Oxfordshire County Fire Service was formed in 1948 after the N.F.S (National Fire Service) was disbanded. It remained in force until changing its badge title to “ Oxfordshire Fire Service “ in 1974 when Oxfordshire County Fire Service absorbed Oxford City County Borough Fire Brigade in the new Government Fire Services Act of that year. The title changed to Oxfordshire Fire Service & the cap badge changed from a “shield & scroll” type badge to a “coat of arms” style.
Oxfordshire dates back to Saxon Times, deriving it’s name from the Saxon word “ Oxenaforda “ meaning ford of the oxen. Shortly after the Norman invasion of 1066 Oxford Castle was erected, the City is also widely accepted as being one of the oldest learning institutes, Oxford University was built in 12th Century & has become one of the most famous in the world! It is also a large county of over 2,605 kilometers square, its main centre is Oxford City but has many large towns like Bicester, Banbury, Henley on Thames, Kidlington, Abingdon & Didcot where the large power stations are situated.
This Oxfordshire Fire Service 1974 to 2004 cap badge is an original issued cap badge manufactured by J.R Gaunt, London badge makers. The badge is in perfect condition & is the gilt plate finish issue, there is a base metal finish version of this cap badge also, the enamel centre fixed to the standard Gaunt economy issue home office star via short central horizontal prongs folding outwards through the slit in the centre of the star. The cap fixing lugs are strong & sturdy to the rear of the cap badge & overall condition of this retro Oxfordshire Fire Service post 74 badge is excellent, a nice original obsolete cap badge to add to any fire service cap badge collection.