Operation Colour Scheme involved the secret movement of 11,000 firemen and women, with over 1,200 appliances and equipment, from the north to the south of England, in readiness for the D-Day landings.
This was to deal with fires from the increased enemy bombing considered likely to result from reprisals and attempts to hinder the D-Day Landings.
To aid planning, England and Wales were split into 12 regions – with each region given a colour to represent the level of risk each region faced. East Sussex was part of number 31 Fire Force in region 12, a ‘Blue’ area, to be reinforced to above its maximum strength.
Operations included the use of fireboats called NABs (Naval Auxiliary Boats), which were converted vehicle landing boats. Four were stationed at Shoreham, five at Newhaven and two at Rye.
A Port Fire Office, staffed by Fire Service personnel was established at Newhaven and opened 20 December 1943; a sub-divisional control in the town was responsible for the fire control of the town and harbour, and also Seaford and Peacehaven.
Fortunately, the retaliation did not happen on the scale predicted, and the Fire Service units were withdrawn from military camps shortly afterwards.
The Keep holds a copy of ‘‘Operation Colour Scheme, an historical and pictorial record’ by Charles Birch OBE, Fire Force Commander, number 31 Fire Force (thekeep.info)’, by Charles Birch OBE, Fire Force Commander, which provides a descriptive narrative of the events. (Ref AMS7296-109).
Charles Birch was based at 31 Fire Force headquarters, Fairways, Dyke Road, Brighton.
A digitised copy of the publication is now also available on our online viewing platform.
The Keep brings together the archives and collections of the University of Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Record Office and Brighton & Hove Museums.