AFS WESTERN ZONE
Scotland was divided into three zones:-
The North Zone consisted of Highland & Islands, Grampian and Tayside Fire Brigades.
The East Zone consisted of Lothian & Borders, Fife and east half of Central Scotland Fire Brigades.
The West Zone consisted of Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway and west half of Central Scotland Fire Brigades.
The Auxiliary Fire Service, albeit in the guise of the combined “National Fire Service”, was disbanded in 1948 after its sterling wartime contribution as it was no longer required, but due to the mounting pressures of the Cold War the AFS was reformed under the Civil Defence Act, 1948 and recruitment and training was started on the 15th November 1949 at which point Fireman Flynn of Greenock re-enlisted having already served throughout World War II. Jimmy Berry had been the Leading Fireman in Greenock Retained when he worked as an engineer with Hasties Stearing Gear, he became a school teacher and couldn’t turn out for fires so he was persuaded to join the AFS.
The training in those early days after reforming was rather sparse as roles were unclear, with the result that the lads turned up on training nights but did not accomplish much. A case of nobody knew quite what to do with these extra men although on occasions enough turned up to form a crew and so it went on until 1964 by which time the numbers attending were few and far between although numbers were listed in the annual report each year.
In December 1964 Station Officer Leonard Wilkins transferred from Greenock to WAFB HQ in Johnstone to become Civil Defence Liaison Officer, OIC AFS, OIC Control, Thornhill.
From that point on things changed for the better.
The AFS met once a week for training which consisted of drills and/or lectures. They also had to attend various exercises. For this they got a payment of £10 per year plus travelling expenses.
On joining each man was given a boiler suit, a pair of rubber boots, belt and axe, cap and badge, and a tin helmet.
Once they passed their training they received a tunic and trousers, pair of leggings and a personnel line.
The Greenock crew normally went up to Renfrew for their Wednesday night training as there wasn’t enough at each station to do drills on there own.
There was a Green Goddess kept in bay 5 of the fire station in Rue End Street and a motor cycle in the garage along with a Land Rover which as well as being a Personnel Carrier was used to tow the Field Telephone Trailer that was also kept at Greenock. This Land Rover was on occasion used by the Liaison Officer when not using his allocated Austin Countryman Personnel Carrier. Also in the garage at Greenock were part of the stock of 6” polythene pipes for water relays and these would be moved by the Western Area Fire Brigade’s lorry VHS738 which was Johnstone’s “van”.
The remainder being stored at Renfrew.
At the Firemaster’s Parade and Drill *** on the 27th March 1968 the B division crew consisted of:-
Sub Officer Jimmy Berry G M ** (Back up Driver) *
Fireman Addison
Fireman Blyth
Fireman Jimmy Flynn *
Fireman Graham Todd
Fireman Wilson
* Were in the AFS during the war and served at the Greenock and Clydebank blitz.
** George Medal awarded as a result of actions during Greenock Blitz. (distillery blaze in Baker Street). Three George Medals were awarded that night, the other two recipients being Firemaster A. S. Pratten and Sub-Station Officer William Neill.
*** Final Parade prior to disbandment on 31 March 1968 as a result of Dennis Healey’s defence cuts.
The A division unit were based at Renfrew Fire Station at Sandyford in Paisley and moved to Renfrew Fire Station in Paisley Road when it opened.
When the unit was based at the Renfrew station at Sandyford, the Green Godess was kept at Darnley and brought to Sandyford for training each Wednesday night.
The Renfrew crew had a Green Goddess. Renfrew had no retained unit so the AFS fitted in there and took part in monthly combined drill with Barrhead, Johnstone and Paisley retained units.
At the Firemaster’s Parade and Drill *** on the 27th March 1968 the A division crew consisted of:-
Leading Fireman Alistair Stevenson (Driver) Paisley
Fireman Arthur McGeown (Driver) Renfrew
Fireman Bobby Wenn Johnstone
Fireman William McLeish Paisley
Fireman Arthur Wilkins Johnstone
Fireman Ronald Glen Paisley
Fireman Jack Cassidy Johnstone
Fireman Jack Colvin Johnstone
Fireman Martin
*** Final Parade prior to disbandment on 31 March 1968 as a result of Dennis Healey’s defence cuts.
On the 24th June 1967 the Rothesay crew manned the Greenock Green Goddess for an exercise at a quarry outside Kilsyth and their crew was:-
Leading Fireman Urquhart
Fireman McFie (became retained Station Officer at Rothesay, awarded BEM in 1990 and retired in 2002)
Fireman Galbraith
Fireman Reid
Fireman Ross
There was no mention in the log of what equipment the Rothesay crew had.
