Newbury man remembers father's heroic sacrifice in the Second World War
"Fireman Miles, who leaves a wife and five children, including a baby, had been a member of the Newbury Volunteer Fire Brigade for about 12 years," read a Newbury Weekly News report from March 1941. That baby is now 82-year-old Newbury resident Geoff Miles, the last surviving child of Albert Miles — a Newbury firefighter killed in the Second World War.
Newbury firemen readily supported other brigades in blitzed cities across the South, including Bristol and Southampton.
But one trip would have devastating consequences for the town.
The Luftwaffe's sustained bombing campaign known as 'The Blitz' killed more than 45,000 civilians in Britain from September 1940 until May 1941.
On the night of March 10, 1941 the city of Portsmouth suffered its second worst attack of the war. A squad of seven Newbury firemen responded to a fierce blaze at Portsmouth Dockyard, home to an important naval base.
An incendiary bomb landed, killing three firemen and seriously injuring three others. Charles Rawlings, 37, died at the scene, while Leslie Ford, 28, and Albert Miles, 41, died in hospital a few hours later.
Mr Miles had been put in charge of the Auxiliary Fire Service personnel permanently attached to the Brigade, including Firemen Rawlings and Ford. All three left behind wives and young children.
The other firemen injured were Victor Carr, Leslie Fray, Leslie Eggleton and Stephen Whiteman.
In total, 93 people lost their lives and 250 more were injured. The loss weighed heavily on the people of Portsmouth and Newbury.
Over a thousand people gathered for a public funeral for the three firemen at Newbury's St Nicolas' Church a week later.
The Rev Bertram Russell led the service by saying: "Our faith in human nature has suffered terribly these last few years, but by such deeds of heroism which we commemorate today, I believe that faith is being upheld."
Silent crowds lined Northbrook Street to observe as the procession passed through to Shaw Cemetery, bearing the coffins of the deceased. Fire Brigades and AFS attended from all over the Home Counties.
Geoff Miles was eight-months-old when his father died. "My mother still had five children at home. It must have been pretty difficult," he said.
"The Fire Brigade Benevolence Fund looked after me up until I left school. I used to get Christmas and birthday presents from them."
"I know mother received a reasonable sum of money," he added. "But in this day and age, it was very small. No doubt it all helped."
His aunt and uncle were able to support the family after being evacuated to Newbury from Southampton.
Brigade chief officer, E Martin, gave a moving tribute about Mr Miles at the time. "He was one of our keenest firemen, taking a wonderful interest in the fire station and everything connected with it," he said.
"I always felt that if Miles was here, everything was going all right."
The Miles family lived in a cottage by Newbury Fire Station and adjoining ambulance station located at The Wharf, where the public toilets are today.
The town unveiled a memorial plaque here in March 1949 to honour the brave sacrifice of the firemen.
The plaque was moved to the new station in Hawthorn Road when this opened in December 1956. The former station was demolished in the 1960s.
"We are incredibly proud and honoured to be able to host this plaque," said Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager for West Hub, Paul Thomas. "It is important for us as a service to honour their memory and recognise the contribution they made to helping people during their darkest of times.
"The plaque stands proudly at Newbury Fire Station and will be cared for by new generations of firefighters for years to come."
