Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is looking for the family and friends of firefighters who died and were seriously injured during the ‘Christmas Blitz’ which took place in Manchester in 1940.
Can you help?
At the time of the blitz, which happened on 23 December 1940, firefighters across the county were voluntary based. The voluntary firefighters were called to help with the raid in Manchester during the Second World War, and six out of the eight based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield were sent to help.
Sadly three of the firefighters died, and a further three were seriously injured. We are hoping to find the family and friends of all six firefighters.
The firefighters were:
- Ralph Burrows – Ralph was a bus driver and left his wife and two young children to go to Manchester. Ralph died at the scene in Piccadilly, Manchester.
- Alan Richard Day – Alan was a painter and decorator by trade. He died of his wounds in Robey Street Infirmary, Manchester.
- Joseph Henry Wright – Like Alan, Joseph was also a painter and decorator. He died at the scene in Piccadilly, Manchester.
- Ronald Lowe and William Makinson – Both Ronald and William were seriously injured, and were treated at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
- George Best – For reasons that we are unsure of, George was transported to Mansfield General Hospital for his treatment.
If you know any of the individuals listed above, then please get in touch by emailing corporatecomms@notts-fire.gov.uk. They also have the addresses and ages of each individual at the time, which they can use to confirm their identity with those who come forward.
To mark remembrance day later this year, Ashfield Fire Station are hosting a memorial event, and we will be remembering all six firefighters mentioned above. They would love for their family and friends to attend, which is why it is so important for us to get in touch with them – hopefully with the power of social media, they can make this happen!
