http://www.britainatwar.com^69patterns: the more common circular version fetching
£35 and a shield-shaped earlier pattern, a little more.
‘HEROES WITH GRIMY FACES’
Even before the war, it was clear that the 2,500
firefighters of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) would
be insufficient to combat the predicted widespread
conflagrations caused by air raids. So, from January 1938,
an additional 28,000 men were recruited into the London Auxiliary
Fire Service (AFS), their red embroidered breast badge now selling
for around £45. Initially derided as ‘army dodgers’ during the
‘Phoney War’, Churchill dubbed these AFS Blitz-beaters “heroes
with grimy faces”, with 327 making the ultimate sacrifice. AFS
memorabilia is enthusiastically collected.
After the Blitz, on August 18, 1941, Britain’s fire services were
unified into the National Fire Service (NFS), operating in almost
50 Fire Force areas. London, due to its sheer size, comprised five
areas: numbers 34-38, each with an embroidered circular NFS
breast insignia, which sell for around £35 today, with, perhaps
the rarer 35 Fire Force badge slightly more, as it was abolished in
February 1944. A small enamel or brass lapel badge ‘London Fire
Force – We Serve’, can reach £25 on a good day.
The bombing destroyed more than a million properties in the
capital and damaged 1.65 million more. Post-war redevelopment
has seen most of this war debris cleared away. However, several
books, such as Grim Glory, published by Percy Lund, Humphries
and Co (1941) or Hitler Passed This Way, published by the London
Evening News (1946) captured the damage in powerful monochrome
photography and can be found for about £10-£15. One unusual
‘souvenir’ of the bombing was two small sets of 12 photos ‘Passed
by the Censor’ called ‘London Under Fire – Snapshots’, produced
by Photochrom Company around 1942. Rare survivors,
partly due to their size, a complete set can be yours for a
bargain price of around £20.PARLIAMENT UNDER ATTACK
Many people would think that authentic bomb rubble from
London’s Blitz would be pretty much unobtainable today,
cleared away decades ago. Yet, it can still be found – and
from the site that represents the cradle of British democracy:
The Houses of Parliament. Overnight on May 10-11, 1941, in
the closing hours of the eight-month-long Blitz the Commons
Chamber and Members’ Lobby were destroyed by incendiary
bombs. Creating a positive out of a negative, London Stonecraft
re-sculpted the Anston limestone rubble into different objects,
from garden bird baths to letter racks and ash trays to book
ends. They all bear a seal, made from the roof lead of the Houses
of Parliament and originally raised funds for the Joint Red Cross
and St John Fund. Each piece came with an individually numbered
certificate of authenticity dated May 13, 1942. The various objects
still turn up today, increasing in price in recent years, from £25-
£150, depending on the object.
Other forms of memorabilia pay tribute to London’s ordeal. Several
song sheets, all from 1941, including Mr Brown of London Town by
Reginald Arkell and Noel Gay, London I Cannot Leave You by Kieran
Tunney and Lord Foley, London Pride by Noel Coward, The King is
Still in London by R Campbell Hunter and The London I Love, all
speak in sentimental form of devotion to the capital. They can be
found for £5-£10.
As well as civil contingencies, the capital also had its own military
defences. Indeed, it was a military district, with its headquarters at
Leconfield House, in Curzon Street. London District had a unique
woven formation sign, of a red sword through a yellow turret. TOP RIGHTPrinted Home Guard battalion shoulder titles, such as this example
for the 5th (St Marylebone) Battalion, County of London Home Guard, appear on
the market at around £35, but be wary of fakes.
ABOVEOne unusual ‘souvenir’ of the bombing was two small sets of photos
called London Under Fire, produced by Photochrom around 1942.
an additional 28,000 men were recruited into the London Auxiliary
Fire Service (AFS), their red embroidered breast badge now selling
for around £45. Initially derided as ‘army dodgers’ during the
‘Phoney War’, Churchill dubbed these AFS Blitz-beaters “heroes
with grimy faces”, with 327 making the ultimate sacrifice. AFS
After the Blitz, on August 18, 1941, Britain’s fire services were
unified into the National Fire Service (NFS), operating in almost
50 Fire Force areas. London, due to its sheer size, comprised five
areas: numbers 34-38, each with an embroidered circular NFS
breast insignia, which sell for around £35 today, with, perhaps
the rarer 35 Fire Force badge slightly more, as it was abolished in
February 1944. A small enamel or brass lapel badge ‘London Fire
The bombing destroyed more than a million properties in the
capital and damaged 1.65 million more. Post-war redevelopment
has seen most of this war debris cleared away. However, several
books, such as
and Co (1941) or
Evening News (1946) captured the damage in powerful monochrome
photography and can be found for about £10-£15. One unusual
‘souvenir’ of the bombing was two small sets of 12 photos ‘Passed
by the Censor’ calledPARLIAMENT UNDER ATTACK
Many people would think that authentic bomb rubble from
London’s Blitz would be pretty much unobtainable today,
cleared away decades ago. Yet, it can still be found – and
from the site that represents the cradle of British democracy:
The Houses of Parliament. Overnight on May 10-11, 1941, in
the closing hours of the eight-month-long Blitz the Commons
Chamber and Members’ Lobby were destroyed by incendiary
bombs. Creating a positive out of a negative, London Stonecraft
re-sculpted the Anston limestone rubble into different objects,
from garden bird baths to letter racks and ash trays to book
ends. They all bear a seal, made from the roof lead of the Houses
of Parliament and originally raised funds for the Joint Red Cross
and St John Fund. Each piece came with an individually numbered
certificate of authenticity dated May 13, 1942. The various objects
still turn up today, increasing in price in recent years, from £25-
£150, depending on the object.
Other forms of memorabilia pay tribute to London’s ordeal. Several
song sheets, all from 1941, including
Reginald Arkell and Noel Gay,
Tunney and Lord Foley,
Still in London