Remembrance 2023

This Remembrance period, we are sharing stories from across Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service on what Remembrance means to us.

From officers' own reflections on their time in the services, to family members sharing their stories, we reflect on the strong bond between the fire service and the military - and honour the sacrifices made for our freedom.

Rick Ogden, Chief Fire Officer, said: "Remembrance is about taking time to reflect and think about the sacrifice men and women have made through serving in the Armed Forces; a number of which served in the fire and rescue service.

"Remembrance is especially important for me, with three generations of my family having served. My brother remains serving to this day and is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), awarded for his leadership in frontline operations."

Poppies

Peter McCall, Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said: “Remembrance Sunday is poignant for those who have served the nation, and their families.  

"It is an annual reflection, a time to remember friends and colleagues who suffered injury and even the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.  The least we can do to honour those brave men and women is to remember and acknowledge their selfless sacrifice.”

Military

My life as a military spouse

The spouse of a long-serving and now retired Cumbrian Firefighter - who also spent 30 years in the British Army Reserve - shares her story...

Military

An unbreakable bond

Dom Gething - a Captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps and an On-Call Firefighter at Lazonby - reflects on the historic bond between the military and the fire service...

Sam Starmer

The Royal Army Medical Corps

Sam Starmer, a Watch Manager with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and a Combat Medic in the British Army, shares an insight into the Royal Army Medical Corps...