NextBack“The crews were made up of professional men, one was a Director of a Printing Company, another was a bank manager, another had a butcher's shop in Alvechurch and then there was the local coal merchant, it was quite interesting to talk to them all. We went on duty in the evening slept at the auxiliary station overnight - we had blankets and camp beds - and left at 7 am. There was a Recreation Room and a Watch Room. On the control board was a progressive series of warnings shown by coloured lights. Each colour meant something.”
“Our primary function was 'relaying'. When the water mains was knocked out we had to draw from the canals. The pump only maintains its pressure over a given distance and the trailer passed the water from one pump to the next to make sure that pressure was not lost. It was both hectic and boring.”
