A female firefighting team
This striking sepia‑toned image shows a trailblazing all‑women fire crew proudly posing on their converted motorcycle and sidecar—complete with hose reel, portable extinguishers and polished metal fittings. Clad in tailored tunics, pleated skirts and flat‑topped caps, these volunteers exemplify the innovative spirit of London’s auxiliary fire services in the early 1930s.
Historical Context
In the wake of rapid urban growth between the World Wars, London’s fire brigades began to recruit women into auxiliary roles—driving light apparatus, laying hose and providing first aid at small outbreaks. Motorcycle‑sidecar units like this one offered a nimble response to fires in narrow streets and congested districts. Though full frontline duties remained the preserve of men, these female crews proved invaluable in community safety, paving the way for expanded women’s roles in Britain’s emergency services during World War II.
Share Your Own Vintage Finds!
Do you have sepia‑toned postcards, family snapshots of pioneering women or historic service scenes? Upload your photographs to OldPik.com and help honour Britain’s interwar heritage—one image at a time.
SEO Tags
vintage photo, 1930s women firefighters, London fire brigade auxiliary, motorcycle sidecar fire unit, interwar Britain, female emergency services, antique UK postcard, pioneering women, OldPik uploads, London history
Historical Context
In the wake of rapid urban growth between the World Wars, London’s fire brigades began to recruit women into auxiliary roles—driving light apparatus, laying hose and providing first aid at small outbreaks. Motorcycle‑sidecar units like this one offered a nimble response to fires in narrow streets and congested districts. Though full frontline duties remained the preserve of men, these female crews proved invaluable in community safety, paving the way for expanded women’s roles in Britain’s emergency services during World War II.
Share Your Own Vintage Finds!
Do you have sepia‑toned postcards, family snapshots of pioneering women or historic service scenes? Upload your photographs to OldPik.com and help honour Britain’s interwar heritage—one image at a time.
SEO Tags
vintage photo, 1930s women firefighters, London fire brigade auxiliary, motorcycle sidecar fire unit, interwar Britain, female emergency services, antique UK postcard, pioneering women, OldPik uploads, London history
Adult
Clothing
Coat
Footwear
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Gun
Hat
Male
Man
Motorcycle
People
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Shoe
Sidecar
Transportation
Vehicle
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Contributed by OldPik on February 3, 2025
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