Tozer Family.

[postie]

I was skimming through the Birmingham Year Book for 1933, and came across this snippet from the Fire Brigade pages.


BIRMINGHAM FIRE BRIGADE

Chief Officer -- A.R. Tozer, O.B.E.
Second Officer-- C.W. Tozer
Third Officer-- A.R. Tozer, Junr.

Have we got any members related to these brave men.? O0

 

[sylviasayers]

Ppstie I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere that one of the Tozers was awarded a medal, maybe the George Cross for bravery rescuing people in the war. I also vaguely recollect a family of Tozers living in Webster Street, Aston, in the 1940s, don't know whether they are related, but it is an unusual surname.

 

[gingerjon]

early Tozer ?

 

[A.Willoughby]

I have a Tozer line in my loose lineage. Very unlikely to be connected for these are back in the 1860's in Devon where there was a predominance of the name.

 

[ChrisM]

Birmingham Fire Brigade and the Tozer family

Here are a couple of pictures of Birmingham Fire Brigade, dating from the 1920s.

The chap in the car is Bob Tozer. I understand that the Tozer family were very influential with regard to the Fire Brigade up to the outbreak of WW2. Bob was a good friend of my father and, in the custom of the age, tended to have himself photographed from time to time. I have portraits of him in Fire Brigade uniform (1916 and 1919) and in Army, possibly Officer Cadet, uniform (1919). I can post these if anyone is interested.

Can anyone tell me more about the Tozers and their role in the Birmingham Fire Brigade, please?

Chris

 

[postie]

In my 1933 Birmingham Yearbook it states the following.

BIRMINGHAM FIRE BRIGADE

Chief Officer--- A.R. TOZER, O.B.E.
Second Officer---C.W. TOZER.
Third Officer-- A.R. TOZER, Junr.

So, as you can see they were indded a famous family.

 

[gingerjon]

fire service

there was an earlier thread about Tozer and the fire service try the search engine

 

[ChrisM]

Thanks, John - yes, I had looked at the previous thread and I'm hoping for additional information.

The 1933 Year Book entry (and thanks also for that, postied) is interesting and demonstrates the remarkable dynasty which the Tozer family seems to have established within the Birmingham Fire Brigade, starting in the Victorian era, through the Edwardian and right up until the 1930s/early 1940s. So in 1933 the three most senior people are all related, father and two sons perhaps?

I suspect that Third Officer A.R. Tozer may be "my Bob", possibly the son of the boss, also A.R. Tozer but I am having to guess.

The second Officer, C.W. Tozer is also of interest. (Son or brother of the senior A.R., I wonder). This must surely be the same man as C.W.L. Tozer, a patrol leader in the Aston Home Guard who won the George Medal for conspicuous bravery during an air raid on 26th October 1940. (I have started a separate thread on that https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10187 ).

It's difficult to envisage a senior officer of one civil defence organisation, the Fire Brigade, being involved in voluntary duties in another, the Home Guard. But perhaps he really did do it in his spare time; or perhaps he had left the Birmingham Fire Brigade by then. The latter was of course wholly reorganised into the National Fire Service early in the war and that probably brought an end to the Tozer influence.

What appears to be the remarkable involvement of the Tozer family in the Fire Brigade must surely have already been researched and written up. Or has it? I can't get to the Reference Library to find out.

(The Tozer influence stretched even further. On 1st January 1943 there was awarded the King's Police and Fire Services Medal - for gallantry - to Wilfred Alfred Tozer, Chief Officer, Rangoon Fire Brigade and Director, Fire Services, Burma. Birmingham was clearly not big enough for them all!)

Any further thoughts would be very welcome.

Chris

 

[postie]

In another year book it states.

In 1879 Mr Alfred Robert Tozer, of the BRISTOL FIRE BRIGADE was appointed as Superintendent of the Birmingham Fire Brigade.

 

[ChrisM]

In 1879 Mr Alfred Robert Tozer...........

So it looks as though one of the family traditions, in addition to running the Fire Service, was to use the same initials, father to son. That has to be three generations, at least.

This is the youngest of the line in 1919.

Chris

 

[fellowkev]

Interesting topic, and great pictures ChrisM. I like that helmet he's wearing--lots of attention to detail in those days.
Do you have names for the other firemen in the picture? i.e. Langford?

Kevin

 

[ChrisM]

Thank you, Kevin - but no, unfortunately, the group photo I have is not annotated.

I'm beginning to believe I jumped to the wrong conclusion about the identity of the C.W.L. Tozer who won the George Medal. The 1901 Census suggests that the A.R. (I'll call him A.R.2) and C.W. (Chief and First Officers in the 1933 listing) were the first and second sons of the earlier A.R. (1) who was Superintendent at the turn of the century. The newly born A.R. (3 - "my Bob") was almost certainly the son of A.R (2) and grandson of A.R. (1). He seems to have become the Third Officer by 1933. If anyone who is interested in this thread and subscribes to one of the genealogy sites could check addresses and so on to confirm this theory I should be very grateful.

