Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Station Officer Joseph Calderwood, Lanarkshire Fire Brigade, who died of injuries sustained whilst fighting a fire at Colvilles steelworks at Bellshill in January 1963

Defence Medal; Fire Brigade L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (Stn. Offr. Joseph Calderwood) in its named card box of issue; British Fire services Association, bronze medal for 10 years, with additional bronze ribbon bar (J. Calderwood) in box of issue, nearly extremely fine (3) £160-£200

A Commemorative plaque bearing the names of Assistant Firemaster Stanley McIntosh and Station Officer Joseph Calderwood who died as a result of the incident on Monday the 7th of January 1963 at Colvilles Limited, Mossend Works, Bellshill was unveiled 10-30am on Thursday the 8th of August, 1985, at Motherwell Fire Station.

The fire was a in Metal lean-to shed 20 feet by 8 feet used as a Paint Store and containing flammable liquids, paraffin, diesel, petrol, paint, etc., in containers 1 gallon to 4 gallons. 5 Appliances from Motherwell, Coatbridge and Hamilton attended. Apparently Deputy Firemaster McIntosh was showing new Firemaster (Firemaster John Stewart) round the stations in the area when they received a call about the fire and decided to attend the incident. When they arrived Station Officer Calderwood took them into the paint store; they were at the door when there was an explosion, the Firemaster was blown off his feet and saved by the heavy overcoat he was wearing, Deputy Firemaster McIntosh was killed and Station Officer Calderwood was seriously burned and died of his injuries a week later.