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This sign is very evocative of times past where there were many such to be seen in cities which experienced major air raids during WW2. Now 70 years ago! The sign indicates an emergency water supply kept in a tank or chamber of some sort which would be available for fighting fires by the London Fire Brigade or Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) during air raids. The sign shown indicates a supply of 5000 gallons which would not be a lot of use in a major incident but it would buy time for the fire fighters to extend their hoses to a hydrant perhaps in another street if the local water main had been destroyed by a high explosive bomb.

The worst of the fire storms which engulfed much of the City happened when the Fire Brigade lost all water supplies due to H.E. bombs at a time when the tide was at its lowest in the Thames. It has been said that this was a deliberate tactic by the German High Command, but who knows?

Many emergency water supply (EWS) as they were known remained for long after the war was over. Often called Static Water Tanks they were formed of cleared out cellars or basements of bombed buildings which were patched up with concrete and coats of tar to keep the water from leaking away.

A huge number of small fires were started in buildings by small incendiary bombs which were heavy enough to penetrate roofing, often finishing up in the rooms below with the inevitable result.

To help combat burning, incendiary bombs people were issued with so-called stirrup-pumps which were provided with a short length of hose with a nozzle attached to direct water to the spluttering bomb. The pump, which theoretically could be operated by one person brave enough to use it, was comprised of a hand plunger within a metal tube which sucked water from an immediately adjacent bucket, the whole contraption being steadied by by a foot on the stirrup which was fixed to the bottom of the device. The value of this arrangement diminished when the Luftwaffe designed their incendiaries to explode after they had been burning for awhile.

Altogether, a good idea to avoid wars or perhaps give up smoking!

The Triumph Twenty One (also known as the 3TA) was a British motorcycle made by Triumph Engineering Co Ltd in Coventry. The Model Twenty One was the first of the Triumph unit construction twin cylinder motorcycles. Rebranded as the Triumph 3TA in 1959 it continued in production until 1966 when it was replaced by the Triumph T90.

Launched in 1957 the Model Twenty One was the first of the Triumph unit construction twin cylinder motorcycles from the Meriden factory. With a capacity of 349 cc, the engine was a classic Edward Turner design with a 360 degree crankshaft, twin gear driven camshafts and twin plunger oil pump. The cylinder block was cast iron with an alloy head and separate rocker boxes. The engine was dry sump lubrication and there was a single Amal Monobloc carburettor. Drive was by a conventional four speed gearbox, with a right hand gear lever.[2]

There are two explanations for the 'Twenty One' name spelt out in full on the side panels. The first explanation is that it celebrates the twenty-first anniversary of Triumph Engineering Co Ltd. The second explanation is that the important US export market rated motorcycle engine displacement in cubic inches and 21 cubic inches equates to 350 cc.[3]
1957 Triumph 'Twenty One'

In 1959 the Twenty One was rebranded the Triumph 3TA and also produced as a 500 cc version, the Triumph 5TA, which was also referred to as the 'new Speed Twin'. The 'A' designation was a reference to the fact that both motorcycles were fitted with an alternator as standard, as the pre-unit models had been fitted with a Dynamo. The original versions of both the 350 cc and 500 cc models had the fully enclosed rear end which was fashionable in the late 1950s.[3] It was not popular with American customers, where the extra weather protection was less important however, and it got called the 'bathtub'. They also found that the extra sheet metal made access for servicing more complicated.[4]

The 3TA and the 5TA both continued in production until 1966 when were succeeded by the T90 and T100 respectively.