Terrific picture - it has captured an important time in British Fire-Fighting; when All-Out War made a need for all kinds of volunteers, and equipment to be enlisted and trained up, for war service. In this case, Firefighting.
I have faith that one of our Knowledgable Readers will place this location, and the Dennis Pump VY 5445.
Um, the ,er, rainy day could perhaps help....British Isles, maybe ?!
Obviously a parade, through a town, for the AFS Crews and apparatus. The Dennis has the "Black-out" head-lights, but looks to be still in her peace-time paint, as maybe are the towing cars.
Did the gray paint-scheme come in, with the National Fire Service ?
Good view of the sedan cars converted to fire engines - with the towing hitch and trailer-pump, ladder-rack and ladders on the roof, hoses; and the crew wedged into the car.
At war's end, they would have all been stripped and reverted to their peacetime occupations, especially with the great shortage of cars - automotive production having been stopped and converted to war-production for the 6 years... some were Taxicabs.
For my North American colleagues, imagine clanging off to a major fire-scene, in a hack.... I don't 'spose the meter would have been ticking (<;}
Couple of things to note of interest in this particular picture,first,note the Fordson in the NFS grey livery in the convoy which shows the photo as being after August 1941 when the NFS was formed.The other thing I noticed is that the leading pump escape still has the wording of the brigade on its side(which looks like York?)which at sometime during this period was discontinued for security.All local authority appliances from when the NFS was formed became then part of the National Fire Service.With some vehicles having still the markings of the AFS,this puts the date of this picture as being 1941.
Added by Pete Matten on 15 June 2009.
Not far off John Stott, she's on lendal bridge in the cenre of York, the camera man has his back to the minster, rear l/h of pic is the railway offices on station rise, bar walls to the rear right and war memoiral in centre back of pic .
Just to clarify, she was heading out of town towards the Bootham / Minster area of York.
Hi Gents. There is a copy of this photo in York fire station, I also have a copy at home, its a great picture. John the reg letters VY were the old City of York letters when there was a vehicle licencing office in the City in Petergate (Sorry to be picky) The photo was taken from Lendal Bridge looking towards the Railway station. The large building to the left is the old railway headquarters (I think old GNER) The War Memorial is in the centre, and to the right behind the escape ladder is the City walls (The Bar Walls)The big building through the trees on the right is the Royal York Hotel next to the Railway station.Paul.
VY, BT & DN were the regestrations issued to York, DN being the 1st, hence the lord mayor's car carries the plate DN1, and a mobile police office carries AJ1, AJ being a North Yorks regestation .
Thanks John, I told dad he was wrong and he muttered summat about folks from York being posh! Asked him what he meant and he said only a true Dalesman would understand, the AFS really affected him!!lol!
Hehe, sounds like a TRUE Yorkshireman, nowt wrong with that !
AJ1 used to be on the head of North Yorks un-marked Police car ( a Volvo ), got a shock when i saw it on a 7.5 ton Ford cargo, just doesn't seem right .....
Never realised AJ1 was a police car at 1st, black un-marked Volvo, i was crossing the road and it nearly took my legs out ! i , as you do gave the driver the Finger, he pulled over and asked if i knew who was in the rear of the car, i said, well not the pope or queen so why should i give a ---- ?
Driver got back in and drove off, sadly, the officer in the back got the finger too, well, be rude not too !
Added by Andy on 13 June 2009.