Wartime Fire Services

My late father was a messenger boy for the AFS at the onset of the war, he was based at the Paynes Lane depot which post war became a DIY store called Unit Sales. All this area was cleared to make way for Sky Blue Way. The family lived just around the corner in Lansdowne St so I presume he was co-opted or volunteered for the job. I remember seeing the red lanyard which he wore. Like a lot of others he never spoke much of this brief time with the AFS and even less so when he was serving on HMS Duke of York. I wonder if anyone has any more details?

Is this where you mean? Britain From Above site

In a similar vein, does anyone recollect the AFS base at Bablake Playing Fields? My father-in-law was a member there and attended the blitz/cathedral fires. He too rarely spoke of this time and continued to suffer nightmares related to his experiences until he died aged 90+ Research tells me all records of the Coventry AFS were destroyed - does anyone know differently please?

Despite what it says in the article, that picture was clearly taken behind the central fire station in Hales Street.

Yes that's it, if you go left and then turn right into Lansdowne St, then dad's house was the last "top shop" house before the school. Many thanks.

An ancestor of mine was injured on 12 Oct at Bablake Fire Station whilst on duty with Coventry Auxiliary Fire Service, and died at Coventry & Warwickshire Hospital the following day. He was 43 years old at the time

That may have been the one which became a sweet shop after the school opened. If I remember correctly the front room/shop was really tiny. The garage buildings had gone by then, replaced by a service station forecourt. I don't remember the row of shops opposite but could be mistaken.

My memory of Paynes Lane is of the faggot and pea batch shop I seem to recall that there was a pet shop on the same side as Unit Sales.

You're spot on there matchle55, there were two, Fanshaw`s aquatics and Cooke`s pet shop. There`s a photo of the faggot & pea shop on here somewhere.

Is this the spot in Paynes Lane?

That's it, the gable end of the house centre left is in All Saints Lane which ran down the side of Unit Sales. According to my 1905 map the building then was the home of the Coronet motor works. Nice to see Riddy's as well, I spent many an hour in there

I think that Unit Sales building was previously a cinema and you mentioned the Coronet Motor Works - the cinema was called The Coronet

The site in Paynes Lane where Unit Sales was, was a Regent petrol station in the 50s and early 60s. It also had a small car showroom attached to it, with an exit into All Saints lane.The owner had an Italian name, sounding something like Arrighie.

While out walking today I saw what looks like an old second world war water tank marker similar to the one on Hay Lane (white circle with black bullseye). It was located on Lythalls Lane at the junction with Foleshill Road. It is on the south side, on the high wall near where it meets the lower wall (rotate the view to the man in the hoodie, then find the sky blue drain pipe to the right and follow this down). It is faded, but being north facing has probably helped it survive. Can anybody remember what it used to refer to? Peter. . .