Makeshift WW2 ARP Fire-engine/Emergency Vehicle

[Flying10uk]

After the Dunkirk evacuation the UK armed forces lost such a large percentage of it's motor transport, factories in the UK had to work flat out to make up the shortfall. The shortfall was compounded by the fact that the county's armed forces were also expanding and naturally priority was given to them in vehicle production. Others also needed vehicles such as fire and ambulance services but probably at or near the back of the queue for receiving vehicles through "official channels" was the ARP (Air Raid Precautions). The ARP couldn't wait, patiently, for months or years to receive purpose built vehicles through "official channels" because Hitler and the Luftwaffe were bombing the UK on a nightly basis.

Because the ARP needed vehicles now and any vehicle was better than no vehicle, people such as my Grandfather allowed a vehicle that he owed, in this case by his radio/electrical business, to be used by the ARP. My Grandfather was already a member of his local ARP, volunteering before war was declared, was also a member of the Home Guard and allowed his van to be used for no personal gain. I believe that the ladder seen on the roof of the van was also owned by his business and loaned to the ARP.

I believe that the garments hanging up on the end of the ladder on the far right may be protective clothing, intended to be used as protection following a gas attack by the Luftwaffe?

Notice the white areas painted on the mudguards of the vehicle, intended to help it show up better during night-time black-outs. We can only speculate on the benefits of having the white lines painted on vehicles but I would suggest it to be marginal.

Information

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[Bob Womack]

I bet they got paid back handsomely after the war. I worked in a Georgia fire department set on a mountain where we regularly had to fight brush fires. Through some surplus program we had ended up with a pair of brush fire trucks based upon Dodge WC G-502 4x4 3/4 ton trucks. I bet there were plenty of these floating around the UK as well.




Bob

[Flying10uk]

When my Grandfather was in the ARP during WW2 they used an old wooden ammo box as a first aid box. It was old in WW2 and, somewhere, I still have it, still in the guise of a first aid box but has been repainted a few times over the years. When I find it I'll post some pictures and see if we can figure out exactly what it is, possibly WW1 but could be earlier.