Catalogue Number
NMLH.1992.372.1
Object Name
Arm band
Title
'Fire Guard'
Place
London
People
Ivy Tribe
Events
Second World War, Blitz
Date
circa 1939
Description
A blue arm band with yellow lettering that reads 'Fire Guard'.
This arm band was worn by a fire guard in the East End of London during the Blitz, a bombing campaign targeting cities around the UK during the Second World War. During the Blitz, fires destroyed more buildings than the blasts of bombs. German bombers dropped clusters of stick-shaped fire bombs, called incendiaries, which destroyed many buildings in Manchester's Piccadilly area, London, Glasgow and Belfast's dock lands, and many other towns and cities around the country. The main goal was to damage infrastructure like factories and shipyards.
As well as causing damage themselves, incendiary bombs were used like flares to signal German pilots to areas vulnerable for follow up attacks. So putting out the fires quickly was important. To try and reduce damage, reliable local people were appointed as fire guards to watch for signs of incendiary bombs being dropped. They would inform the emergency services and direct fire fighters to the locations. The fire guards were one of many types of war-time volunteers who worked together to reduce the impact of the war on communities around the UK.
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