Firemen's Uniform

Looking back three hundred years, we might have difficulty in recognising a fireman, so colorful and elaborate would be his uniform. Initially his clothes were intended to identify which fire brigade he belonged to and only later were they designed to offer protection when firefighting. With nineteenth-century reorganisation and the formation of new brigades uniforms became less elaborate, but for many years they still retained their decorative features, especially during the Victorian period, when there was the greatest diversity both in types of brigade and uniform designs. Great variety persisted until the advent of the Second World War. Neverthless, the serviceable and well designed garments, which can be seen today when firemen are in action, are the result of a long general tradition of continual improvement in the service. This book shows how the British fireman's uniform has developed, describes the factors which have influenced its design and includes a section on specialised kit which is worn as occasion demands.