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Very smart Coventry Fire Officer. Anyone know what the medal and clasps were awarded for?
 

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Possibly Long Service Medal - 30 Years Service (20 Year Clasp plus 2 x 5 Year Clasps).
The Ribbon Stripes layout looks pretty similar on this 1945 Award.
Long Service Medal - 20+5 - 1945.jpg
 
Birmingham Fire Brigade - Birmingham Fire Station Pictures 1955 - Part 2

Aston Fire Station - Ettington Road - Circa 1955
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Kings Heath Fire Station 1955
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Kings Norton Fire Station 1955
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Perry Barr Fire Station 1955
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Lingard Street Fire Station 1955
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My brother manned the ambulance stationed at Ettington Road. The Station Officer was Spike Garner if my memory serves, he moved to College Road.
 
No indication given of where exactly this was taken. Someone may be able to identify the building(s). Viv.

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This set of newspaper images were taken before the Central Fire Station (Lancaster Circus 1934) was built, so presumably these show Upper Priory Station. One shows the engine at the bottom of Corporation Street (outside what was once Hawkins)
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Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
The photo above - named 'turning out' seems staged.
The order of dressing in my time, 1965 - 1993, was (when wearing normal dress) remove shoes and put on leggings and boots which were kept located together, i.e. leggings on boots, put on helmet and then tunic and axe. Then take your allocated place on the fire appliance - known as a 'machine'.
When I first joined we had a vehicle similar to the following photo but was slightly newer, 1935 in fact and as you were in the open air, rather than in a cab, your sturdy belt was a method of securing yourself to the vehicle. We got a newer vehicle shortly after, a 1955 Dennis.
 
Hi Ian just found your request for info on Lingard Street and Walter Hayes, I have Walters and one of his sons medals plus lots of letters and postcards relating to the family. I am a member of the WMFS Heritage Group based at Ettington Road old fire station we meet on Tuesdays 9.30-2.0 so come down and see us and we can show you Walters service records.
Mike
 
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