Incredibly Brave’ Ula, 102, Honoured For Wartime Civil Defence 80 Years On
An ‘incredibly brave’ 102-year-old veteran of the wartime Auxiliary Fire Service has been officially honoured for risking her life to save others during the terrifying Bristol Blitz.
Great great-grandmother Ula Rigg was the centre of attention as a regional fire chief awarded her a World War Two Defence medal ‘recognising her war effort for the Civil Defence’.
The ceremony, which was kept as a surprise from her until the last moment, took place at Colten Care’s Salisbury care home Braemar Lodge where Ula has lived for the past three years.
Ula’s daughter Debbie told her there was ‘something happening downstairs’ and brought her down from her bedroom.
On entering the home’s foyer, Ula was ‘clapped in’ by a gathering of family, friends, uniformed fire service personnel, fellow residents and Braemar Lodge team members, with clear sight of a fire tender parked outside.
The Chief Fire Officer of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, Andy Cole, spoke of her ‘incredible bravery’ as he presented the medal on behalf of firefighters in Avonmouth where Ula was based in the war.”
Debbie, who had applied for the ‘long overdue’ award for her mother, said:
“To see her sitting there and receiving the medal brought tears to my eyes. I knew how much it would mean to mum after 80 years.”
Chief Fire Officer Cole said:
“It was an honour to present the Defence medal on behalf of my colleagues at Avon Fire & Rescue Service recognising Ula’s war effort for the Civil Defence. It was incredible to listen to her talk about her wartime service and experiences during the time she served for the Auxiliary Fire Service in Avonmouth. At a time when the public were sheltering from the bombing during the Blitz, Ula demonstrated incredible bravery, supporting the war effort by ensuring vital communications were in place across Bristol. Ula explained she will always remember witnessing many tragic events and great devastation but also spoke fondly of happier memories working in the Fire Service. Her service is something both Ula and her family are rightly extremely proud of, and I’m delighted it has been recognised with this award.”
Graham Ballard, Companionship Team Leader at Braemar Lodge, said:
“Ula was working above ground when others were underground. She helped to make sure people and resources were protected and fire services were in the right locations to tackle fires caused by the bombs. She is a truly remarkable lady and was clearly thrilled with her presentation.”
Ula’s Defence medal has been specially engraved with the name and image of King George VI, the monarch at the time of the war.
