Corps of Civilian Canadian Firefighters

Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and the British government developed a plan for a contingent of Canadian fire fighters to assist the United Kingdom.

A total of 422 men volunteered to form the Corps of Civilian Canadian Fire Fighters under the direction of Flight Lieutenant G.E. Huff, MM, Royal Canadian Air Force, who was at that date fire prevention officer No.2 Training Command, Winnipeg, as Commanding Officer. In peace time he commanded the fire department of Brantford, Ontario, which he had joined in 1919.

The Corps arrived in Britain in May, 1942, and manned six fire stations.

London HQ
Southampton - 2
Portsmouth - 2
Plymouth - 1
Bristol - 1

Over a 2 1/2 year period, Corps members worked countless times at risk in perilous conditions to effect rescues & battle fires started by bombing. Three members were killed, three seriously injured and a further five sustained injuries.

The following link will provide more information for those interested in the Corps of Canadian Firefighters:

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Canadian NFS Firefighter 1944

The above painting was done by Norman Hepple.

Thanks for the info on the NFS...I'm kicking my butt now cuz I just passed on an NFS MkII helmet that was offered to me.

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Were these badges made in Canada or England?

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The Canadian firefighters would have worn a MK II helmet with NFS (National Fire Service) decal on it. Their helmets might also have had a station number "1" or "2" decal on it as well.

Now I'm bummed out...the helmet looked exactly like yours. It had a huge 7 painted on the back as well.

I did not take the gents info...hopefully I can find him again.

William Frank Hickin has written several books on the British National Fire Service, including the following book on the Corps of Civilian Canadian Firefighters:

-- From Canada Against Fire: A Short Account of the Corps of (Civilian) Canadian Fire Fighters Which Operated in Wartime Britain as Part of the National Fire Service Between 1942 and 1945.

These are the other books by Mr. Hickin:

-- Organized Against Fire: A Short Organisational History of the London Fire Brigade and Its Predecessors from 1833 to 1996.

-- Overseas Against Fire: A Short Account of the Overseas Contingent of the National Fire Service with Particular Reference to No.4 Overseas Column in the North West Europe Theatre of War During 1945.

-- London Fire Service Directory of Auxiliary Sub-stations September 1939 to August 1941.

-- United Against Fire: The NFS 1941-1948.

The Canadian Firefighters shoulder titles are discussed on a thread at the B&CMBF. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]