The Fire Brigade Museum

12/10/2026

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day.

It is the devastating impacts of mental illness that brought our organisation into being.

It is a sad but true fact that 999 workers who face mental illness through exposure to trauma in their work, often don’t receive the support and assistance they need from their employer.

In fact in many cases, significant failure of mental health is capitalised on the end the career of 999 workers.

Unfair and disproportionate application of internal policies and procedures are costing careers all the time. In an increasing amount, lack of support through disciplinary processes is also contributing to death by su***de in our emergency services.

It is a known and well evidenced problem but there seems to be little appetite to make real cultural change to stop careers and lives being prematurely ended.

We exist to do something about it!

Our love for the history of the Fire Service, is a method to raise funds to provide help,support and guidance to 999 workers who find them in situations where they are suffering from mental illness and where their careers or lives may be at risk.

We strive to provide quick and effective help with minimal bureaucracy, which can feel insurmountable if your mind is affected.

Our leadership know what the culture is like, they know what it needed, they know what the obstacles are - because they’ve been there!

We know of the ripple effect to families of those affected by mental illness and our mission positively impacts families who must share the impacts of mental illness.

We won’t rest until there is suitable and sufficient support available for our 999 workers, when they are in need or in crisis.

Every time you like or interact with our social media posts, you help us raise a little money.

Every donation and purchase towards our museum, helps our journey to maximise income to support 999 workers, by creating a collection of national significance that draws a continuous large audience.

08/10/2026

The Angel of platform 6.

Following comments from a number of followers on our post about the Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash of 8th October 1952.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash 100 personnel from the USAF based at RAF South Ruislip . Amongst those USAF personnel who responded were several members of the 494th medical group.

Second Lieutenant Abbie Sweetwine was the only Nurse who attended from the 494 medical group.

Lt Sweetwine coordinated the triage station,marking patients on their foreheads with her own lipstick with treatment priority or ‘M’ where Morphine had been administered.

This was a technique tried and tested during world war 2, often using the blood of the injured soldier instead of lipstick.

Lt Sweetwine was noticed for her efficient and effective coordination of the triage station and was heralded in the media as ‘the Angel of Platform 6’

The combat tactics employed by the USAF medics at this disaster informed a turning point in pre hospital emergency medicine in the UK.

Historically ambulance crews employed the ‘scoop and run’ method, focusing on getting a patient to definitive medical care rather than stabilising the patient (also known colloquially as the 3P’s)

The learning from this incident laid the foundations for the modern ambulance service we have today.

08/10/2026

Today we remember the 112 people who perished in the Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash, on the 74th Anniversary of their deaths.

At 08:19 on 8th October 1952, two passenger trains both heading to Euston station, collided at Harrow and Wealdstone railway station, derailing both and creating a huge wreckage scene.

The trains had collided at points, allowing one of the trains to cross on to the fast track into Euston. The collision was caused by the fast moving train, passing through a red signal at speed.

The wreckage was thrown onto the rail line out of London from Euston. Moments later a train heading from Euston to Liverpool struck the wreckage of the initial crash, derailing the locomotive and causing to career onto the platform of the station and on to the nearby electrified rail line.

The Middlesex Fire Brigade, now part of London Fire Brigade were ordered with other emergency services, arriving at around 08:20.

It took emergency services crews several hours to release the trapped passengers, with the majority removed to hospital by mid afternoon.

Extrication efforts continued until the early hours of the next day.

Of the total 1025 passengers and crew involved in the crash, 112 were killed with a further 340 people injured.

The resulting investigation concluded that the cause was due to fog and a train passing through a signal at Red.

May those who perished continue to rest in eternal peace.

07/10/2026

Today we remember Fireman Edmund Burt of the Western Area Fire Brigade, now Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on the 58th anniversary of his death.

On 7th October 1968 a 999 call was recieved by Brigade control, reporting ‘fire’ at the premises of R&W Watson Ltd, Napier Street, Linwood near Glasgow. The building was used as a paper mill.

On arrival of appliances, it was clear that a developing fire was in progress, which was spreading rapidly through the Victorian former Cotton mill.

A significant firefighting operation was undertaken including water towers from aerial appliances.

At around an hour after the initial attendance a catastrophic structural collapse of an external wall occurred, trapping 4 Firemen under the rubble.

