Summary: The wartime story of the Fire Services of Great Britain.
Description: The film shows: the preparation and lead-up to war; the recruitment of a whole army of Civil Defence workers, including a regular fire brigade heavily reinforced by volunteers; a man talking about how he joined and what it was like; their training; mobilisation as soon as war was declared; their action during the bombing raids on Britain; their merger into a single organisation; the training under the new scheme; their part in the invasion of Europe; their action when London was again under fire in the winter of 1944. Finally, there is a ceremony in Hyde Park celebrating the release of part-time firemen and women; the Queen and Princess Elizabeth paying tribute to the women; in June, 1945, the King and Queen reviewing Civil Defence workers in Hyde Park.
Production Details: Scottish Home Department (Production sponsor)
Central Office of Information (Production sponsor)
Home Office (Production sponsor)
Cummins, Sylvia K (Production individual)
Anderson, Joan (Production individual)
Harding, H F (Production individual)
Goddard, E J (Production individual)
Cummins, Sylvia K (Production individual)
Cox, A E (Production individual)
Page, Len (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: George VI, King (person)
Elizabeth, Queen (person)
Elizabeth II, Queen (person)
Civil Defence Corps (regiment/service)
Fire Brigade (regiment/service)
National Fire Service (regiment/service)
Keywords: ceremonies, British - event-related (object name)
destruction, British - fire (object name)
destruction, British military - area: bomb (object name)
recruitment, British: fire services (object name)
society, British - precautionary (object name)
GB, England & London, W <Hyde Park> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 4
Footage: 1700 ft; Running time: 47 mins
