The son of a Second World War fireman who battled blazes during the Blitz is trying to find out more information about his late father.

Alan Bengall was inspired to learn more about his dad David – who lived and worked later in life on the Isle of Sheppey – following Remembrance Sunday and is hoping to speak to people who knew him during his time in the service.

The 76-year-old said his father did not speak too much about his experiences in the war and he and his brother never asked questions they wish they should have to know more about his life.

David died when he was 64, on February 23, 1978, after having a heart attack in a lay-by on the A21 near Hastings.

Son Alan said: "It is one of those things, when he went to talk about it, we were too young to listen. This is when you look back and regret not taking more notice.

"His story will be among thousands of other stories that can be told. Unfortunately it is the old chestnut about not asking those questions, I now would like the answers.

"I think sometimes we do not mention what happened back in London and the people here. They were just as important."

David Angus Bengall was born on December 8, 1913 in Tynemouth, North Shields, to a poor family and had three brothers and a sister.

In his early teens, he left to join the merchant navy. He then joined the London Fire Brigade and served during the Second World War.

Alan said: "One of the stories he did talk about was sending his pay home for his parents to save for him, but because they were so poor, they used his savings to survive on, so he came home to no money."

After the war, he became a Sub Officer in the fire service in Beckenham.

"He somehow got involved in a strike," said Alan, who lives in Parsonage Chase, Minster. "He eventually took the exam to become an assistant divisional officer (ADO) as the time had come for a promotion. But because of the strike action, they kept him down in the ranks."

He then moved to St Georges Avenue, Sheerness, in 1960, and joined the Sheppey station as an officer.

He was later promoted to a ADO and was on duty the day a train crashed through the station in 1971 which killed Joyce Carr and injured several others.

Alan recalled: "He went under the train to talk to someone that was trapped. That stuck in his mind.

"The early days were quite hard that is why he went away to sea," Alan said. "He was well liked on the Island. He was a very fair person. He used to do my homework for me.

"People always seemed to go to him for support and he would do his utmost for them. It took me 10 years to get over his death."

David had two sons and married his wife Joan on December 3, 1939.

Alan believes his family may have originally come from a village near Lockerbie, Scotland.

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