The City of London experienced its first air raid of the war on the night of Saturday/Sunday, August 24-25, 1940. A number of high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped, and a big fire was started in a warehouse block which received a direct hit. The fire was prevented from spreading by the London Fire Brigade and the A.F.S. This spectacular photograph was taken when the raid was still in progress. This was the first real test under war conditions to which the press paid particularly high tributes to the A.F.S, women and girls, who stuck to their posts like heroinesA.F.S women and girls, who stuck to their posts like heroines.