Description:Unlike other departments, the Watch Committee also recorded the stock value of their horses when purchased. It would appear that committee officials frequently paid more than the stock value, suggesting the horses were probably purchased at auctions. After just over half a decade of service a horse’s stock value could decrease by half, suggesting the impact of the physical work the horses were made to do, and the committee generally made back half of what they purchased the animal for when they sold them on. In recognition of the contribution of horse power to the economic life of the city the Council even organised an annual Horse Parade every May Day, the first one of which took place in 1934.
Photo of Erdington Fire Brigade by P. Dickson.