FIRE FIGHTERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1926, Page 3

FIRE FIGHTERS

GREY’iS LONGSERVICE MEN. From a layman’s point of view, one is led to ask in wonderment what theindefinable “something” is which actuates men to “stick it’’ year in and year out at the game of fighting fires. With its calls for duty at instant notice, night and day, the laborious work entailed, the attendant dangers and the too often scant appreciation for work achieved against big odds, and often with indifferent fire-fighting weapons, it would be

little wondered -at if volunteers for duty were few. It is a fact, however, that in the ranks of Fire Brigades, despite the many adverse ■conditions brigades are subject to, there are a number of longservice men, whose records are a credit to the institution to which they belong. The United Fire Brigades’ Association of New Zealand, years ago, instituted the 'issuing of medals ana service bars to mark the service of men belonging to brigades which are members of the Association. At the end of three years, a certificate is issued, at the end of five years, a silver medal, witli a bar for every succeeding two years continuous service. A gold star is awarded tor twenty-five years’ service, and a gold bar for every five years thereafter. There are, in the Grey Fire Brigade, a number of veterans, seven m all, who wear the long . service star, and whose combined service totals 238 years or an average of 34 years. This distinction must be pretty nearly a record, when it is considered that the full strength of the Brigade is 20. -- Another member, Fireman Blocksage has just completed his 25 years’ service, and is entitled to his gold star. Including the latter, 40 per cent of the members of the Brigade are thus “old veterans” m active service, earning their capitation for their Brigade and still able and willing to work with the best, whenever and wherever duty calls. The list of “old timers” and their record is interesting, and is as follows : — Secretary Walton, 38 years. Supt. Clarke, 36 years. Sub.-Supt. P. Deere, 35 years. Foreman J. Kennedy, 35 years. Fireman J. Grogan 35 years. Fireman T. Deere, 33 years. Fireman Lynch, 26 years. Fireman H. Blocksage 25 years. A the last meeting of the Grey Fire Board, applications for service bars were approved as follow: — Sub.-Supt. P. Deere, Foreman J. Kennedy, and Fireman J. Grogan, one gold bar each ; Fireman H. Blocksage and Engineer Dumbleton, one silver bar each.