C.W. who was Second Officer and C.W.L. who won the George Medal are however a different matter. The Second officer in 1933 seems to have been Charles Wright Tozer, born ca. 1879. But the George Medal recipient is identified as Charles William Lovelace Tozer. In the parallel thread about the George Medal incident a description by the man himself says that he was a skilled man preventing from joining up in 1939/40. This obviously precludes the older C.W. and probably means that C.W.L. was not a member of the Fire Brigade either. Whether he was C.W.'s son (following the tradition of giving sons their father's initials) or a close family member such as the son of A.R.(3), or whether the similarity of names, and the type of exploit, are nothing more than an incredible coincidence, I don't know.

Are you as confused as I am?!

Chris

 

[Phil]

Postied

I came across this today, it must be the A.R. Tozer that you mentioned A.R.Tozer Superindendant of Birmingham Fire Service 1879-1906

Phil

 

[ChrisM]

Thanks for that, pmc1947.

It certainly looks most likely to be A. R. (1) born ca. 1853 rather than A. R. (2) ca. 1874 or - obviously - A. R. (3) ca 1899.

Chris

 

[pipone]

Although I have contacted you with this info already I thought I should respond to this thread for the benefit of other interested parties. Must say that this is not a full family tree, but it does give an insight into how this family dominated the fire service.

Robert Tozer


He was a fireman with the Hand in Hand Brigade in London in 1833,


he was promoted to Engineer at Baker Street Fire Station.


│


Alfred Tozer (born 1832)


Son of Robert Tozer joined his fathers Brigade in 1850, promoted to


Engineer and then Braidwood’s Chief Clerk at Watling Street H/Q.


In 1854 he left the Brigade to take a pump to Scutari to protect the hospitals during the Crimean War. On his return he was placed in charge of Tooley Street Fire Station, appointed as Chief Officer in Manchester in 1861 until 1892 when he retired.


│


Alfred Robert Tozer (born 1854)


Son of Alfred Tozer, was born at Watling Street Fire Station. He served an engineering apprenticeship and joined Manchester Fire Brigade, he was appointed as the Superintendent of Bristol Fire Brigade in 1877, and then Chief Officer of the Birmingham Brigade in 1879 taking over from Superintendent George Tiviotdale, until his death in 1906.


│​

His children were;
(1) Alfred Robert (born 1875) Chief Officer of the Birmingham Brigade 1906–1941
(2) Charles Wright (born 1880) Deputy Chief Officer / Second Officer of the Birmingham Brigade
(3) Frederick (born 1889) Station Officer in the Manchester Brigade
(4) William (born 1879) Engineer at Handsworth & Chief West B’wich.1900–1938 (died 1950)
Joseph (born1882)
Arthur (born 1887)
Emily (born 1886)

(1) His son was A. R. Tozer Jnr. (born 1900) Third Officer, then Second Officer Birmingham Brigade
(2) His son was C. W. Tozer (born in 1909) became a Police Officer in Portsmouth
(3)
(4) Had two sons;
(5) William Alfred Tozer Chief Fire Officer of Madras and then Rangoon Fire Brigades
Charles Tozer West B’wich Brigade 1918, DCFO Durham Fire Brigade & CFO of Finchley

(5) Had a son called William Tozer born in Worcester, an AFS messenger, joined Durham Brigade. Stn. Officer at Bishop Auckland, Deputy Chief Fire Officer 1971 of Durham Fire Brigade. Retired in 1984 died 2005 aged 78.

Your ‘Bob’ is indeed A.R. Tozer Jnr. Who was the second officer in 1941. As for the reason behind them being removed from office it stemmed from the arrangements that were put in place due to the war. As you know the AFS was formed, however there was a lack of training for these volunteers, the Chief Officer Mr. Tozer was not in favour of this scheme and refused to integrate ‘His’ full time professional fire service with untrained volunteers. This disagreement was evident to all personnel especially with the outspoken differences of opinion with the Regional Commissioner. The situation became intolerable when the Chief refused to give leadership to fire fighting operations leaving the fire crews to sort out things for themselves. This put the lives of the firemen and civilians in danger. In November an inspection was carried out of the service by Mr. Herbert Morrison, the Minister for Home Security, Home Office. November 22nd was one of the worst nights for heavy bombing, but still the Chief refused to shift his stance as such the crews on the fire ground had to fend for themselves the best they could. As a result the CFO and his son were removed from office, he sent out a general order stating that he was retiring at the age of 66 all though everyone knew better, his son the second officer was assigned to special duties with a Mr. Killey of the Home Office, in effect moved out of the way. Captain B.A. Westbrook then took over temporary in command. This in effect ended the Tozer dynasty within the fire service. It was after this that the fire service was nationalised i.e. NFS.

