The National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial
30 August 2026
At the kind invitation of our friend Anton Shelupanov (member of the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club, England 4 Chapter), James and James visited the National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial at the Living Memorial complex at Rettendon, Essex, today. We explored the Fire Memorial, Home Station (including the exhibit of the Essex Fire Museum), and other monuments in the large landscape of remembrance, and attended a plaque placement and bell striking ceremony.
A celebrant read out biographies of firefighters who have died recently, along with poetry. Then the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club England 4 Chapter (who are the instigators and custodian of the National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial) undertook an exceptionally powerful, moving ritual that speaks to the honour of a selfless vocation, protecting us all from fire. For two centuries, the Fire Bell in stations has signalled the changing of the watch shifts, and so has been used to acknowledge the passing of fallen comrades in this hazardous profession. Three strikes of the Bell signal a return to quarters.
Today families placed plaques at the memorial commemorating firefighters from London, Middlesex and Essex, and the Red Knights placed plaques at the request of families whose loved ones served in Manchester, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The Monument commemorates the entire profession across the country, and is supported by the Worshipful Company of Firefighters and the Fire Brigades Union, as well as the Red Knights IFMC. As each name was read out, the Fire Bell was struck, and after all the plaques were installed, three strikes of the Bell released them home -- their service done. Following this all present observed a very heavy minute's silence.
We were both humbled by the tremendous honour reflected in the lifetimes of service of the fire personnel commemorated today, and the many hundreds of their fellows in the plaques all around us. In sight of the community of the living and the honoured departed, each received the dignity of being witnessed, and bestowed the honour of witnessing.
Parts of the ceremony emphasised how the firefighting community is a functional team, and the comrade in the control room is represented as well as the one in the flames. So too, these important acts of remembrance, as well as the buildings and monuments that preserve them, emphasise the embeddedness of the valour this vocation represents within our whole community and civilisation.
We sensed this crystallised honour and remembrance in the other memorials and gardens at the complex, including monuments to the D-Day landings, and veterans of the Korean War, whose quiet dignity showed the importance of these structures in the times between the gathering of people. We encourage everybody to visit the site, and reflect on all these legacies of virtue that have built and preserved the life of our community.
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