Person    | Male  Born 1925  Died 11/3/1968

Fireman Colin Comber

Fireman Colin Comber

Called to attend a fire in a restaurant in the King’s Road, Chelsea, he entered the building in breathing apparatus, along with his colleague Fireman Peter Brian O'Connell Hutchins, to locate the seat of the fire. Once inside, both men were engulfed in an ‘explosive flashover’. (a rolling ball of flame). They were rushed to a specialist burns unit, but unfortunately both died.

The date given on the Highgate Cemetery memorial is 11 March 1968 but, confusingly, on the Chelsea Firefighters memorial 8 March 1968 is given. Hutchins and Comber were both injured in tackling the fire at Peter Evans Eating House at 65 King's Road, Chelsea on 8 March 1968 and both died in the burns unit at Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton Lane, London, SW15, on 11 March 1968.

Colin Comber was the younger son of James Comber (1891-1969) and Ethel Maud Rebecca Comber née McLeod (1893-1958). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1925 in the Epsom registration district, Surrey. His father was a postman. His elder brother was James Frederick Comber (1921-1968).

He married Josephine May Davis (1928-2009) in the 2nd quarter of 1949 in the Surrey Mid Eastern registration district and the birth of their son Glenn Comber was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1951 in the Surrey Mid Eastern registration district. Electoral registers from 1955 show him and his wife listed at 19 Ottways Lane, Ashtead, Surrey and telephone directories from 1961 until his death confirm that this was his address.

Probate records confirm that he died, aged 42 years, on 11 March 1968 but that his address was shown, incorrectly, as 10 Ottways Lane, Ashtead. Probate was granted on 12 June 1968 and his effects totalled £4,192.

He is also commemorated on the National Firefighters Memorial at Sermon Lane, London, E.C.4 and in the Firefighters Memorial Trust's Book of Remembrance.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Fireman Colin Comber

Commemorated ati

Chelsea Firefighters

This plaque is in the same style as others erected by Firemen Remembered, alt...

Read More

Highgate Cemetery - Fire - L06 - Hutchins & Comber

Fm. Brian O'Connell Hutchins, Fm. Colin Comber. 11.3.68, Kings Road, SW3.

Read More

Other Subjects

T/Sub. O.Michael W. Gamble

T/Sub. O.Michael W. Gamble

Fireman killed in the Dudgeon's Wharf explosion. Andrew Behan has researched Gamble: Temporary Sub Officer Michael William Gamble was born on 20 August 1940. On 17 July 1969 he was attached to Fir...

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

3 memorials
Walter J. Woodland

Walter J. Woodland

Leading Fireman killed as a result of an air raid on Old Palace School, Bow, E3 on 20 April 1941. The photo shows Woodlands as a private in the Royal Army Service Corps during WW1. Our colleague A...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
J. C. Hillman

J. C. Hillman

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial
Thomas John Snowden

Thomas John Snowden

Auxiliary fireman killed in an air raid on Poplar

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
H. W. Cooper

H. W. Cooper

Either lost his life, or gave distinguished service to the London Fire Brigade, and was buried in the Highgate Cemetery plot between 1884 and 1955.

Person, Emergency Services

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Joseph Simms at St John's

Joseph Simms at St John's

EC1, St John's Lane, 33, Watchmaker Court

The plaques read left to right chronological by birth date. We've taken the dates on each plaque to be date of birth and date of death bu...

1 subject commemorated
Marylebone Assoc. for Improving the Dwellings of the Ind. Classes

Marylebone Assoc. for Improving the Dwellings of the Ind. Classes

NW1, Lisson Grove, 111

We cannot explain what this plaque is doing here. The MAIDIC is mentioned in the London Gazette of 12/6/1928 in connection with the land...

1 subject commemorated
Well-head from House of Commons

Well-head from House of Commons

NW3, Antrim Grove, Antrim Gardens

This plaque is affixed to the top of the stonework of the well-head. Andrew Behan found two Lionel Barnetts living in the Hampstead area...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators