The History of Ruddington Depot
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Wartime Operations
Becoming operational
The resident Commandant had been appointed and was in post, long before the Depot was completed. Other Senior Staff, Heads of Department and Managers arrived during the final stages of construction.
The N.F.S Fire Patrol men and women maintained a 24 hour watch throughout
the war to prevent fire. After the N.F.S was disbanded in 1947, the Depot
fire brigade was merged with the Security Service.Among the first people
to start work, just before the site opened, were security staff, who wore
a navy blue uniform and were employed by the Ministry of Defence. They manned
all the gates for 24 hours a day. No unauthorised person was admitted, and
everyone who entered had to show a pass.
Far more numerous were the fire patrol staff, who were employed by the National Fire Service (N.F.S.). In the photograph below there is a group of 38 fire fighters, two of them women. The total establishment was almost certainly larger. Initially many of the firemen came to Ruddington from elsewhere, and went into lodgings in the village. With so much explosive material being handled on the site, fire was a great hazard. There were fire hydrants and static water tanks at regular intervals throughout the area.
The Story > Chapter 3 > Section 3.02