1942 Leyland TD7 /Merryweather Turntable ladder1942 Leyland TD7 half cab/Merryweather 100' Turntable Ladder (reg GLW 410) ,one of 30 built for the Home Office and issued to the National Fire Service.This appliance went into service in Aberdeen and after the war was used by the North Eastern Fire Service before finally going out of service in 1967.It was acquired in 1984 and completely restored to its Home Office (N.F.S.) specification of 1942.A total of 63 Merryweather 100ft mechanical TL's were constructed for the N.F.S.,of these,30 were built on Leyland TD7 bus chassis with a four cylider petrol engine,25 were Leyland Beaver/Merryweather TLs driven by a 8.6 litre diesel engine,and last,eight Dennis/Merryweather TLs were powered by a Meadows eight litre diesel engine.
Through bomb and flame,they stood their ground,with just an axe,or branch in hand.
No thought for themselves,just others around,they gave so much,protecting our land.
As bomb after bomb,fell to ground,that terrible noise,that terrible sound. The young and the old,they all did their bit,those very brave firemen,sadly now many dead.
Many have gone,but will not be forgot,for all that they did,and much they could not
They all did their best,in our hour of need,those hundreds of firemen,a very brave breed.
We'll never forget them,and all that they did,to make this world better,and life better to live.
God bless the many,that have sadly now gone,we shall remember them,freedom and peace cannot be wrong.
Picture added on 10 April 2008
I'll look carefully through my slides to see if I have this truck and will post it on this site if I have.. I have GLW 414. kettering; GLW421 Bolton, GLW427 Hull, and GLW434 a Merryweather/Dennis in Scotland plus a couple of Leyland diesels cab overs with GXA plates which I cold post if there is interest.
Bob Graham
Added by Bob Graham on 12 April 2008.