Robert
E.
Dukes

ROBERT E. DUKES was born in Camden on September 19, 1922 to Albert V. Dukes Sr. and his wife Barbara. By September of 1918 the family had moved to 3803 Westfield Avenue in East Camden. The elder Dukes was then out of work but shortly thereafter landed a job working as a record maker at the Victor Talking Machine Company. In 1920 he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. The Dukes family, which included younger brothers Charles and Robert, remained at 3803 Westfield Avenue through at least 1947. In February of 1938 older brother Albert V. Dukes Jr. joined his father as a member of the Camden Fire Department.

Robert Dukes served in the United States Navy  from December 28, 1942 until March 15, 1946. After returning home to Camden, Robert Dukes was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on March 24, 1947, and entered service on April 1. 

Robert Dukes' father, Albert V. Dukes Sr. and brother Albert V. Dukes Jr. were still with the Camden Fire Department at that time. Albert Jr. left the Fire Department on March 16, 1952. Robert Dukes was promoted to Captain on May 1, 1956. On February 16, 1962 Robert Dukes was again promoted, this time to the rank of Battalion Chief. When he retired from service on January 1, 1980 Robert Dukes had given over 30 years to the Camden Fire Department.

By late February of 1983 Robert E. Dukes had moved to Port Charlotte, Florida. He was still a resident of Port Charlotte when he passed away on August 4, 1997.

Camden Courier-Post
October 13, 1936

Albert Dukes Sr.
Harry McKee Leigh
Mrs. Elizabeth Savitz
Engine Company 9
West Jersey Hospital
River Avenue
North 26th Street
Westfield Avenue

Left column, from left: Captain William Deitz, Firemen Robert Dukes, 
Harrison Pike, Mario Fattore, Edwin Callahan. 
Right column, from left: Firemen Thomas McParland, Philip Farrow, 
Thomas Winstanley, James Stewart, Ernest Tartaglia, John "Shorty" Prucella

Click on Image to Enlarge - Click HERE to Supersize

Engine 6 Wagon and Pumper at Front & Linden Streets
circa 1949

On apparatus John Prucella and Harrison Pike- Motor Pump Operators, l to r: Philip Farrow, Edwin Callahan, Thomas McParland, Robert Dukes, Captain William Deitz, Thomas Winstanley, James Stewart, Mario Fattore, and Ernest Tartaglia 

Camden Courier-Post * August 19, 1957

Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course

More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter's first aid committee. 

Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.

All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include: 

Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNeir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.

Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.

Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.

Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Giuliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.

1964

From Left: Joseph Guarino - Edward V. Michalak 
Robert Dukes - Ervin Brennan

1964

From Left: Joseph Guarino - Edward V. Michalak 
Robert Dukes - Ervin Brennan

1965- On the occasion of Edward Michalak's appointment to Chief of Department (seated from left) retiring Chief of Department Edward MacDowell, Chief Edward Michalak, Director Keith Kauffman; (standing from left) District Chiefs Frank Deal, Joseph Guarino, Robert Dukes, Anthony Saponare, Theodore Primas, Daniel Jiannetto, Fireman Erwin Brennan, Major William Gwynne of the Volunteers of America Fire Canteen.- Photo by Bob Bartosz

Local 788
International Association of Fire Fighters
FIRE WATCH MAGAZINE * SPRING 1977

“A TIP O’ THE HELMET TO”……… Frank (Post-time) McGuckin and Fr. Marty Murray, of Ladder Co. 2, for the fine rescue of a trapped and unconscious child, performed at "all hands-Box #5213", transmitted at 0945 hours on 26 March, 1977 for a fire located at 1466 Kaighn Avenue. Quick action on the part of all units, and successful mouth to mouth resuscitation applied by Fr. McGuckin resulted in the saving of a life. Units operating at all hands-5213 were Engines 7 and 8, Ladder Co. 2, and the 2nd Battalion under the command of B.C. Bob Dukes. A job well done..

Camden Courier-Post - June 5, 1975

Heart Attack

A Camden fireman collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack early today after returning from the scene of a two-alarm fire that severely damaged a city warehouse.

A brother of the fireman died under similar circumstances at a fire scene in 1964.

Carmen Iannelli, 50, of 3061 Stevens Street, Camden, collapsed at No. 9 Engine Company headquarters at 27th and Federal Streets and was dead on arrival at Cooper Medical Center. Camden, at 2:50 a.m.

A 22-year veteran of the Camden Fire Department, Iannelli had been on the scene of a fire at the Pompas waste paper warehouse at 1300 Pine Street.

According to Battalion Fire Chief Robert Dukes, the fire broke out at 7:45 pm. and burned out of control until shortly before 10 p.m. There were no injuries at the scene, Dukes said, and the fire is under investigation by the Camden City Fire Marshal's office.

A hospital spokesmen said Iannelli died of an apparent heart attack.

His brother Leonard Iannelli Sr. collapsed at the scene of a fire at Broadway and Chestnut Street, January 14, 1964, He was 41 years old at the time.

Camden Fire Department - FIRE WATCH MAGAZINE, SPRING 1977

Camden Courier-Post - June 5, 1975