Hungarian fireguard mementoes

Összefoglaló

A thousand years have passed since the first Hungarian king, Saint Stephen, codified fire protection. Five hundred years later student fire brigades were formed, among the first in the world, in famous college towns and cities like Debrecen, Marosvásárhely, Nagyenyed, Sárospatak and Kecskemét. In 1848, hearing their country's call, they put down their fire extingushing tools and took up sword and guns instead to fight for freedom as honvéd soldiers along with their teachers. Those who did not fall in battle went back to teach and study, and later established firemen's associations. On the initaiative of Ödön Széchenyi - son of the "greatest Hungarian," Count István Széchenyi - firemen's associations were united into one organisation, the Hungarian Firemen's Union. In the Carpathian Basin -in the smallest villages and big cities alike - patriots joined forces to help immediately with fires, and catastrophes of all kinds. Their outward appearance reflected their moral strenght: ornamented helmets, uniforms, flags and medals. Not to mention their faith, as Saint Florian, their patron helped them. Our photo album is dedicated to the memory of these great people.