A Clydebank fire fighter

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Allan Price, of BBC Scotland, on behalf of John Boyd and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I remember just after the war started fire fighters were marching through Glasgow and people were shouting “away and join the army”, but a few months later they were desperate for them during the Blitz.

My father — Alex, who’s friends called him Sannie — was a fire fighter in Clydebank, and I can still remember his Acme Thunderer Whistle that he had. One time he was buried under a collapsed building and only got out by blowing the whistle until someone arrived to help him.

Just after the war, when I was about five, I used to go to school wearing surplus clothing. I wore an old pilot’s helmet and big army boots — along with short trousers.

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