247752 Hammond Kenlin Auxiliary Fire Service Hackney Downs, London from:Homerton, London My father, Ham Kenlin joined the AFS before the war, and served throughout WW2.
I can remember my dad coming home in the day, covered in black soot, in fact when I was playing out in the street I ran into my house calling my mother that there was a black man calling, not realising it was my dad. He was in the great fire in the London Docks as well as travelling up to Coventry when it was bombed.
He suffered from all of the trauma, and never fully recovered, always ill until he died at the age of 65. If anyone deserved a medal my father did. He never received any pension from the Government or thanks. I wish he had joined up in the Army, I am sure he would have lived longer.
He told us that many of his comrades died fighting the fires in London, and I am not sure but I think his Station at Hackney Downs had a direct hit.
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