360:
into a day and night duty. This enabled an experienced man to be sent on day duty to meet the surveyor, and to carry out his instructions regarding the working out of the salvage; and a junior man at night. The day man, if working out salvage, would employ a number of men called strangers, over whom he acted as a kind of foreman. The working out might take the form of dividing up damaged goods into lots ready for a sale to be held by the surveyor, or of sifting over the debris to find remains of certain articles claimed for. If, for instance, a large fire occurred at a
475:
454:
186:, who controlled the new brigade at the time, to refuse responsibility for any salvage work without payment. The amount sought by the Metropolitan Board of Works for this service exceeded that for which an independent salvage corps could be maintained by the fire offices themselves. Therefore, it was decided at a meeting of the London Fire Engine Establishment on 22 December 1865 to establish a salvage corps independent of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The London Salvage Corps was founded by John Brookes Johnston of the
440:
447:
433:
24:
482:
62:
468:
461:
694:
178:
command of
Superintendent James Braidwood, had undertaken salvage work as part of its normal everyday fire extinguishing duties. Following Braidwood's death at the great Tooley Street fire in 1861, and the arrival of Captain Eyre Massey Shaw, a new fire brigade for London was required. It was created in 1866 and called the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, still with Captain Shaw as its first Chief Officer. However, the
213:. They consisted of the chief (salvage) officer and a superintendent, foreman and crew of men at each salvage station. The stations of the corps were initially connected by telegraph but were later connected by telephone with the fire brigade stations from whence the calls were received. In addition to the station staff, there were also salvage staff constantly employed during the daytime in inspecting docks,
503:, some of which was accepted and used. Due to reasons of age, recruiting conditions and staffing costs, very few of the salvagemen undertook retraining and were absorbed into the London Fire Brigade. Those remaining were offered early retirement (depending on their age and service) and the rest were made redundant.
359:
When a fire took place, a man was left behind in charge of the salvage if the property was insured. If there was uncertainty over whether the property was insured, but it appeared probable that it was, a man was left until the information was obtained later. The duty, if an important one, was divided
144:
364:
manufacturers, and the debris was all in one common heap, the London
Salvage Corps might have to arrange certain quantities of pegs and wires in order to give an idea of the number of pianos before the fire. The watching continued until the loss was settled, when the charge of the premises was given
342:
Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War the London
Salvage Corps turned out on average seven times a day. The estimated cost of the eight principal fires in London for the first quarter of 1934 was £325,000. In its report to the insurance companies the LSC stated, "It is evident that the loss
330:
The most important work of the corps was to prevent damage to goods – the damage from fire was left almost entirely to the fire brigade. The "traps", which immediately on receipt of an alarm proceeded to the scene of the fire with their crew of men, carried every kind of apparatus for the saving of
205:
The London
Salvage Corps was maintained, and overseen by the fire offices of London. The staff of the corps, when formed, consisted of 64 salvagemen and officers. Since that time, owing to the many improvements that had taken place in the system of dealing with salvage, and the increase in the work
495:
In the early 1980s meetings took place between the insurance office representatives, central government and the London Fire
Brigade with a view to incorporating the services undertaken by the corps into the London Fire Brigade. Regardless of the loss of salvage skills an agreement was reached and
326:
goods warehouse was on fire, it would be of very little advantage to the offices interested in the risk if the men were set to work removing stock from the ground floor. The best method would be to cover up with tarpaulin all goods there, and prevent the water from collecting on the lower floors.
177:
The London
Salvage Corps (LSC) had been around for as long as London's first properly organised fire brigade. The London Fire Engine Establishment had been created and maintained by the principal fire insurance offices of London. The London Fire Engine Establishment, established in 1833 under the
313:
3-tonners that had been in operation since 1923. It also had a 30-cwt and a 5-cwt. van; the larger used for carrying extra waterproof clothes and other gear, whilst the smaller vehicle could be used for taking first-aid gear to smaller outbreaks and thus save the expense of turning out a major
377:
scandal. At the trial of
Leopold Harris in 1934, he testified that he had had nearly every Salvage Corps officer "in his pocket". Harris was later sentenced to 14 years in jail. Captain Brymore Eric Miles, chief of the insurance companies' salvage corps was sentenced to four years in jail for
206:
to be done, the corps was strengthened, and the staff increased to 112 by the early 1970s. The various stations of the LSC were strategically placed, and "the
Metropolis has been mapped out so that when a fire takes place it may be attended to at the earliest possible moment."
350:
fire in 1936. Taken from the fire report, they sent three motor tenders and one motor car, 22 men and the LSC Chief
Officer. Although not in the same numbers as their fire brigade counterparts, salvagemen also died in the line of duty.
