Photograph of the Civil Defence Fire Fighting Company, donated by Paddy Kelly
This is a copy of the original photo held in the Corp of Engineers BRS, Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. The original photograph is 110cm x 17cm. See photo 1 for complete photograph. See Photo 2-4 for different sections of original photo in greater detail. Click on photos to enlarge.
Paddy Kelly is third from left, standing on the ground. He described the photograph as follows: “The photo is of the unit, named the Civil Defence Fire Fighting Company, formed after the bombing of the North Strand 1941. We were selected after Recruit Training and set to train as firemen at Tara Street Fire Station, Dublin. Our O.C. (officer in command) was Captain Thos. Elliot and Deputy O.C. was Lieutenant James Diskin, afterwards chief officer, Dublin Fire Brigade (centre of picture).
The Unit comprised of six Thames engines and six heavy duties Trailer Pumps. We manned the Water Tower Fire Station during the emergency, replacing the fire engine, a 1914 Dennis, and were on call to fires in Co. Kildare. Four of us went to Shannon airport in 1945 to form the crash crew, more followed. The picture was taken by local photographer Donnelly Swift. It was involved in a semi circle although it seems in a straight line. It was 1942 before we were equipped. I was eighteen, I am now eighty-six. Most of them are now dead.
Photographer: Donnelly Swift
