Remembering a Sunderland air raid hero ahead of Remembrance Parade

With preparations well underway for this year’s Remembrance Parade in Durham, organisers have been shining the spotlight on stories of gallantry.

One such story is that of Thomas Bruce, one of the first fire fighters to be awarded the George Medal

Superintendent Thomas Bruce of Sunderland Fire Brigade was awarded the honour in recognition of his gallant conduct when a German Bomber crashed in Suffolk Street, Hendon, destroying a shop and dwellings on the night of 5/6th September, 1940.

After receiving the emergency call, Thomas raced to the rescue and led the operations to dig under the debris and rescue three people trapped in a burning air-raid shelter.

He was confronted with a scene of total devastation. A shop and house had been destroyed by the impact of the aeroplane, two dwellings were well alight, and the Stormont family were trapped in their now blazing air-raid shelter, which was covered in debris from both the Heinkel bomber and the damaged buildings.

On the completion of this arduous and courageous rescue, John Stormont was brought out injured, his daughter Jean had sustained leg injuries and later had both hands amputated, and Mrs Rachel Stormont was found to be dead.

All of the Luftwaffe aircrew were killed, and were afforded a military funeral by the personnel of nearby Royal Air Force Usworth (now the site of the Nissan motor-car plant).

On 1st April 1948 Thomas Bruce GM was appointed the first Chief Fire Officer of the Borough of Sunderland, after having become a fireman in 1925, then serving as the Superintendent of the Borough Police Fire Brigade from 1939 to 1941, and as Assistant Fire Force Commander for No. 1 Region of the National Fire Service.

Bruce was the only senior fire officer in the UK to regain his command position with Sunderland Borough Fire Brigade after the service was returned to local authority control.

He was awarded the King’s Police & Fire Service Medal in 1952 for his outstanding service, and took up an appointment in Egypt in 1955 as Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Ismalia, where, during the Suez Crisis of 1956, he was imprisoned for fifty two days.

Durham Remembrance Parade

Preparations for this year’s Durham City Remembrance parade are well underway with thousands of members of the public expected to line the route of the parade from the Cathedral through the Market Place after 11:30 am on Remembrance Sunday, November 8.

There will be a short service of Remembrance at the DLI statue in the Market Place so that the crowds gathering early for the march-past might be a part of the occasion and mark the Great Silence at 11am.

This parade will be led by the Rifles proud successor to the Light Infantry and Durham Light Infantry, who are the biggest infantry regiment in the British Army having five regular and three reserve battalions.

The history of the Rifles can be traced through 13 regimental lineages, enhanced by an incredible 913 battle honours and the award of 117 Victoria Crosses, including eleven to members of the Durham Light Infantry.

The Rifles will march through Durham city centre at an exhilarating 140 paces per minute.

The Riflemen on parade will proudly wear many of the traditions of early regiments, such as the Inkerman whistle and chain awarded to the Durham Light Infantry, the ribbon of the French Croix de Guerre of the Devon and Dorsets, and the back cap badge of the Sphinx won by the Gloucester regiment – the ‘Glorious Glosters’. As a Rifle regiment they carry no Colours, and have their Battle Honours shown on their belt buckle of their uniform, and orders are given by Bugle calls.

All five regiments of Foot Guards ie Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh will be represented on parade by Guards Training Company of the Infantry Training Centre, including a detachment from 1st Battalion Scots Guards.

The Scots Guards served with great distinction in the battle of Mount Tumbledown during the war to liberate the Falkland Islands in 1982. They will be joined by Parachute Regiment Training Company.

On parade will be the Tri-service Joint Hospital Group North, Royal Army Medical Services, Military Intelligence, Royal Military Police and 607 (County of Durham) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force from RAF Leeming.

Fire Service Standard Bearers from a number UK Fire Services will converge on Durham for the weekend of Remembrance, as will a number NATO and Commonwealth military officers, nursing staff from the University Hospital of North Durham will also be on parade.

Durham Constabulary and HM Prison Service will provide strong detachments on parade.

The Salute will be taken by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant fr County Durham Brigadier Mike Butterwick CBE, the Right Worshipful Mayor of Durham Councillor Amanda Hopgood, the Chair of the Parish Council of Durham City Councillor Susan Walker and representatives of all three armed services.

The people of Durham and beyond are invited to come along and cheer His Majesty’s Forces past, present and future as we pay our respects.