Rothesay were eventually issued with a Green Goddess, which was a boon to the island as a third pump.
NYV389* Bedford Green Goddess 4x2 ** Renfrew
NYV391* Bedford Green Goddess 4x2 Greenock
NYR92 Bedford Green Goddess 4x2 Rothesay
SXF159 Austin Devon A40 Countryman Personnel Carrier Thornhill (CDO)
RGC596 Land Rover Series 1 86” (Field Telephone Unit) Greenock/Thornhill
XYM683 Motorcycle Matchless 350 on 500 frame Darnley
XYM684 Motorcycle Matchless 350 on 500 frame Paisley
XYM685 Motorcycle Matchless 350 on 500 frame Greenock
* Utilised regularly by WAFB Workshops as maintenance replacements.
** Retained by WAFB after AFS disbandment.
During a long period when Goddesses were “on the run” Sandyford had use of a Bikini Unit with 1 raft and 3 pumps, which they trained with at Arkleston dam>
(The above information was supplied by Ex AFS Fireman Arthur Wilkins and from the AFS Unit log book 1966-68. It was further supplemented by Retired Station Officer Alistair Stevenson, SWAFB and SFB)
The Firemaster’s Parade and Drill on the 27th March 1968 at Johnstone Fire Station Photo
Recruitment to the Auxiliary Fire Service was commenced in November, 1949, and recruiting centres were set up in all wholetime and retained stations. Moreover, letters were sent to some 400 former members of the National Fire Service inviting them to rejoin the Service. The response has been very poor.
The training syllabus for Auxiliary Firemen covers 60 hours. On completion of the 60 hour course, successful volunteers will undergo an advanced course of 40 hours duration. Auxiliary Firewomen are expected to take a training course of 20 hours duration.
In an endeavour to stimulate recruitment and to maintain the interest of those who have volunteered, one class of training has been commenced. This class meets fortnightly for a period of two hours. Each Auxiliary in the class has been issued with uniform.
Emergency appliances which will be provided by the Government for the training of the Auxiliary Fire Service will be:-
2 Self Propelled Appliances
4 Large Trailer Pumps
4 Light Trailer Pumps
In view of the poor response of volunteers and the lack of accommodations it has been decided not to accept delivery of these appliances meantime.
The strength of the Auxiliary Fire Service to date being as follows:-
Men Women Total Year Ending
13 6 19 May 1950
17 21 38 December 1951
40 29 69 December 1953
40 29 69 December 1955
51 30 81 December 1956
60 31 91 December 1957
59 31 90 December 1958
58 31 89 December 1959
65 31 96 December 1960
65 30 95 December 1961
88 30 118 December 1962
38 10 48 December 1963
42 10 52 December 1964
60 10 70 December 1965
63 10 73 December 1966
59 11 70 December 1967
59 11 70 At disbandment
1962 There is now an inducement of a bounty of £10.
1963 A Brigade Civil Defence Officer was appointed.
This unit of the Service was wound up and disbanded by Government decree and on March 27th 1968, the Firemaster held a final parade at Johnstone Fire Station. The personnel put on a very smart drill display and after an address by the Firemaster, a social evening followed.
(The final parade was held at the then new Johnstone Fire Station, it had been proposed that the old station would be used for operation by the AFS with two full complements (two duty nights), this idea was quashed when disbandment was mooted.
1960
2 Self Propelled Pumps
1 Raft Carrier *
1 Pipe laying Lorry *
3 Portable Pumps *
3 Motorcycles
* On loan for training returned in 1961
1961 to 1962
2 Self Propelled Pumps
3 Motorcycles
1963 to 1966
2 Self Propelled Pumps
1 Land Rover
1 Telephone Cable Layer
1 Personnel Carrier
3 Motorcycles
1967 to 1968
3 Self Propelled Pumps
1 Land Rover
1 Telephone Cable Layer
1 Personnel Carrier
3 Motorcycles
If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.