The Fouling Of The Ranks

The role of London's taxicabs during World War Two and how they were converted into fire-engines for the defence of London during the Blitz is well told - but what of the taxi drivers? In the thousands of words written about the war-time taxis, no one has ever mentioned by name a single driver who died as a result of enemy action.

From the Munich Crisis when their biggest worry was unlicensed competition, to struggling to work and earn a living in the Blackout and with a meagre ration of petrol. Then came the Blitz, the mini-Blitz and the V-weapons and taxi drivers were killed in their homes, in shelters and in their taxis.

They were killed in Europe, Africa and Asia. They died at sea, they died in the air.

During the height of the Blitz, Vera Brittain regaled London's taxi drivers for defying the bombs and risking death by working through the raids. Finally, after eighty years, Vera's wish that the role of the drivers would be chronicled has finally come to fruition.

We will remember them.