Motor Hauling the Wisbech Fire Engine

        From the "Wisbech Standard" - Friday, April 16, 1920

        Though no so thoroughly up-to-date as to have a real motor fire engine, Wisbech has just made a great step 
        forward, and to all practical intents and purposes is as well off as if the Corporation had gone to the expense
        of installing one.  This is almost entirely due to the initiativeand adaptability of the new Captain, 
        Mr. Horace Friend, who since he accepted the office there has effected an all round improvement.  First in 
        the spirit of the men - they are the same members, but, as it were, a new Brigade. Mr. Friend, by his 
        personality and tact has instilled  a most noticeable enthusiasm into everything and the progress that has 
        been made is a source of pleasure to all concerned.

        Secondly, he has almost revolutionised the method of getting the engines to the outbreaks of fire by the 
        adoption of a very simple means which he himself was instrumental both in devising and supplying. Hitherto,
        the movement of the engine for any considerable distance has called for the employment of horses, and there
        have been occaisions in the past when the Brigade has been ready at the station waiting for the appearance 
        of the animals before they could set out to tackle the fire.  

        That method has now been superseded by the substitution of a motor lorry for hauling the engine. Mr. Friend 
        recently took delivery of a 3 ton Daimler lorry, and, in consultation with the Mayor and Fire Brigade Committee, 
        this has been fitted up without difficulty to enable a fire engine to be coupled up to it. The lorry itself 
        carries the firemen and the necessary hose, etc., a rail having been provided for support.  A very good idea of
        the arrangement may be gathered from the photograph which we reproduce **above**, taken by Mr. H. COATES 
        on Tuesday evening when the first trial took place and the Brigade was inspected by the Mayor. 

        On that occaision the turn-out was a most leisurely time and a thorough test was made.  The Brigade was taken 
        out to ?Panswell where a short drill was performed, and then the motor lorry and the attached engine went 
        through Wisbech St. Mary and Leverington and reached the station again via High-street, the journeys being
        made most expeditiously and satisfactorily.

        A severer trial was made on Wednesday evening when a false alarm was raised for the purpose of ascertaining
        the quickness with which a real call could be answered.  The Brigade had been warned that such an occurence
        was in the wind for this week and the haste with which they reported at the Fire Station, even if they had 
        some notion that Wednesday was the chosen evening for the stunt, was at least proof positive of the new 
        enthusiasm. 

        As it was, the necessary number were on the spot and ready dressed within four minutes of a bomb exploding,
        and as the engine was by that time coupled to the lorry, a start was made at once, the destination being 
        Needham Hall - Mr. W.W. West's residence at Fridaybridge 4 1/2 miles out.  Had there been an actual outbreak
        there, the men would have been fighting it about 20 minutes from the bomb's going off, and this is ample
        demonstration of how much better the new arrangement is.

        Arrived at Needham Hall, the engine was stopped and the hose run out, and our representative's comment on this 
        part of the work is that it was very smartly done 
        and there was no mistaking..................
        the firemen to work under ...............
        Supt. BLOTT.  On the spot ...............
        (Ald. Weston Miller) and Mr..............
        a member of the Fire Brigade ...............
        were motored down by Cap..................
        car, and the Town Clerk ..............
        Copeman, Mr. and Mrs W................
        apprised of the occurrence .............
        spectators and after the hos ...........
        up again, they were kindly .............
        hospitality to the party. Th.............
        was not direct but to ?Outwell ..........
        to Wisbech which was not .........
        lighting-up time.  The trial ..........
        expectations, and was most .............
        It only remains to be add ..............
        was supplied through Messrs. ............
        of the Albion Garage, and M..............
        Long constructed the body ...............
        the special purpose for which ..............
        The lorry will always a...................
        night it is housed at the Fire ............
        that it may be handy whate.............
        be needed.
        
        

       


 Transcription © Ann McClean, 2009 

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