Genealogy Chat

Hi Peter, I am presuming he was in the fire brigade, as the coffin for his funeral was taken on a fire engine ( or whatever they had in the 1890's !) My Uncle has the clipping for the newspaper...... somewhere !?!? Surely that wouldn't have been done for a "civvy"?? Andrea

My father was in the Sidcup volunteer brigade in the 1930's, as well as holding a full time job. Also, are you sure that he was in the FB, many civilians die in fires trying to save people - the FB are usually more careful Peter

Thank you very much all !! Andrea :o)

Fire Brigades were rooted in the insurance companies who competed with each other to sign up properties and place their fire mark on the wall. In the event of fire, their private fire fighters would attempt to extinguish it. If you were not covered by them , they let it burn! Saving life was not important, and so in 1828 the Fire Escape Society was formed. They placed portable fire escapes at strategic places to be "run" by conductors to a fire. This was privately funded. In 1866 the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was formed and in 1867 it took over the Society's escapes. My 2 x great grandfather was a fire escape conductor in 1865, and a fireman in 1867. I will e-mail you with a contact to try. I got records of service, but this was from a Brigade in London--it may be worth a try.

Andrea If you get his death cert that will pinpoint the exact date of his death and you can then look this up in the local newspaper - record offices and libraries have back issues on microfilm. nell

Small towns offten did have a volentry brigaid made up of local men. you have taken the best step in traceing your relle but as you know there was probable a news paper atical about him have you tryed the papaers arcives. You could also try googaling "The history of Surrey Fire service" you never know.

I have just been told that my G.G Grandfather died (presumably !) in a fire. This would have been in Surrey in the late 1890's. My mother and her brother remember seeing a clipping from the local paper saying, " Local Man Dies a Hero ", that her Grandmother kept. I have Frederick Mitcham on the 1891 census, but as a General Labourer. Did they have a full time fire brigade in the 1890's, or were they made up of volunteers ?? Is there a fire brigade archives I can write to ? Or anywhere on line I can look for the early days of the fire service ? I have tried Googling but nothing really comes up. I have sent an email to the Surrey Fire Brigade, But as it " tis the season to be jolly ", I may have a long wait for a reply !! Thanks Andrea

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