Every old photo I restore tells a story, today I am sharing my Grandad’s story within the fire service. From the sirens of the London Blitz to the frontlines of World War II, his life was a testament to service. To enhance the story I have featured some photos I have restored and colourised.
In 1937, my Grandad Leslie James Harris, joined Erith Urban District Council as a Probational Fireman. By 1941, he had transitioned into the newly formed National Fire Service (NFS), which was created to be the single fire service to combat the devastation of the Blitz, which he experienced firsthand.
This is where he met my Grandma, Winifred (Joan) Alderslade. Joan had been called up to join the NFS. She started at Erith in the control room coordinate responses and send out the fire engines. At the time, Leslie was a Leading Fireman, and their relationship would eventually become a lifelong marriage.
In December 1942, Leslie was called up to join the Territorial Army (Service No. 14362878), where he initially trained in Artillery as a Bombardier. However, his firefighting skills didn’t go unnoticed.
From 1943 to 1946, he joined the Army Fire Service (AFS) and embarked on a life-changing journey – from the North African desert, to guarding ammunition ships in the docks of Algiers, dodging snipers in Genoa, battling sulphur fires in the Italian ports and finally ending as a Warrant Officer in the freezing conditions of the Austrian Alps.
In January 1946, Leslie was offered a ‘Class B Release’ to return to the NFS in London. In a final act of defiance, he refused a promotion to Warrant Officer Class I. He told his commanding officer that home life with his fiancée Joan and a “trilby hat” was worth far more than his military status.
Leslie’s commitment to the service didn’t end with the war. In April 1948, he joined the newly formed Kent County Fire Brigade (KFB) as a Leading Fireman at Erith. His expertise led him to become a Fire Instructor in 1954 at the Brigade Training School in Boughton Monchelsea, where he helped shape the next generation of firefighters.
After 26 years of active service, Leslie retired from the Kent Fire Brigade on June 22, 1964. Ever the mechanic, he spent his final working years at the Brigade Workshop in Marden, ensuring the vehicles he loved so much were always ready for the “bells down”.
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