The early volunteer brigade
West Mersea’s early fire brigade worked from a shed at the corner of Melrose Road with twelve part-time volunteers. Its first appliance was a handcart. Before a formal alarm system was installed, a firefighter cycled around the island blowing a bugle to assemble the crew.
Local histories give 1928 as the brigade’s founding year, although the Town Council’s published short history does not supply an original founding document. The early arrangements are nevertheless well recorded.
Fundraising for a motor fire engine
In 1935 the brigade raised money to purchase a Dennis motor fire engine. It also acquired new headquarters in Melrose Road, in premises later used by the Scouts. The shift from handcart to motor engine marked a major improvement for volunteers responding to incidents across the island.
The 1957 engine change
Archive photographs dated April 1957 show the Fordson Thames fire appliance registered GLC 534 being replaced by a Dodge, registration 758 JNO. A newspaper photograph dated 10 April names Sub-Officer Oscar Whiting, who also worked locally as a grocer. His double occupation illustrates the part-time character of the brigade.
These photographs provide more secure dating for the vehicle change than a general account of successive engines.
The move to Barfield Road
In 1973 the brigade moved to the fire station in Barfield Road. The Town Council’s history associates the move with the introduction locally of the 999 alert system and personal pagers. The earlier Melrose Road headquarters had already served several generations of volunteer firefighters.
Town Council: fire brigade history · Archive photographs and April 1957 press cutting.