BARNSLEY had its own fire auxiliary stations during World War Two, manned by local volunteers who showed great courage when the worst happened.
B Station was based at Wakefield Road, Smithies, where Globe Coaches now have their garage.
Previous to it being taken over by the fire auxiliary service, it had been John Truelove's haulage business and, after the war, when road transport was nationalised, it became the base for British Road Services.
Photographs of the site of the headquarters have been submitted by Barry Jackson. His father, Walter Jackson, was based there as a member of the AFS.
At the time, Barry was only a small boy, but he was a frequent visitor to the headquarters and he can be seen on one of the photographs wearing his cap and overcoat and carrying his gas mask. Children carried these around during the war and were part of the school uniform.
On the photograph showing the very tall ladders used to fight fires in tall buildings are fire-fighters (from left to right): Charlie Wilkinson, John Gough, not known, Tom Bailey, Jack Roberts (leaning forward) and Walter Jackson (nearly hidden).
Mr Jackson has submitted a group photograph of the AFS ‘B’ Station personnel which was taken in 1941. He has been able to name some of the men, as follows: back row, left to right: not known, not known, Walter Harrison, not known, Jack Whyke, Herbert Winder, Walter Jackson, John Postill, Colin Hemingway, not known, not known, Leonard or Ernest Felton.
Middle row: John Gough, not known, not known, not known, not known, Jack Roberts (Tom Roberts Haulage), Charlie Wilkinson (he ran a fish and chip shop and had a son Charlie, who was known as the Singing Barber), Fred Lisle.
Front row: not known, Fred Sanderson, Frank Devetti, Eric Nicholson, Mr Heppenstall (chief officer), Tom Bailey.