Colleagues immediately set about extracting the
Trapped Firemen.

Firemen Gordon Squires and Charlie Bishop, along with Sub Officer Stewart Napier were assisted to safety having been able to dig themselves out of the rubble holding them down.

Tragically Fireman Edmund Burt was discovered as deceased and removed from the rubble.

Edmund was only 23 years of age at the time of his death.

May he continue to rest in eternal peace.

07/10/2026

Today we remember Station Officer William Wilson and Auxiliary Fireman Frederick Mitchell,on the 86th anniversary of their deaths during the Blitz.

On the evening of 7th October 1940, Station 72, Soho Fire Station of the London Fire Brigade received a direct hit from a high explosive bomb, dropped during a raid by the Luftwaffe.

Firemen who had been in the Station’s underground shelter were able to self extricate from the structure, setting about searching for and extricating their colleagues who remained trapped in the wreckage.

Station Officer Wilson and Auxiliary Fireman Mitchell remained missing after an account of personnel was taken.

Work continued for a further 2 days to locate and remove both Firemen who were sadly deceased.

Station Officer William Wilson was 35 years of age at the time of his death, leaving behind a widow and a son. William was posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal in March 1941 for his notable conduct in the rescue and extrication of fellow Firemen when a bomb hit nearby Sub Fire Station 72X only
Months earlier, in which 7 Auxiliary Firemen were killed

Auxiliary Fireman Frederick Mitchell was 29 years old at the time of his death, leaving behind a widow.

May they continue to rest in eternal peace.



Photo credit mr Dave Pike

06/10/2026

Today we remember Police Constable Keith Blakelock QGM of the Metropolitan Police on the 41st anniversary of his death at the Broadwater farm riot in Tottenham.

Civil disturbance broke out on the estate on 6th October 1985 following the death of resident Mrs Cynthia Jarrett who died of heart failure during a police search of her home on the previous day.

During a night long civil disturbance fire crews from Walthamstow and Stoke Newington were ordered to a shop alight on the estate.

Due to multiple ongoing fires where Fire crews were coming under attack, Police in Riot gear were deployed to protect them.

Serial 502 comprising of 12 Police Officers were deployed to this task, this serial including PC Blakelock.

Within a short time rioters appeared, the Police Sergeant explained that as soon as the fire was extinguished,they would all leave.

Instead rioters began attacking the police with Machetes, forcing the Police Sergeant to order Police and Fire Crews to withdraw.

As was procedure, the withdrawal was made by walking backwards facing shields to the attackers. As the attacks heightened this withdrawal became a backwards run.

Whilst withdrawing Assistant Divisional Officer Trevor Stratford of the London Fire Brigade looked back and saw PC Blakelock fall, being immediately assaulted by the rioters, shortly followed by PC Richard Coombes who was also set upon by the rioters.

ADO Stratford, without thinking ran back to the Police Officers under attack, with Assistant Divisional Officer Graham Holloway of the London Fire Brigade, dragging PC Coombes out of the frenzied attack and to Stoke Newington’s appliance, where upon the crew bundled him into the cab and removed him to hospital.

ADO Stratford immediately returned, now being pelted with bricks and other objects to drag PC Blakelock away from the rioters. PC Blakelock was immediately removed to hospital by Ambulance but was pronounced deceased on arrival.

PC Blakelock was found to have sustained 94 stab or slash wounds along with multiple blunt trauma injuries from being kicked and stamped on. He was found to have a 6 inch knife buried up to the handle stuck in his neck.

Police Constable Keith Blakelock was 40 years of age at the time of his murder, leaving behind a Widow and 3 sons.

PC Blakelock was posthumously awarded the Queens Gallantry medal, collected by his Wife.

All police Constables in serial 502 were awarded the Queens Gallantry medal.

Police Sergeant David Pengelley who fought back the crowd attacking the Police Officers was awarded the George Medal for Bravery.

Assistant Divisional Officer Trevor Stratford was awarded the Queens Gallantry medal.

Assistant Divisional Officer Graham Holloway & Firemen James Ryan and David Kwai received commendations from the London Fire Brigade.

PC Richard Coombes returned to light duties with the Metropolitan Police but was finally medically retired 1991, because of the epilepsy that developed as a result of brain damage caused in the attack which led to deterioration of his eyesight and he was left barely able to stand.

May he continue to rest in eternal peace