I hope this is useful, there are obviously some gaps but it might help.

 

[ChrisM]

Thanks, pipone, invaluable and fascinating information.

Chris

 

[John Brown]

.... the Tozer family had once effectively run the Birmingham Fire Brigade until early in the war when its efficiency was found wanting. The A.R. Tozer who was dismissed was the son of the original Superintendent; in the 1930s, his brother was Second Officer and his son, another A.R., was Third Officer. This last man ("Bob") had been a close schoolboy friend of my father's. I assume that all were still serving in 1940. (This subject is also covered in a parallel thread on this forum)..................

As quoted above, Bob Tozer, Second Officer, did leave the Fire Service in 1941. The National Fire Service was formed then and when all Ranks were re-appraised, he was given that of Section Leader, roughly equivalent to being in charge of one Appliance. His salary was protected and I was told that he was the highest paid man of that new rank in the Country.
His Widow was still alive in 1974 and was invited to attend the opening of the Centenary of the Birmingham Fire Brigade/Birmingham Fire and Ambulance Service Exhibition which was arranged by the Keeper of Archaeology, Ethnography and Local History, assisted by a Senior Officer of the Fire Service, and held in Lower Ground Gallery ( Gt Charles Street Entrance) of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Birmingham Fire Brigade was founded in March 1874, then under control of the Chief of Police. Following the fatal Digbeth Fire in 1878, after which many things were found to be wrong, such as Escape Ladders would not work, The first Tozer was appointed as Chief Fire Offiicer.
The Tozer family then maintained that Rank until 1941, Nepotism??
Birmingham Fire and Ambulance Service transferred to West Midlands Fire Service on 1st April 1974 due to Local Government re-organisation and therefore the Birmingham Fire Brigade/National Fire Service/Birmingham Fire and Ambulance Service lasted for 100 years and 3 days.

 

[ChrisM]

Thank you very much, John. You and pipone, with the help of this forum, have taught me more about this in a few days than I have found out in sixty years! What a disaster to have befallen the family who must have had immense pride in their continuing service - but from what I have now heard the changes were clearly necessary and possibly overdue.

And how good to see that the Birmingham Fire Brigade, by accident or design, just managed to achieve its Centenary.

Has much been written about the Brigade's role - and that of the AFS and NFS - in the Birmingham Blitz?

Chris

 

[RobTozer]

Hi all. I'm in the process of researching my family tree. Pretty interesting to see you guys discussing it!
I have a pretty detailed news article from 1935 listing the numerous Tozer fireman and their exploits but the 1941 incident is news to me.
I don't suppose anyone has any details of wives or none firefighting children?
Any questions I may be able to help with, just let me know.

Rob

 

[RobTozer]

Re: Birmingham Fire Brigade and the Tozer family

Here are a couple of pictures of Birmingham Fire Brigade, dating from the 1920s.The chap in the car is Bob Tozer..........

Hi Chris. Do you have any other pictures that you haven't yet posted?

 

[ChrisM]

Rob....

The only other images I have are of the youngest Robert, as previously mentioned - an early one in Brigade uniform (I think) at the age of around 16 and a later one from 1918 with him apparently in Army, possibly Officer Cadet, uniform. I'll post these here.

The only other memento of the Tozers which I recall from my childhood is a small siver tankard, subsequently lost, with an engraved inscription to my father from Bob and dated 22nd November 1912. This was the occasion of my father's 13th birthday and there are therefore obvious bar mvitzah overtones; but my father was not brought up in the Jewish faith and I am not aware that the Tozers were Jewish either.

I have no evidence but I strongly suspect that the friendship with Bob occurred when my father was at King Edward's, Five Ways and/or King Edward's High School, New Street. (Pupil rolls for these schools still exist and so that could be checked). It's ironic that one of the Tozers - Bob, I think I have read - was in charge of the significant Fire Brigade presence when temporary accommodation at the new KEHS site in Edgbaston was destroyed by fire in 1936.

My main interest in the Tozers is therefore the association of Bob and my father and curiosity about what happened to him in later life; and also whether the Fire Brigade family was linked to the Aston Home Guard Tozer who displayed conspicuous bravery during the Blitz and was awarded the George Medal.

Do you have a direct connection to any of these people?

Chris

 

[RobTozer]

Thanks for the pictures.
My link to your father's Bob is slightly tenuous. Bob's great grandfather Alfred, and my great great grandfather Joseph were brothers. So the family tree did branch off a long time ago but i suppose Bob would be some sort of uncle to me.
The last we really knew of that side of the family was a news article from 1935 so everything after that is news to us.

