246610 Charles Alfred Oscar Careford Auxiliary Fire Service from:Enfield, Middlesex Unable to serve in the armed forces because of ill-health, Dad, Charles Careford was deemed fit enough to serve as a Dispatch Rider and Auxiliary Fireman at the Ponder's End, Enfield, Middlesex Fire Station.
I seek information from the families of fellow firefighters about their family member's time as Auxiliaries. Dad never spoke of his time during the war, other than about one incident involving the Ponder's End Crew who were sent to Waltham Abbey Gunpowder Factory to extinguish a blaze in a unit containing extremely volatile materials. Had they not been successful in this mission, the resulting carnage would, he said, have been very serious. To the best of my knowledge, no member of the Ponder's End crew received any gallantry award for their efforts on that occasion, perhaps it was deemed unworthy of recognition.
Dad died in 1980.
I would greatly appreciate any leads re this or re Dispatch Riders.
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