308:
The last horse drawn salvage tender was withdrawn in 1923, two years after the last of the London Fire
Brigade's horses were retired from service at Kensington fire station. By May 1936 the LSC fleet consisted of seven
169:
which had been formed in 1842, to reduce the loss and damage caused by fires, to help mitigate the effects of fire and of fire-fighting and to salvage both premises and goods affected by fire.
300:
in 1960. Following the disbanding of the service in the 1980s, it transferred to the London Fire Brigade. The building was subsequently demolished and the site is now an office building
322:
Services at fires formed the most important feature of the work. Much depended upon the method of dealing with the salvage. If, for instance, the upper part of a large
335:
apparatus for use in working after the fire had been extinguished – thus enabling the men to note the position of dangerous walls etc. They also carried portable
339:
apparatus, which could be employed in the interior of buildings when the ordinary means of illumination had failed, and ambulance appliances for emergencies.
732:
314:
tender. One of the LSC tenders, which carried a crew of two, was equipped with a portable pump used for pumping out basements which had been flooded.
281:
This station transferred to the London Fire Brigade and became their Soho Fire Station. Following wartime bomb damage, it remained in use until 1983.
709:
737:
714:
585:
747:
632:
190:. The London Salvage Corps commenced operations during January 1866. The original subscribers to the London Salvage Corps were the
742:
195:
179:
669:
676:
619:
608:
183:
191:
390:
The ranks of London Salvage Corps were an altered version of regular Fire Brigade/Fire Service Ranks.
378:"corruption and conspiring to pervert the administration of justice." The arson ring took £500,000 in
343:
in material damage, trade and unemployment would have been much greater but for these activities."
259:
No. 3 Station (D District), opposite the headquarters of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Station in
542:
517:
166:
285:
165:. The corps was first formed in 1865 and began operations in March 1866. It was inspired by the
752:
579:
512:
260:
256:- covered whole of the eastern and north-eastern portion of London to the north of the Thames
217:, goods and London warehouses, with regular reports made weekly to the Insurance Committee.
684:
239:
8:
500:
187:
636:
209:
The early working staff (like its fire brigade counterparts) were mainly recruited from
37:
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
347:
274:
270:
147:
Memorial plaque on the side of the Salvage Corps headquarters, Watling Street, London.
665:
599:
John Brookes Johnston (1818–1896), Modern English Biography, Frederic Boase, volume 5
297:
474:
499:
All of the LSC equipment, vehicles and Headquarters premises were offered to the
379:
253:
199:
61:
453:
439:
310:
231:
227:
446:
726:
705:
700:
522:
432:
481:
264:
66:
Helmet Transfer for the LSC in the late 70s to early 80s before dissolving.
202:, Union and Westminster fire offices, but membership varied subsequently.
235:
718:. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 100.
373:
During the 1930s the service was accused of participating in a criminal
137:
Salvage goods and prevent insurance loss due to water from fire fighting
323:
278:
210:
467:
460:
332:
289:
243:
143:
578:
336:
296:
A new headquarters was constructed for the London Salvage Corps at
699:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
247:
162:
331:
goods from destruction by fire or damage by water, as well as
374:
361:
214:
672:
edited by David C. Pike London Salvage Corps. Pages 166–170.
226:
No. 1 Station (B District) - headquarters situated at
220:
589:. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 100.
724:
303:
354:
346:The London Salvage Corps attended the massive
194:, Atlas, Globe, Imperial, London, Protector,
733:Defunct fire and rescue services of England
704:
573:
571:
569:
567:
565:
563:
252:No. 2 Station (C District) - located on
142:
496:the corps was disbanded in April 1984.
725:
161:was maintained by the fire offices of
738:History of local government in London
560:
107:Fire salvage and insurance protection
317:
17:
292:, protected the parish of Islington
13:
633:"London Salvage Corps Association"
221:Headquarters and station locations
180:Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act 1865
14:
764:
748:1984 disestablishments in England
692:
480:
473:
466:
459:
452:
445:
438:
431:
60:
22:
269:No. 4 station (A District), on
182:was vague enough to enable the
743:1865 establishments in England
677:"London Salvage Corps history"
664:published by Austin Macauley.
625:
613:
602:
593:
535:
1:
655:
304:Advances in the Salvage Corps
355:Watching and working salvage
7:
506:
184:Metropolitan Board of Works
91:Fire salvage and protection
10:
769:
490:
368:
172:
685:"Local Scrap Yart London"
263:, protected the whole of
133:
119:
111:
103:
95:
87:
79:
71:
59:
31:This article needs to be
528:
385:
715:Encyclopædia Britannica
586:Encyclopædia Britannica
518:Liverpool Salvage Corps
188:Royal Insurance Company
167:Liverpool Salvage Corps
543:"London Salvage Corps"
411:Deputy Superintendent
380:false insurance claims
148:
662:London's Firefighters
620:Salvage Corps history
609:Salvage Corps History
580:"Salvage Corps"
513:Glasgow Salvage Corps
405:Deputy Chief Officer
365:over to the assured.
