Pictures from the Heritage Archives

Exactly one year past, our January 18^th 2024 entry to this website centred on the preparations being undertaken by Armstrong Siddeley Motors Parkside, as they upgraded the factory Fire Station and equipment, in readiness for the soon coming World War II hostilities.

Many of our regular readers, like ourselves, probably wished that the, then new, Commer Q- series truck, fire engine and Coventry Climax pump unit had enjoyed better photographic coverage, but we just have to work with what is in the surviving factory negatives.

Imagine our surprise and delight when just before Christmas, Martin Maltas sent Heritage Trust an email, with attachments, in which he informed us that he had just purchased the afore mentioned vehicles, and kindly provided excellent photos of the fire engine and pump unit. Even better Martin has happily agreed to let us share these images with you. .

It is well known that Coventry received more than its share of bombing and unpleasant ordnance dropped from the air, making it a busy time for the firemen and the equipment, which certainly earned its keep in the struggle to maintain war time production.

In 1941 all local brigades including works brigades and Auxiliary Fire Service Units in Great Britain were merged into the National Fire Service. As with all war time vehicles they were painted light battleship grey with white edging to the wings and extremities as an aid to being seen by pedestrians and other drivers, when in use during the blackout.

After the war there was a drive to standardise on the size of water pipes and hose connections, especially those valves in the roadway hydrants. In 1948 the Auxiliary Fire Service was reformed and equipped with the Self Propelled Pump Vehicle which is still on occasion used today, and is known to most as the Green Goddess.

So what do we know of our Parkside engine and pump?  Obviously it survived, but in need of considerable restoration. The early history is sketchy but we know that is was partly restored, before being passed on the Welsh Fire Museum (WAFERS) who completed the task. Sadly the museum closed in 2024 and the engine and pump were on the move once again. This time right across the country to the Norfolk Fire Museum from where it was acquired by Martin.