WW2 firefighter recognised with medal from the King

A firefighter who served at a village station during World War Two has been recognised by King Charles III.

William Betts, who worked at Wroxham Fire Station in Norfolk, was presented with a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on Tuesday.

The 97-year-old joined the village's fire station in 1942 when the county was part of the National Fire Service.

Talking about the start of his career, Mr Betts said: "When I started at Wroxham during the war, we slept there in hammocks."

Mr Betts, who still lives in the village, served at the service until 1963, with the fire at Horstead Mill being one of his final calls.

Talking about his role during WW2, he added: "I was on the control and when the message came in that the enemy was coming, I had to ring up five fire stations to tell them.

"I then had to ring them all back to tell them when they were gone."

He was presented with the medal at Carrow Fire Station, in Norwich, on behalf of the King.

His grandson, who researched his grandfather's career, said: "He saw the original fire station being built at Wroxham when he went up there on a holiday from the children's home where he lived.

"He ended up being fostered and then adopted by the people he stayed with – and his foster-father, Mr Blake, was a leading fire officer at Wroxham."

Mr Betts married his wife in 1949, and the pair had two children. Their son Christopher, who followed his father into the fire service, also served at the station.

He lost his life during a fire at The Chequers Hainford pub in 1987.

Scott Norman, deputy chief fire officer at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We'd like to thank you for your service, which started during wartime, and for your commitment to the people of Wroxham and the surrounding area.

"The loss of your son Christopher was such a sacrifice. I hope he is smiling down on us here today."

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