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 Colin Comber, 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.
Little could be found about this man. On both memorials he is recorded as Brian O'Connell Hutchins, but his full name was Peter Brian O'Connell Hutchins. His death was registered in the 1st quarter of 1968 in the Wandsworth registration district and his age was recorded as being 24 years. This would have meant he was born in either 1943 or 1944.
Probate records confirm that he died on 11 March 1968 and that his address had been Flat 2, Acton Fire Station, 27 Gunnersbury Lane, London W.3. Administration of his estate was granted on 30 July 1968 and his effects totalled £10,692.
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.
