more the Mr Hyde was in charge
and finally took over. I was by now a thoroughly arrogant little
runt, disliked by most senior officers who had the misfortune
to come into contact with me. I could be told nothing but ruled
like an idiotic despot. My wife was now fending for herself. No
longer did she know me. She filed for divorce and I used this as
another excuse to turn to my old friend drink. Still I did not see
the harm it was doing.
One evening I decided to burn some rubbish in my garden.
The fire smouldered and died. I wanted to go to the pub so I
poured petrol on to it in order to speed up the process. It did.
I became a fireball and suffered first, second and third degree
burns to my back. If ever there was an example of lunacy from
a professional fireman I was it. In hospital I was told to drink
plenty of fluids. I did. Not quite what the doctor ordered, but
the mixing of morphine and Pils lager was disastrous. When
they found out and confiscated my fluids I literally panicked.
I used to crave for a drink in there and always managed to get
one. Still I did not consider myself an alcoholic. My wife, who
4

Alcoholism
was still with me because of our financial hardships, told me
over and over to stop drinking. I thought she was nagging.
One evening after a union meeting the first of many little
miracles happened. My friend Bunny called me to one side
and asked if I had a drink problem. I immediately felt indignant, denied it and asked if he wanted to join me for a drink.
He refused and I drove home. On the way I started thinking
that there was a conspiracy so, just to keep everyone happy, but
more to the point to convince myself that I didnt have a drink
problem, I would go to my GP the following morning. When
I arrived at the surgery my doctor asked what was wrong. I
said I thought I had a drink problem. He lowered his spectacles, looked at me and asked me why. Confused, I said I didnt
know. Now I was really uneasy, but to my relief he asked me
a few questions and suggested I see a specialist. Not once did
he mention the word alcoholic so I felt rather pleased with
myself. I left the surgery and headed straight for the supermarket to buy a can of beer. I went home smelling of beer with the
good news. My wife was not impressed.
About two weeks and many drinks later I arrived at Ealing
Hospital to see the specialist. He asked me the same questions
as my GP and of course I had the answers. He finished his notes,
looked up and said, Yes Mr Hackett, you are an alcoholic.
I was horrified, astounded, hurt and alcoholic. He suggested
I enter hospital for a month. I argued that the Brigade wouldnt
possibly tolerate that and refused. He said that if I carried on I
wouldnt have a Brigade to worry about. This frightened me.
He then said I wouldnt have a family, home or life to worry
about either. He convinced me that it was the only thing to do.

So bewildered
On 14th September 1979 I was admitted to St Bernards
Hospital, Southall, as a patient in the alcoholic unit. I still could
not believe I was a wino! I felt humiliated. I began a week of
detoxification surrounded by alcoholics. Why was I here? I was
so bewildered. The month dragged by. I kept it a secret only
known to my wife, Dusty my Sub Officer and my Divisional
Commander. Every time the fire alarm rang, which was at least
once a day, I would hide in shame lest I was seen. In about the
third week I started to absorb some of the things the nurses and
other patients were saying. Slowly, for the first time in my adult
life, I was being honest with myself. I began to admit to myself
that I was an alcoholic. I was just like everyone else in there.
5

Londons Firefighters

The treatment was in fact to last for three months, mostly

group therapy and introductions to Alcoholics Anonymous. I
left the hospital on 14th December far from cured but, for the
first time in a long while, sober. My wife had halted the divorce
for the time being. On 16th December I returned to work. My
watch at Southall had been marvellous and after the first month
in hospital they got to hear about me and visited me frequently.
They gave me a real lift when my world was disintegrating. Ill
never forget that.
I now had to get on with the business of living. It wasnt
easy at first. I went to AA meetings regularly and began to meet
some wonderful people who taught me a simple philosophy,
Just for today. That statement is all I need to live. Yesterday
is gone and finished, I can do absolutely nothing about that.
Tomorrow doesnt exist for any of us. Today is all I can be sure
about. Today I havent had a drink, today I have had the choice
to do what I want and not what the booze wants. If I cant solve
a problem today then forget about it, dont worry, let go. Just
for today was to stand me in good stead for the months that
were to come, some of the most traumatic dramas of my career
to date and far worse than any fire I had been to.
On 20th March 1980 I was reduced in rank to Sub Officer
following a disciplinary hearing, but thats life. I swallowed
hard, prayed a little, thought a lot and let go. I didnt drink. That
wouldnt solve anything. Id proved that over and over. Once
again, promoted back to Station Officer, I carried on with my
duties as best as I could, and that was 100 per cent better than
before. I was moved to Clerkenwell in April.
I continued with my AA meetings and found myself helping
other alcoholics. My family life improved and I found I could
listen to people, something I couldnt do before. My AA meetings have brought me into contact with all levels of society,
from TV stars to once derelicts, all of them happy individuals
with their simple programme for living. Only recently I have
started voluntary work with the Probation Service and have
talked at Borstals to youngsters with drink-related offences. I
go back to St Bernards regularly to liaise with staff and help
in-patients.
Life is no longer self-centred.
I have written this article in order to give a message to anyone
out there who, at this moment, may feel lonely and miserable
and confused. You are not alone, you can recover. You dont
necessarily need the extreme treatment I had. You can contact
me anytime, I would feel privileged to hear from you. A small
prayer Ive learned, and Im not overtly religious, says it all

Alcoholism
God grant me the serenity to accept the things
I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Footnote
Alf (Liam) went on to have a successful fire service career in the
London Fire Brigade, rising to senior rank. In 1989 he undertook a
daring and dramatic rescue of a power-line worker from the upper
levels of a high voltage electrical pylon in East London. His brave
deeds were recognised by the presentation of the Brigades highest
gallantry award: a Chief Officers Commendation. He was subsequently awarded the St John Bronze Life Saving Medal, a rare honour
and one which is only bestowed on an individual who has performed
a conspicuous act of bravery. Sadly, this act of bravery also brought
his fire service career to a premature end. The harrowing rescue had
serious consequences for Alf and he was diagnosed as suffering with
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and he was medically retired from the
Brigade. In retirement he returned to his native Scotland. Now known
as Liam Hackett, he dedicated his life to helping others, working with
international charities including the Order of Saint Lazarus. In 2013
he was invested as a Chevalier de lordre militaire et hospitalier de
Saint-Lazare de Jrusalem.

Assistant Divisional
Officer Liam Alf
Hackett prior to his
medical retirement.
(Permission of Liam
Hackett.)

Londons Firefighters

At

Basement Fire

By Charles Clisby MBE, QFSM

London firemen in
breathing apparatus
(BA), circa 1930s. (Mary
Evans 10535253.)

Reporter asked me, Whats it like?

I shrugged him off, I couldnt say:
You see Im not a one for that.
Not one for bragging anyway.
He pressed me hard and so I tried,
I hoped my tale he understood.
Could it be that telling him,
Might do the job a bit of good?

If you put on six overcoats

And though you suffered hell from corns,
You cramped your feet in Army boots,
Wore on your head a crown of thorns.