Army Fire Service
 

Hi, Google search only seemed to return confusing answers, so can anyone please tell me what date the Army Fire Service became the Army Department Fire Service, when it ceased being part of the RAOC, and when it became complerely civilianised ? Additionally, did it retain the same cap badge when it changed from the Army Fire Service to the Army Department Fire Service or did the cap badge change too? and was the cap badge a normal size or smaller like a collar badge? I have only ever seen collar sized ones ?
Thanks for replies

Tony

Tony, I cannot answer your questions but here is my collection of Army fire service badges.
Jerry

Army Fire Service
 

Thanks Jerry, looking at your badges, it looks like the bade maybe remained the same after the name change? What size are your badges, I have two, a WD Fire Service in red enamel and staybright Army Fire Service but both are the size of a collar badge, even though I bought them, listed as cap badges!

Tony

The Army Department was created in 1964. The Air Force Department was formed at the same time.

Essentially it was a scrapping of the old War Dept. and the creation of three separate departments, the third being the Admiralty.

This resulted in name changes for the Fire Service and Constabulary of the first two departments. The Admiralty FS and Constabulary retained their names.

Dave.

Thats the correct size for their cap badges.

Cheers Phil

Tony

Army Fire Service
 

Thanks Dave. Do you know when the fire service became fully civilianised and stopped employing RAOC soldiers?

Tony

Tony

In the August 2019 issue of The Armourer there is an article titled Monty's Firemen.

It states,

'Army Fire Service Legacy,

On 1st July 1946 the Royal Pioneer Corps Fire Fighting Wing was disbanded and the Army Fire Service, including the fireboat Units, were absorbed into the Royal Army Service Corps. This lasted until 1961, when it was civilianised and became part of The Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Since 2004 the organisation has become part of the Defence Fire and Rescue Service which along with the RAF Rescue and Firefighting Service forms the present day Ministry of Defence Fire Services,'

Simon.

Cheers Simon, much appreciated.

Tony

A slightly more correct timeline!

The Army Fire Service (AFS), later called the Army Department Fire Service, was the fire service which performed firefighting duties on British Army bases. Its personnel were largely soldiers until 1959, when the AFS was civilianised.

Until 1965 it was administratively part of the Royal Army Service Corps but under the McLeod Reorganisation of Army Logistics it was transferred to Royal Army Ordnance Corps sponsorship.

The Army Department Fire Service later amalgamated into the Ministry of Defence Fire Service in 1991, as of February 2021, the takeover of DFRS by private contractor Capita continues.

War Department, Army and Defence Fire Service Badges
 

War Department Fire Service CB 3159 NSN 8455-99-973-9500 late 1950s to early 1970s. Silver anodised with slider - examples made by Turner & Simpson or FIRMIN

A new badge was approved by the Army Dress Committee in 1970 for the Army Fire Service worn early 1970s to late 1980s. Silver anodised with two long lugs not maker marked but probably made by William Dowler

Defence Fire Service with maker mark TOYE 0121 236 3614

Tim

Excellent, definative, informative answers! Thanks all, that answered everything I needed to know, Cheers!

More information on the other thread:
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...004#post550004

Tim