Headquarters Collection

Military Badge
Ulster impressions.Photolithograph after Joan Wanklyn, 1976.Published by Headquarters Northern Ireland, 1976.Shows 18 vignettes of the British Army on operations in Northern Ireland

LFDCA-LFB Lambeth HQ and Lambeth river station
A modernised Lambeth river fire station and the new fireboat London Phoenix, seen here from the north bank of the River Thames

Firefighters and hoses, LFB annual review, Lambeth HQ LFB150
London firefighters from East London demonstrating mass jets during the Annual Review display at the Brigades headquarters. Lambeth, SE1

Culpeper House London
Culpeper House, 21 Bruton Street, London, a picturesque Georgian house and shop front, headquarters of the Society of Herbalists, named after Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) Date: 1960s

LCC-LFB Recruit fireman training at Brigade HQ, SE1
During the 1950s recruit firefighters were trained at the Brigade Headquarters, Lambeth. Here a fireman is undertaking a hook ladder drill on the stations nine-storey drill tower

London Fire Engine Establishment, list of fire stations
Formed in 1833, the LFEE took over firefighting in London from the various Insurance Company fire brigades. It had 19 fire stations and its headquarters was located at Watling Street, City of London

Bedford Heavy Unit in the NFS (London Region)
About 1000 of the pumps were built on a Bedford chassis and most were capable of pumping water at 700 gallons per minute. Here a heavy unit and crew are undertaking hose drills at Lambeth

Firefighters in display at Lambeth HQ, London
Firefighters in a display at Lambeth HQ, London, on 28 July 1937, following a presentation of certificates for bravery by Mr E Cruse, Chairman of the London Fire Brigade Committee

LFB horse drawn steamer at modern LFB review
Lambeth, headquarters of the London Fire Brigade, hosted annual displays and regular reviews of the Brigade. A popular feature was the inclusion of the working Victorian Shand Mason horse drawn steam

Firefighters on parade in front of their appliance during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the Headquarters of the London Fire Brigade, Lambeth

LCC-LFB Fire display at Brigade HQ Southwark
The London Fire Brigade encouraged, for very many years, a good public image by opening its doors to the public to special fire brigade displays

LCC-LFB Recruit firefighters training at Brigade HQ SE1
During the 1950s recruit firefighters were trained at the Brigade Headquarters in Lambeth. Here they are undertaking hook ladder drills on the stations nine-storey drill tower

LCC-LFB Dennis motorised fire pump and crew
The introduction of the Dennis fire appliances would see the creation of dual-purpose fire engines capable of carrying either the 50 foot wheeled escape or, as here, adapted as a pump

LCC-MFB, HQ station, Southwark SE1
The new headquarters of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) opened in 1878 under its Chief Officer Captain Eyre Massey Shaw

NFS 60ft hand-operated turntable ladder, WW2
An Austin K4-Merryweather 60 foot hand-operated turntable ladder (TL). A total of 50 such appliances were built and mounted on Austin K4 chassis for the Home Office between 1942 and 1943

Turnout of vehicles from Lambeth HQ, with the River Thames and Houses of Parliament in the background

Blitz in London -- AFS firefighter on ladder, WW2
Blitz in London -- an AFS firefighter on a ladder with hose attached, in a training exercise at HQ

GLC-LFB - Croydon vehicle workshops
The GLC-LFB was created on 1 April 1965. A series of photos was commissioned of each location, either within or absorbed into the enlarged London Fire Brigade

LCC-LFB Leyland Metz 100 foot turntable ladder
Lambeths (D61) turntable ladder at its base station, displayed in the Brigade headquarters drill yard. The hose line, when the TL is used as a water tower

LCC-LFB Lambeth fire station with appliances
Lambeth fire station (Brigade Headquarters) with pump-escape, pump and 100 foot turntable ladder. The station had three other appliances: an emergency tender, breakdown lorry and canteen van

LCC-LFB AFS Green Goddess pump, Lambeth HQ
A typical AFS (government design) Green Goddess pump, at drill in the yard of Brigade Headquarters station, Lambeth. Created prior to the outbreak of WW2

NFS London Region control room and officers, WW2
With the Fire Service nationalised in 1941 the London Fire Brigade was combined with its surrounding Fire Brigades to form the London Region of the NFS

LCC-LFB engines and crews, Whitechapel fire station
Located at 27 Commercial Road, East London, Whitechapel fire station opened in 1874. It was also a superintendent station (district headquarters) and was known as Station No 27

LFB wartime emergency appliance and trailer pump, WW2
A Fordson Unit and trailer pump at the London Fire Brigade headquarters, Lambeth. These were just some of the 2000 adapted vehicles utilised as AFS fire appliances

Mass jets at the LFB annual review at Lambeth HQ
London firefighters from East London demonstrating mass jets during the Annual Review display at the Brigades headquarters. Lambeth, SE1

LCC-MFB Headquarters station at Southwark SE1
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade was created in 1866, having replaced the former London Fire Engine Establishment brigade. It moved from its former Watling Street HQ to the Southwark site due to

Easter Rising / Liberty Hq
Liberty Hall, Dublin, the rebel headquarters after the storming. Date: May 1916

WW1 poster, 20th London Regiment
WW1 recruitment poster, 20th London Regiment (HQ Holly Hedge House, Blackheath), Praise for Territorials. Join your own local battalion at once. Date: 1914-1918

