Prewar Collection

LCC-LFB enclosed pump at Lambeth fire station
Pictured at Brigade Headquarters, Lambeth SE1, an example of an 1930 enclosed London pump with carried breathing apparatus

LCC-LFB Woolwich fire station, SE London
The crew of Woolwich fire station, Sunbury Street, on parade on the station forecourt. WW2 is pending and an Auxiliary Fire Service fire engine is standing in the station next to the LFB pump escape

Election poster, The Great Naval Eclipse 1900 to 1910, a vote for the radicals is a vote against the British Navy. circa 1910s

Army airship Beta in shed at OTC camp, Farnborough
Army airship Beta in a shed at an Officers Training Corps camp in Farnborough, July 1910. Date: 1910

Growth of the submarine by G. H. Davis
The growth of the submarine from 1901 to 1912. In chronological order, they are: 1901-2 Holland Class, 1903-5 A Class, 1904-6 B Class, 1906-9 C Class, 1911 D Class and 1912 E Class

1st British-Australian Scout Troop (Madame Melbas Own), group photo taken in Dulwich, South London, May 1913. Date: 1913

Naval manoeuvres on East Coast by G. H. Davis
The naval manoeuvres of 1913: the varying fortunes of the East Coast raiding parties. How the Humber Ports were raided last week by the Red fleet

Two men at the controls of a Sunderland flying boat
Two men (second fitter and rigger) at the controls of a Sunderland Mark I flying boat and bomber, used by RAF 230 Squadron during the Second World War. Date: circa 1938

Captain H H Berners, Irish Guards
Captain Hamilton Hugh Berners, Irish Guards, seen here on horseback at the Officer Training Corps, Mytchett, Surrey. Date: circa 1913

Volley firing by Scott Method by G. H. Davis
The gunnery experiment of which all the naval world is talking: the six-to-one superiority of volley firing by the Scott Method

Kaiser Wilhelm II in military uniform. 1910

Cartoon, The Goose Step, Berlin, 1 January 1914, pre-WW1 cartoon by Harry Furniss. 1914

Alls Well! A British Bulldog, dedicated to the officers and men of the Royal Navy. Date: 1914

Coventry Cathedral (old), Warwickshire, viewed from the east - Painted by landscape artist Alfred Robert Quinton for the Sevenoaks based publishing and printing company J

Tank manoeuvres, WW2 preparations Date: 1939

Army relaxation, WW2 preparations Date: 1939

Army recruit learns to fire machine gun, WW2 preparations
Army recruit learning to fire a machine gun, WW2 preparations Date: 1939

Army Radio Operators, WW2 preparations Date: 1939

Army Physical Exercises, WW2 preparations Date: 1939

Army manoeuvres in the sand, WW2 preparations Date: 1939

Seachlight and Anti-Aircraft Gun Crew, WW2 preparations Date: 1939

King & Queen of Great Britain, Washington DC, 1939 (b/w photo)
3964305 King & Queen of Great Britain, Washington DC, 1939 (b/w photo) by Harris & Ewing (1905-45); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Bijenkorf building, Rotterdam, Netherlands
The iconic prewar Bijenkorf building in Rotterdam, Netherlands, badly damaged during the second world war, and finally demolished in 1960. Date: circa 1937

Market Square, Grindelwald, Germany. Date: circa 1930s

Poster, German motorcycle racing successes on DKW
Poster, German motorcycle racing successes in four out of five classes on DKW Auto Union cycles (later part of Audi). 1936

French Caudron biplane after beach landing
French Caudron single-seater biplane after a beach landing, with the pilot and a large crowd of onlookers, with a Grand Hotel in the top right. Date: circa 1912

Group of people at a table, Austria. circa 1934

Royal Navy sailors riding on donkeys, Tangier, Morocco
Royal Navy sailors riding on donkeys during a sightseeing tour of the Tangier bazaar, Morocco, January 1937. 1937

At Middleburg: The Kermis, by Charles Pears
At Middleburg: The Kermis, painting by Charles Pears, a peaceful August scene at the annual religious festival in the Netherlands before the First World War began. 1913

Ferdinand Jean Marie Foch, by Andre de Chastenet
Portrait of Ferdinand Jean Marie Foch, by Andre de Chastenet, bronze, 3 April 1912. 1912

