A wartime firewatcher at St Paul's Cathedral

What did your grandfather do during the Second World War?

Unable to enlist because of emphysema, he served as a London firewatcher, including on St Paul's Cathedral, and helped fight fires.

One grandfather's emphysema prevented him from joining the armed forces during the Second World War. He instead served as a firewatcher in London, including duty on St Paul's Cathedral and other large buildings. The work involved watching for fires and helping to fight them during the wartime emergency. The recollection notes the grim irony that a man rejected for a breathing condition was then exposed to smoke and fire. This family account offers a personal view of home-front service rather than a general survey of British civil defence.