Firefighting the Blitz

War was coming. Everyone knew that confrontation with Nazi Germany was inevitable and that London was likely to be a prime target of Hitler's bombers. So, in January 1939, Aylmer Firebrace, the Chief Officer of London Fire Brigade, was seconded to the Home Office to plan for the capital's fire defence.

Born on 17 June 1886, Commander Sir AYLMER NEWTON GEORGE FIREBRACE CBE, KPM was educated at HMS Britannia, following which he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Rising through the ranks, he saw active service in the First World War, being present at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. In 1919, he joined the London Fire Brigade and, in June 1938, became its chief officer. With the creation of the National Fire Service, which existed until 1948, Firebrace became the first and only person to head firefighting across the whole of Great Britain. Retiring in 1947, Firebrace passed away in June 1972.