Leading Fireman Frederick Dale Coggan SBStJ Derbyshire Fire Service and St John Ambulance
The Man Kenneth Dale Coggan was born on Wednesday 14th July 1926 son of Robert and Phyllis Jessica nee Day. He had one brother Clarence William born in 1937.
At the time of the 1939 Register, Kenneth aged 13 and Clarence were living with their mother at 60 Austin Street, Blackwell, Derbyshire. Robert was not shown on the register maybe having been embodied before the beginning of World War II later the same year.
Following his education and possibly during World War II when aged 18, Frederick joined the National Fire Service, later Derbyshire Fire Service. He later became a Retained Fireman number 3498, based at Shirebrook Fire Station, an On-Call station, predominantly responding to incidents in and around Shirebrook as well as the surrounding areas. In 2022 it had 1 fire engine and staffed by 1 Watch Manager, 2 Crew Managers and up to 12 Firefighters.
During the first quarter of 1946 aged 19 he married Violet Cooper in Chesterfield and they later lived at 9 Slant Lane, Shirebrook, Mansfield.
On 8th February 1959, Frederick passed an examination in the Operation and Maintenance of Fire Pumps, this qualifying him to operate the equipment. He was also a member of the Fire Brigades Union No R6/2546
In 1963 he was part of Shirebrook North Team A, coming second in the three men hydrant drill at the Sheffield divisional fire-fighting competition, organised by British Rail (East). He received a small trophy to commemorate the achievement.
Kenneth’s father, Robert died in 1969 and Phyllis remarried to Oliver Harrison in 1972 and again to Frank John Foottit in 1990, following Oliver’s death in 1985.
Kenneth was awarded his Fire Brigade Long Service Medal in about 1964 and on 22nd August 1969 was promoted to part-time retained Leading Fireman attached to Shirebrook Station.
In addition to the Fire Service and possibly as part of it as a first aid trainer, he was a member of the St John Ambulance Brigade being awarded the Service Medal of the Order and later appointed as a Serving Brother, this appearing in the London Gazette of 26th April 1977.
Kenneth died aged 77 during the second quarter of 2004 in Chesterfield Derbyshire.
At the time of the 1939 Register, Kenneth aged 13 and Clarence were living with their mother at 60 Austin Street, Blackwell, Derbyshire. Robert was not shown on the register maybe having been embodied before the beginning of World War II later the same year.
Following his education and possibly during World War II when aged 18, Frederick joined the National Fire Service, later Derbyshire Fire Service. He later became a Retained Fireman number 3498, based at Shirebrook Fire Station, an On-Call station, predominantly responding to incidents in and around Shirebrook as well as the surrounding areas. In 2022 it had 1 fire engine and staffed by 1 Watch Manager, 2 Crew Managers and up to 12 Firefighters.
During the first quarter of 1946 aged 19 he married Violet Cooper in Chesterfield and they later lived at 9 Slant Lane, Shirebrook, Mansfield.
On 8th February 1959, Frederick passed an examination in the Operation and Maintenance of Fire Pumps, this qualifying him to operate the equipment. He was also a member of the Fire Brigades Union No R6/2546
In 1963 he was part of Shirebrook North Team A, coming second in the three men hydrant drill at the Sheffield divisional fire-fighting competition, organised by British Rail (East). He received a small trophy to commemorate the achievement.
Kenneth’s father, Robert died in 1969 and Phyllis remarried to Oliver Harrison in 1972 and again to Frank John Foottit in 1990, following Oliver’s death in 1985.
Kenneth was awarded his Fire Brigade Long Service Medal in about 1964 and on 22nd August 1969 was promoted to part-time retained Leading Fireman attached to Shirebrook Station.
In addition to the Fire Service and possibly as part of it as a first aid trainer, he was a member of the St John Ambulance Brigade being awarded the Service Medal of the Order and later appointed as a Serving Brother, this appearing in the London Gazette of 26th April 1977.
Kenneth died aged 77 during the second quarter of 2004 in Chesterfield Derbyshire.
Kenneth Coggan’s award shields as part of Shirebrook North Team A, coming second in the three men hydrant drill at the Sheffield divisional fire-fighting competition, organised by British Rail (East) 1963.
Left:
FIRE FIGHTING COMP WINNERS B.R.(E) 1963 K.D.COGGAN A.YOUD |
Right:
K.D.COGGAN FIRE FIGHTING COMP RUNNERS-UP B. R. (E) 1963 |
The Story The medal trio awarded to Frederick Dale Coggan were acquired from Johnny Sparrow at the Stratford Upon Avon Medal Fair on Sunday 30th October 2022.
They were of interest because of the unusual double long service combination, not often seen, of the Fire Brigade Long Service Medal and Service Medal of the Order of St John.
Additionally, the Serving Brother of the Order of St John together with some paperwork and ephemera that came with the group helped seal the deal.
The unusual name enabled a brief biography to be compiled from Ancestry.UK and the London Gazette.
Another interesting addition to the double long service theme within this collection.
They were of interest because of the unusual double long service combination, not often seen, of the Fire Brigade Long Service Medal and Service Medal of the Order of St John.
Additionally, the Serving Brother of the Order of St John together with some paperwork and ephemera that came with the group helped seal the deal.
The unusual name enabled a brief biography to be compiled from Ancestry.UK and the London Gazette.
Another interesting addition to the double long service theme within this collection.
- Serving Brother of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: LDG.FIREMAN .KENNETH D.COGGAN
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
Page last updated 3 Nov 22
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