HMS torpedo boat destroyer, Earnest, at full speed off Plymouth. Date: circa 1900

HMS Amphibian and HMS Lion, Spithead, July 1912
HMS Amphibian (naval aero-hydrople or seaplane) flying over the battle cruiser HMS Lion at Spithead, July 1912. Date: 1912

HMS Queen, London or Queen class pre-dreadnought battleship. Date: circa 1910

HMS Illustrious, Majestic class pre-dreadnought battleship. Date: circa 1908

Tree-lined Avenue Sully, France
The tree-lined Avenue Sully, somewhere in France. Date: circa 1910

River Seine at Rouen, Northern France -- the quays towards Bon-Secours. Date: circa 1910

La Place Gambetta, Le Havre, Northern France
View of La Place Gambetta, Le Havre, Normandy, Northern France. Date: circa 1910

River Somme at Amiens, Northern France
View of the River Somme at Amiens, Northern France. Date: circa 1910

Rue Grand Pont, Rouen, Northern France
View of the Rue Grand Pont, Rouen, Northern France, before the First World War. Date: circa 1910

The King and his fleet, Spithead, July 1914 -- some 400 ships assembled in the Solent. Date: 1914

8th Battery RFA Camp, Bangalore, India
8th Battery, 13th Brigade, RFA Camp, with field guns and ammunition carts, Bangalore, India. Date: 1912

Poster advertising Kodak cameras, featuring the Kodak Girl -- Lifes a joy, 2645 for happy moments with a Kodak. Printed by Hill Sifken. Date: 1913

Diamond mining in German south west Africa (now Namibia). Date: circa 1910

RAF aircraft of 1935 by G. H. Davis
The Royal Air Force. Representative types of the latest fighting and bombing machines used in a service now undergoing great expansion and likely to become eventually Britains first line of defence

Demonstration of Britains sea power, Spithead, July 1914
The finest demonstration of Britains sea power ever seen, Spithead, July 1914. Date: 1914

SMS Bussard, Imperial German Navy Cruiser Date: circa 1908

AFS car and trailer pump at LCC-LFB HQ, Lambeth
Beresford Stork light-trailer pump with saloon car. Such combinations were utilised by the Auxiliary Fire Service in London to supplement the full time force in preparations for the forthcoming

Britains Royal Naval Air Service, aircraft and airmen -- Lieutenant Longmore RN, Flight Commander Samson RN, Lieutenants Grey RN, with a seaplane on the water behind them

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"Exploring the Pre-War Era: A Glimpse into London's Fire Stations, Military Camps, and Technological Advancements" Step back in time to the pre-war era as we uncover fascinating hints about life before the chaos of World War II. 🕰️🔍 1️⃣ LCC-LFB Woolwich fire station, SE London: Witness the bravery and dedication of firefighters at this historic station, ready to tackle any blaze that threatened their community. 2️⃣ LCC-LFB enclosed pump at Lambeth fire station: Discover the ingenious firefighting equipment used during this period, showcasing how technology was advancing to combat fires more efficiently. 3️⃣ Army airship Beta in shed at OTC camp, Farnborough: Marvel at the grandeur of military airships housed within secure sheds, a testament to Britain's growing aerial capabilities. 4️⃣ Volley firing by Scott Method by G. H. Davis: Delve into military tactics with this intriguing hint about innovative firing techniques developed prior to war – a glimpse into strategic advancements on land. 5️⃣ Growth of the submarine by G. H. Davis: Uncover secrets beneath the waves as submarines evolved rapidly before WWII; witness how these vessels transformed naval warfare forever. 6️⃣ Election poster - The Great Naval Eclipse: Explore political campaigns during this inter-war period through an eye-catching poster highlighting national debates surrounding naval power and defense strategies. 7️⃣ Poster advertising Kodak cameras: Experience a snapshot of everyday life before war broke out – capturing moments with family and friends became increasingly popular thanks to accessible photography technology like Kodak cameras. 8️⃣ Two men at controls of a Sunderland flying boat: Take flight alongside daring aviators aboard majestic Sunderland flying boats – symbols of British aviation prowess poised for future wartime missions. 9️⃣ Captain H. H. Berners, Irish Guards.