Person    | Male  Died 11/3/1968

Fireman Peter Brian O’Connell Hutchins

Fireman Peter Brian O’Connell Hutchins

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.

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 Peter Brian O’Connell Hutchins

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

Horace William Field

Horace William Field

Member of the ARP/Civil Defence Services - stretcher bearer. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Horace William Field was born 13 March 1890 in Limehouse, the 3rd of the seven children...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Florence Tyler

Florence Tyler

Member of the ARP/Civil Defence Services - nurse. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: Born Florence Fairbairn on 18 November 1894 in Poplar, the daughter of William Fairbairn (1856-190...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
J. Slack

J. Slack

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
Mrs E. McCaffrey

Mrs E. McCaffrey

Lady District Officer in the St John Ambulance Brigade, No. 1 District, 1918-1942. Serving Sister in the Order of St John.

Person, Emergency Services, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
A. J. Perry

A. J. Perry

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

Helena Fedorowicz

Helena Fedorowicz

N4, Finsbury Park

This was originally a well-designed and substantial monument. Both sides of the base are convex and Wikipedia have a photo, November 2007...

2 subjects commemorated
Royal Institute of British Architects

Royal Institute of British Architects

From the RIBA website: "RIBA Awards are given for buildings that have high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to the local environment. The awards are annual, and have been...

Group, Architecture

2 memorials
Sir Oswald Stoll

Sir Oswald Stoll

Theatre manager impresario. Born Melbourne, Australia. Moved when young to England and helped his mother manage a music hall in Liverpool. Very successful and merged with his competitor to form the...

Person, Theatre, Australia

2 memorials
Stanley Arthur Heaps

Stanley Arthur Heaps

Architect. He designed a number of stations on the London Underground system, including the stations on the Edgware extension of the Northern Line, as well as train depots and bus and trolleybus ga...

Person, Architecture, Transport

5 memorials
Chas. T. Abbott

Chas. T. Abbott

Resident of the West Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial