NFS North London Messengers Part 3

You may well be thinking this is a very one sided view of all that we did as Messengers. Where are the tales of daring-do? The times when a Messenger again saved a tricky situation? Those were the occasions we quietly shared amongst ourselves, not for publication in our house magazine. Once or twice there are a few lines passing on the very real appreciation of senior officers for the work done by Messengers at the sharp end. Time has now passed and softened the edges of the horrors that were witnessed. Each individual has their own story and it is for them, or not, to recall what happened.

In passing it might be as well to mention that around March of 1944, 35 Area was dissolved and our ‘C’ Division was merged with 36 Area.

The May Edition of ‘Tally Ho’ gives a vivid account of a ‘Week End Camp at Grange Farm Chigwell. on the edge of Epping Forest. Here the accommodation was under canvas and we enjoyed(?) spud-bashing, eating in the open air, (rain permitting,) and the call of the bugle. Fire Force Commander, Mr. Mcduell, and Divisional Officer, Mr Minister, paid us a visit but unfortunately rain prevented what would otherwise have been an excellent parade.

In spite of the weather there was P.T., Church Parades, and football. For entertainment there was a film show and a sing-song. “The Mobile Kitchen did a roaring trade in baking (drying) battle dress blouses and steak pies, fortunately no mistake occurred and nobody received a portion of tunic with his vegetables at lunch time.”

Furthermore in 1944 we were being encouraged to book for the Summer Camp planned for 1st - 14th July, again at Chigwell. Lots of activities were on offer. AND all for the grand sum of 12/6d per week. A Camp Bank was opened to help chaps to save.

From a paragraph in “The Messenger” (see heading abve) it appears that though 200 to 300 lads were looking forward to this, circumstances compelled its cancellation. Apparently the fortnight booked turned out to be the wettest of that summer, so perhaps that eased the disappointment!

The fame of our proficiency as cyclists was spreading abroad, in fact we were asked to give a show at the opening of the new Potters Bar Fire Station, in June 1944. A similar display at Alexandra Palace saw us busy once more. I believe it was in the Town Hall that the Tottenham Youth Week Exhibition took place. The Fire Service Messengers had their stand as the above picture shows.

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