Aylmer Firebrace

Commander Sir Aylmer Newton George Firebrace, (17 June 1886 – 8 June 1972) was a British Royal Navy officer and fire chief. As a Royal Navy officer, he saw active service in World War I and participated in the Battle of Jutland. Following the war, he joined the London Fire Brigade and rose to become its Commander. With the creation of the National Fire Service, he became the first and only person to head firefighting across the whole of Great Britain.

Early life Firebrace was born on 17 June 1886 in Southsea, Hampshire, England. He was the son of George Firebrace, lieutenant colonel in the Royal Artillery, and his wife Agnes Adela Firebrace (born Porter). His younger brother was the astrologer Brigadier Roy Firebrace. He was educated at HMS Britannia.

Military career Following his education on HMS Britannia, he was in May 1902 appointed as a Naval Cadet on board the battleship HMS Bulwark, flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet He was promoted to lieutenant on 30 July 1906. In 1912, he was serving on the HMS Indomitable.

Fire service career Following the end of World War I, there were limited opportunities in the peacetime Royal Navy. In 1919, Firebrace applied to the London Fire Brigade originally for the post of chief officer but instead was appointed to the lower position of principal officer. He was promoted to deputy chief in 1936, and finally to chief officer in June 1938. He was awarded the King's Police Medal "for Distinguished Service" in the 1938 New Year Honours.

In the 1941 New Year Honours, Firebrace was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). On 24 December 1941, he was appointed Officer of the Venerable Order of Saint John (OStJ). In the 1945 New Year Honours, it was announced that he was to be knighted as Knight Bachelor. On 13 February 1945, he was knighted at Buckingham Palace by King George VI. He was appointed Commander of the Order of St. Olav by the King of Norway "in recognition of services during the war".