Around eight years ago, shortly after the death of my Mother, we were visited by relatives from London. We hadn’t seen them for a long time. During their visit I was given what was said to be a piece of Armour Plate from a Hurricane. This was said to be from a Battle of Britain Hurricane and I was told that when it was purchased, 20 years or so before from a stall at an airshow, that there was a piece of paper with it originally stating which aircraft it was from. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find the paper but said they would pass it on if they ever found it.
A few pictures follow. I did post some a long time ago and I believe it was Tony Dyer who identified it as definitely being Hurricane and if I remember correctly it was a piece which fitted behind the seat.
This is what I imagine to be the front of the piece.
The back.
Close up of the lettering.
It’s not a very good photograph but I believe it reads something like the following:
ITEM2
X86AN
XK38
C101976
H LTD
1940
Hope that helps somebody out there with identification. It looks to me as though the piece has been involved in a fire but I’ll leave that to the experts.
Today, I received a letter out of the blue from my relatives who were writing to say they had moved. During the move they found this:
I have no idea of it’s authenticity except to say it came with the piece when purchased. If the name on the piece of paper received today, then sadly, this piece of armour plate is from Hurricane P2542 coded TP-D of 73 Squadron which was lost on the 14th September 1940 and crashed on Parkhouse Farm, Chart Sutton, just after 4.05pm. Sgt. John Joseph Brimble was killed.
From what I can gather, his name may have been listed on the Runnymede Memorial at some point but it also seems there were some remains buried in Sittingbourne, presumably at initial recovery and a later interrment of further remains in 1980 at Brookwood following a recovery of the aircraft and remains by Steve Vizard.
I want to make it clear from the outset that whether or not the armour plate is from Sgt. Brimble’s aircraft the piece is not for sale. If it can be definitely linked to Sgt. Brimble’s aircraft I would like to mount it along with a photograph of Sgt. Brimble and any other details which can be ascertained as a tribute to him and his colleagues.
Any information or advice on whether the armour plate and the story of Sgt. Brimble can be connected would be most welcome as would any information regarding the death of Sgt. Brimble and his subsequent recovery and burial in 1980.
Regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 29th July 2008 at 21:42
A bit rich for me at the moment Rob but certainly something to consider for the future.
Regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 29th July 2008 at 21:37
Andy.
Thanks for that.
Your PM box is still full. I believe you have to clear both incoming messages and sent ones.
Thanks,
kev35
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th July 2008 at 21:19
Kev
I think you should be able to pm me now.
Send me your mailing address and I will put a batch of stuff into the post for you. Have not forgotten your WW1 quest, either. If that is still outstanding I will see if I can look at it for you over the next week.
Am pleased that the armour from Sgt Brimble’s Hurricane has surfaced and is in good hands. If I recall, the recovery was on 14 September 1980….forty years to the day after the event. As it happens, an account of the recovery and of Sgt Brimble will appear in a book I am currently working on for Grub Street and due to be published in 2009.
There is a painting by Geoff Nutkins called “Missing” and this depicts Sgt Brimble’s Hurricane going down. I think Geoff produces and markets a print of it. At least, he did.
Andy
By: dezz - 29th July 2008 at 21:15
Hello Kev, I cant believe it was 2003 that I tried to help you find the aircraft your bit of armour plate came from, and couldn’t (usless $h1te that I am). I am so glad that you now know the identity of both the pilot and his aeroplane. Although Im not a regular poster here I am a regular reader, and it’s guys like yourself, Mr Saunders, Tony d and lot’s of others here who’s dogged persistence, through research, book writing, recovering, archiving or whatever keep the memory of the air war and the people who gave everything they had, alive and never to be forgotten.
Dezz
By: kev35 - 29th July 2008 at 21:01
Fred.
Rest assured that this will be treated with the utmost of respect and will be kept in the family.
After so long I never expected the piece of paper to turn up and then for Andy to more or less confirm the identity is really the icing on the cake. I shall ring your parents tomorrow to thank them for sending this on to me. It really is appreciated.
Regards,
kev35
By: bentwingbomber - 29th July 2008 at 20:24
Kev
So glad the piece of paper was found whilst i helped my parents move.
For many years as a child this armour plate sat at home.
Had no idea i would ever see it again
Regards from us all
fred
By: kev35 - 29th July 2008 at 20:16
Firstly, a message for Andy. Could you please clear your PM box.
Secondly, the realisation that this artefact now is almost certainly attributable to a Battle of Britain casualty gives it even greater poignancy. I’ve always liked the piece but holding it in my hand and knowing that Sergeant John Joseph Brimble died in the aircraft of which this was just a small part has brought home to me, even more starkly should it have been necessary, exactly what so many of ‘The Few’ gave to ensure the continued freedom of Great Britain. It is a piece I shall always treasure.
Regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 29th July 2008 at 16:59
Andy.
Thank you so much for that. You obviously know that my next question is please, can you tell me more.
Thanks,
kev35
By: Arabella-Cox - 29th July 2008 at 16:53
Certainly this is one of the sheets of back armour for a Hurricane. It is certainly likely that it came from Sgt Brimble’s Hurricane (probably a friendly fire victim) and the handwriting on that label looks very familiar to me….I think I know who wrote it!
I have a large file relating to John Brimble. Coincidentally, I was at the recovery of the Hurricane almost thirty years ago.
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July 29, 2008 at 4:43 pm