Scott, James

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Scott, James

Portrait of James Scott, chief officer of the Bradford City fire brigade, by John Sowden, 1917.

Sowden's note in notebooks -
'The popular Chief Officer of the Bradford City Fire Brigade James Scott, better known as `Jim' Scott, was born at Sedgwick, Westmoreland, in 1853, and came to Bradford in 1867. After serving his apprenticeship as joiner and carpenter he became an auxiliary member of the Bradford Fire Brigade in 1878, and joined the Bradford police Force in 1881, being stationed at Little Horton. In 1884 he re-joined the Fire Brigade with the rank of Sergeant, was promoted to be Superintendent in 1886, and on the retirement of Chief Constable Withers became Chief Officer. During his lengthy career he had many exciting experiences some of which are worthy of mention. In the first few years of his service he was instrumental in saving life at a fire in Ivegate; at the Prince's Theatre fire in 1878 he had two ribs broken; in 1893 he contracted smallpox while removing patients from the burning smallpox hospital in Scholemoor Cemetery; about 1904 he had two ribs broken at a fire at Dumb Mills, and as recently as 1916 he sustained very severe injuries as the result of explosions which occurred at a local munitions works. Thanks however to a vigorous constitution and a love for healthy outdoor exercises he is for his age a hale and hearty man. Chief Officer Scott is the recipient at the hands of King George the 5th of the King's Medal for fire service. He has travelled widely over the continent in search of information to see how the fire fighting was conducted abroad. He is a Member of Honour of the French, Belgian and Italian Fire Brigades federation.'

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-344