at 1:45 pm on friday 23 july 1943 nurse doris irene mitchell went to the air-raid shelter where brown's bath chair was kept. she found that the door was locked from the inside and upon returning with mrs brown they met eric brown, then aged 19, coming out. eric was irritated and evasive. both women took the wheeled chair to the house and helped archibald to get in. brown was dressed in pyjamas and a dressing gown and was covered with a plaid travelling rug. mitchell took archibald brown out of the house. after walking for about a mile, brown had shifted his weight apparently while feeling for a cigarette in his pocket. mitchell, having stopped to light the cigarette returned to the back of the chair and pushed it forward. within half a dozen paces there was a violent explosion. mitchell suffered leg injuries and as far as she could see brown and his bath chair had completely disappeared. the police found portions of the body at the side of the road and in nearby trees and gardens.