KOR’s investigative skills bring rural estate's World War II story to life

When Kate Teacher of the Hadlow Estate in Kent, a client of KOR since 2020, stumbled on an incredible Battle of Britain story right on her doorstep, she turned to KOR Communications to help investigate and uncover the fascinating details.

Kate had read about a spectacular Spitfire crash on Estate land in October 1940, as the RAF fought with the Luftwaffe over South East England amid fears of an imminent Nazi invasion. 

Kate wanted to pinpoint the exact location of the crash, which she found reported in a three-line entry in her copy of a wartime record book. Her aim was to have a memorial plaque erected at the spot where the iconic World War II British fighter aircraft had come down.

When the KOR team began looking into the story their journalistic curiosity and tenacity proved invaluable in uncovering more details of a truly remarkable and moving tale of wartime courage – mixed with a large portion of almost unbelievable good luck.

Arianne Smart, KOR account manager, said: “KOR’s brief was to create a local media campaign to help uncover new information.  This linked to the Hadlow Estate’s strategic vision, supporting the local community and respecting the Estate’s history.

“The team used their skills to thoroughly investigate the story behind this fascinating piece of history and get the result that the client wanted.”

Details emerged of how New Zealand-born RAF Spitfire pilot Bob Spurdle cheated death after his aircraft came under fire from an enemy ME109 fighter, during a desperate dogfight. His plane was hit but Pilot Officer Spurdle, bailed out before his aircraft crashed into the Kent countryside.

Even as he parachuted to the ground, he came under further sustained fire from his German attacker – but was saved when his fellow RAF pilots shot down the enemy aircraft. Bob landed safely at Hadlow Place, Tonbridge, to the amazement of hop pickers, who rushed to his aid.

More than 80-years later, through coverage from a press release in local media publications including the Kent & Sussex Courier, Kent Messenger, Kent Online and BBC Radio Kent, a number of interested people got in touch. Local historian Mark Kirby contacted the Estate to offer support for the research.

Bob Spurdle passed away in 1994 but the campaign led to contact being made with his daughter and grandson in New Zealand.  KOR arranged a Zoom call between the Spurdle family members and Kate at the Hadlow Estate, which created another news story, issued via a news release and gaining coverage in the local press and on BBC local radio.

Recognising the potential for further positive coverage, KOR arranged for Bob Spurdle’s grandson James to record himself reading from Bob’s memoir, The Blue Arena, and arranged an interview with Kate at the Hadlow Estate, which made for a fascinating and colourful radio package for BBC Radio Kent.

The story will be complete when a plaque, to mark the spot where Bob Spurdle’s Spitfire came down, is unveiled in the Autumn of 2023.