As for CW Tozer, I've found no record of him ever having the initial L which suggests it could be a differnent guy. Although by 1940, he would have been 60 which would be a suitable age for the home guard and he had retired from the fire brigade in 1938, freeing him up for voluntary service. Plus, there can't be that many CW Tozer's in the Birmingham area so it is quite possibly him.

I'll have a look into it when I get a chance but if you do manage to find anything further, do let me know.

 

[RobTozer]

I've just reread the other thread regarding the Air raid and CWL Tozer mentions that he went on to join the army.This suggests he was considerably younger than 60 and therefore cant be the same guy

 

[RobTozer]

I have managed to find the date of birth/death for Charles W L Tozer if thats any use (it proably isnt actually):
Born: 26th June 1915 - Aston
Died: Feb 2004 - Lichfield

Because the 1921 Census (on which he would be a child) isnt available yet, it is hard to find out who his parents were and therefore if he is related to the Firefighting Tozers.

 

[ChrisM]

You’ve beaten me to it, Rob! Yes, despite the remarkable coincidence of very similar but fairly unusual names in one city, C.W. and C.W.L. were definitely different people. Apart from anything else, as you say, C.W.L. was a younger man – he was in an essential occupation as a skilled man and later he succeeded in joining the army. There’s a bit about him here. (He is also mentioned in the book “Heroes of the Birmingham Air Raids” and in another thread within this forum which I think you have already found).

The Fire Brigade Tozers seemed to have the habit of giving their offspring very similar initials – “A.R.” for example – and so the C.W./C.W.L. similarity might just be something more than a coincidence.

Keep us posted about any discoveries you make, if you would.

Chris

 

[missjayniee]

Sorry for putting this up again but i put last post in wrong place under heading 1897.Just reading the Tozer family fire brigade with lots of interest. Do you have any info any earlier than 1900. My husbands great grandad is on the grandads birth certificate as been a brigade fireman in 1897. Unfortunately we can't find any info apart from this.

 

[angie2405]

I have managed to find the date of birth/death for Charles W L Tozer if thats any use (it proably isnt actually):
Born: 26th June 1915 - Aston
Died: Feb 2004 - Lichfield

Because the 1921 Census (on which he would be a child) isnt available yet, it is hard to find out who his parents were and therefore if he is related to the Firefighting Tozers.

Hi Rob

Charles William Lovelace Tozer is the son of Arthur John Lovelace Tozer [b1880, St Thomas, Exeter] and Eliza Annie Barnes. They were married in 1900 in Devon.

There were 3 other children of the marriage:
Arthur J Lovelace Tozer b1910 St Thomas, Devon
Frederick G Lovelace Tozer b1913 Aston
Elsie L Lovelace Tozer b1920 Aston


From mid 1911, when a birth was registered the mothers, maiden name was noted. There is a free search facility at www.freebmd.org.uk [covers from 1837 to c1930's]. Records are transcribed by volunteers. The entry for Charles is shown:

[SIZE=+1]Births Sep 1915 [SIZE=-2](>99%)[/SIZE][/SIZE]
Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Tozer Charles W L Barnes Aston 6d 957


after that all you then need to do is look for a marriage between Tozer & Barnes


Angie

 

[dom]

Charles Wright Tozer did have a nephew called Charles Tozer (I don't know the initials) which I got from below academic paper:

The history of the Tozer family is quite well researched in
· Chief officers and professional identities: the case of fire services in English municipal government, c .1870–1938* by Shane Ewen, University of Edinburgh
· The internationalization of fire protection: in pursuit of municipal networks in Edwardian BirminghamSHANE EWEN School of History and Classics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JY
The first paper includes a family tree. Annoyingly it's a male only version of the family tree and thus excludes my great-grandmother, Emily Tozer who was sister to Alfred Robert Tozer (who also had a son of the same name), Charles Wright Tozer , William Tozer (who had two sons - one called William Tozer and the other called CharlesTozer ), Frederic Tozer and Joseph Tozer. All men in the family apart from Joseph were fire chiefs etc. The paper explains about how the Tozer 'dynasty' ended due to the mishandling of a fire during a bombing raid in WW2. i can email anyone the papers if they wish as you have to pay to download from the internet
The Tozers managed to become fire chiefs just about everywhere - not just Birmingham, but Manchester, Bristol, London and even India during the days of the Empire! My grandmother talked quite a bit about Joseph as he was an actor in the West End and holywood. If you look on www.imdb.com all his films are listed there.

 

[dom]

Hi
I just saw from the forum post that a possible jewish connection is mentioned. As far as I'm aware there is a jewish connection. My grandmother (dauhter of Emily Tozer) although not brought up in the jewish faith did refer to herself as Jewish - because the Tozers were jewish but kept it hidden from outsiders for fear of prejudice

 

[ChrisM]

Thank you, dom, another small mystery resolved!

Chris