3-021-142 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Fire at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, [Berkshire], 1868. 'The fire...caused the entire destruction of one wing of the building. It was first discovered...[in] the left wing of the officers' quarters. The alarm-bell was at once rung...and efforts were made to extinguish the flames. The two engines belonging to the college...were found to be of very little service, and a messenger was dispatched to Aldershott Camp for assistance. Two fire engines...arrived within one hour of the alarm being given...It was then discovered that there was only sufficient water to keep one engine going, but the fire brigade went to work, while the superintendent and others devoted their attention to the saving of property. Most of the valuables were got out,...including a number of papers belonging to the Paymaster and Quartermaster. About four o'clock the roof began to fall in, and the flames burst forth anew; but, by the strenuous efforts of the brigade, the fire was got under shortly before six o'clock...Great complaint has been made of the insufficient protection against fire in the college, there being only two old engines kept on the premises, which are of very little service, in addition to which there is an insufficiency of water'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.