261:Southwark Bridge Road
146:
420:Leading Salvage Man
240:Tottenham Court Road
159:London Salvage Corps
55:London Salvage Corps
501:London Fire Brigade
56:
639:on 14 January 2014
284:No. 5 station, in
271:Shaftesbury Avenue
149:
54:
687:. 2 October 2023.
488:
487:
318:Services at fires
298:Aldersgate Street
141:
140:
52:
51:
760:
719:
698:
696:
695:
688:
680:
649:
648:
646:
644:
635:. Archived from
629:
623:
617:
611:
606:
600:
597:
591:
590:
582:
575:
558:
557:
555:
553:
547:London Remembers
539:
484:
477:
470:
463:
456:
449:
442:
435:
414:Station Officer
396:
395:
230:- protected the
64:
57:
53:
47:
44:
38:
26:
25:
18:
768:
767:
763:
762:
761:
759:
758:
757:
723:
722:
708:, ed. (1911). "
693:
691:
683:
679:. 13 July 2005.
675:
658:
653:
652:
642:
640:
631:
630:
626:
618:
614:
607:
603:
598:
594:
577:
576:
561:
551:
549:
541:
540:
536:
531:
509:
493:
408:Superintendent
393:
388:
371:
357:
320:
306:
254:Commercial Road
223:
175:
154:
151:
129:
67:
48:
42:
39:
36:
27:
23:
12:
11:
5:
766:
756:
755:
750:
745:
740:
735:
721:
720:
706:Chisholm, Hugh
689:
681:
673:
657:
654:
651:
650:
624:
612:
601:
592:
559:
533:
532:
530:
527:
526:
525:
520:
515:
508:
505:
492:
489:
486:
485:
478:
471:
464:
457:
450:
443:
436:
429:
425:
424:
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
402:Chief Officer
400:
387:
384:
370:
367:
356:
353:
348:Crystal Palace
319:
316:
305:
302:
294:
293:
282:
273:, covered the
267:
257:
250:
246:and the river
232:City of London
228:Watling Street
222:
219:
196:Royal Exchange
174:
171:
139:
138:
135:
131:
130:
128:
127:
123:
121:
117:
116:
115:Watling Street
113:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
97:
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
81:
77:
76:
73:
69:
68:
65:
50:
49:
30:
28:
21:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
765:
754:
753:Salvage corps
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
730:
728:
717:
716:
711:
710:Salvage Corps
707:
702:
701:public domain
690:
686:
682:
678:
674:
671:
670:9781784555412
667:
663:
660:
659:
638:
634:
628:
621:
616:
610:
605:
596:
588:
587:
581:
574:
572:
570:
568:
566:
564:
548:
544:
538:
534:
524:
523:Salvage Corps
521:
519:
516:
514:
511:
510:
504:
502:
497:
483:
479:
476:
472:
469:
465:
462:
458:
455:
451:
448:
444:
441:
437:
434:
430:
427:
426:
422:
419:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
397:
394:
391:
383:
381:
376:
366:
363:
352:
349:
344:
340:
338:
334:
328:
325:
315:
312:
301:
299:
291:
287:
283:
280:
276:
272:
268:
266:
262:
258:
255:
251:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
229:
225:
224:
218:
216:
212:
207:
203:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
170:
168:
164:
160:
155:
152:
145:
136:
132:
125:
124:
122:
118:
114:
110:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
63:
58:
46:
34:
29:
20:
19:
16:
713:
661:
641:. Retrieved
637:the original
627:
615:
604:
595:
584:
550:. Retrieved
546:
537:
498:
494:
423:Salvage Man
417:Sub-Officer
392:
389:
372:
358:
345:
341:
329:
321:
307:
295:
286:Upper Street
265:south London
234:enclosed by
208:
204:
176:
158:
156:
153:
150:
112:Headquarters
96:Legal status
43:January 2016
40:
32:
15:
643:24 November
236:Euston Road
727:Categories
656:References
552:12 October
362:pianoforte
324:Manchester
279:Kensington
83:April 1984
333:limelight
290:Islington
244:City Road
80:Dissolved
72:Formation
507:See also
337:coal-gas
275:West End
211:the navy
192:Alliance
134:Services
120:Location
99:Obsolete
703::
491:Closure
369:Scandal
311:Leyland
215:wharves
173:History
104:Purpose
33:updated
697:
668:
428:Ranks
399:Title
248:Thames
163:London
126:London
529:Notes
386:Ranks
375:arson
666:ISBN
645:2012
554:2023
277:and
157:The
88:Type
75:1865
712:".
200:Sun
729::
583:.
562:^
545:.
382:.
288:,
242:,
238:,
198:,
647:.
622:.
556:.
45:)
41:(
35:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
