Royal Ordnance Fire Brigade

The Royal Ordnance Fire Brigade at Aycliffe. Photograph kindly loaned by John Lowes. It features his Mother, Audrey Lowes (nee Ware) in the front row, centre. Photograph circa 1945.

Fire Brigade and Fire Engines...

A group shot of the Aycliffe ROF Fire Brigade with two of the fire engines, pictured in the 1940s. Male and Female Firefighters. Right-hand fire engine carries the registration number GJJ 564, first registered in 1941.

Fire practice with hoses...

Audrey Lowes (nee Ware) - Leading Fire Woman

Members of the Aycliffe ROF Fire Brigade (pictured above) practicing during WWII.

This photograph is of hose drill when they were on a course, possibly taken at Thorpe Arch(another ROF) or Hereford. The gentleman in the photo was in overall command of the fire service.

Audrey Lowes (nee Ware) can be seen 4th from the left on the picture above and in her smart ROF Fire Brigade uniform to the left. She was a Fire Engine driver (official rank Leading Fire Woman).

Note the women wearing trousers in the photograph at the top of the page. Women wearing overalls and dungarees with trousers are common on wartime photos, but trousers with a dress uniform are not often seen.

All of the black uniforms appear to carry a smart, oval ROF Fire Service patch with a star-shaped metal cap badge.