Nato Headquarters, Izmir, Turkey - now the Allied Air Component Command Headquarters Date: 1957

LCC-LFB horse drawn 75ft turntable ladder (TL)
Shand Mason (Blackfriars) supplied the London Fire Brigade with this hand operated 75 foot turntable ladder on a four wheel horse drawn carriage

Queen Elizabeth reviews female LFB dispatch rider, WW2
Visit to LFB by Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth reviews a female dispatch rider at the Lambeth Headquarters of the London Fire Brigade

Recruitment Poster - British Military
THE MIDDLESEX REGIMENT, 57TH Regimental District - Headquarters, HOUNSLOW, 1900. Chromolithograph poster, printed by Gale and Polden Limited, 1900

St Johns Gate Clerkenwell
St Johns Gate, in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, now within central London, is one of the few tangible remains from Clerkenwells monastic past

Copper Miners Strike - Calumet, Michigan, USA. Industrial action by Copper Miners of the Western Federation of Miners. Workers were concerned of being displaced to a lower-paying job or of losing

East Midtown Skyline
Aerial view from the East River looking west of the East Midtown Manhattan skyline, New York, New York, 1950s or 1960s. Prominant structures include the United Nations Headquarters (right)

Self-propelled fire engine at LFB Southwark HQ
A self-propelled fire engine at LFB Southwark Headquarters, with firemen training

Queen Elizabeth II inspecting firefighters, London
Visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the Headquarters of the London Fire Brigade, Lambeth, on 9 June 1977

Queen Elizabeth II opening the new LFB Headquarters
Queen Elizabeth II with Commissioner Ronald James Dobson at the opening of the new London Fire Brigade Headquarters at 169 Union Street, London SE1

GLC-LFB Eastern Command Control Unit
The GLC-LFB was created on 1 April 1965. A series of photos was commissioned of each type of fire engine, either within or absorbed into the enlarged London Fire Brigade

GLC-LFB - Ford Cortina staff car at Lambeth HQ
The GLC-LFB was created on 1st April 1965. A series of pictures was commissioned, photographing each type of fire engine and other vehicle either within or absorbed into the enlarged London Fire

GLC-LFB Centenary Royal Review at Lambeth HQ
To celebrate the 100 years of the London Fire Brigade, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip reviewed the London Fire Brigade at Lambeth headquarters

The London Salvage Corps HQ, 40-42 Watling Street
Built in 1907 and located in the City of London, the headquarters station of the London Salvage Corps until it moved to its new premises in 1960

NFS (London Region) mobile kitchen vehicle
Donated to the London Region of the NFS by the Canadian Red Cross, the mobile kitchen unit displayed at the Regional (Brigade) Headquarters, Lambeth, SE1 is seen here with its side canopies extended

Finsbury Rifles recruiting HQ, North London, WW1
Finsbury Rifles recruiting headquarters and drill hall, 17 Penton Street, Islington, North London, around the start of the First World War. Date: circa 1914

SHANGHAI: BUND, 1883. A view of the English settlement along the Bund in Shanghai, China, looking toward the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and showing the English Club (extreme left)

WW2 - Map showing Flying Bomb hits during Blitz on London in the LCC-London Fire Brigade Control Room at Lambeth HQ, SE1

Members of the Canadian Fire Service join the NFS, WW2
Detachments from the Canadian Fire Service arrive in the UK to supplement National Fire Service numbers. Groups were allocated to the various Fire Regions

HMS Warrior R31
Royal Navy - HMS Warrior R31, a Colossus-class light aircraft carrier, in March 1946. (Warrior was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy from 1946 to 1948 as HMCS Warrior)

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"Unveiling the Heart of Bravery: Behind the Military Badge at Headquarters" At Headquarters, where heroes gather and strategies are forged, a sense of duty permeates the air. From firefighters wielding hoses to soldiers donning military badges, this is the epicenter of courage. In a grand annual review, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) commemorates its rich history at Lambeth HQ LFB150. The brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting others parade proudly in front of their appliances, showcasing their unwavering commitment. The legacy continues as we delve into the past with Bedford Heavy Unit in the NFS during World War II. Culpeper House London stands tall as a testament to resilience and unity amidst chaos. It was here that firefighters trained tirelessly to operate hand-operated turntable ladders during those challenging times. Witnessing recruits undergo rigorous training at Brigade HQ SE1 evokes admiration for their determination. The LCC-LFB Recruit firemen hone their skills under expert guidance, preparing themselves for any situation they may encounter on duty. Fire displays ignite awe and wonder within these hallowed walls. At Brigade HQ Southwark, spectators marvel at the prowess displayed by LCC-LFB Recruit firefighters as they demonstrate their expertise in handling emergencies with precision and grace. A glimpse into history reveals an era when horse-drawn steamers were instrumental in firefighting efforts. Today's modern LFB review pays homage to these iconic machines that once roamed our streets – a reminder of how far we've come while honoring our roots. Amidst it all lies the London Fire Engine Establishment – an intricate network connecting numerous fire stations throughout this great city. Each station represents a beacon of hope ready to respond swiftly whenever danger strikes. Headquarters serves not only as a physical space but also as an embodiment of valor and sacrifice, and is where dreams are realized, challenges overcome, and communities protected.