History Extra Podcast Episode Summary: "Murder in WW2 London"

Release Date: January 27, 2025
Host: Immediate Media
Guest: Professor Amy Helen Bell, Author of Undercover Cover of Darkness: Murder in Blackout London*

1. Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Murder in WW2 London," the History Extra podcast delves into the shadowed streets of wartime London, exploring a series of heinous crimes that unfolded amidst the chaos of the Blitz. Hosted by Immediate Media and featuring Professor Amy Helen Bell, the discussion unveils how the Second World War's tumultuous backdrop provided fertile ground for serial killers and violent crimes, challenging the widely held notion of unwavering Blitz spirit.

2. The Atmosphere in London at the Outbreak of War (01:45 - 03:15)

Professor Bell sets the stage by transporting listeners to September 1939, the onset of World War II. She describes London as a city enveloped in "intense anxiety and fear," even before the war was officially declared. The implementation of blackouts, the evacuation of children, and the pervasive uncertainty created an environment of "unbearable tension."

"It was a period of a lot of changes and intense anxiety... unbearable tension would be how I would characterize that period." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (02:30)

The early days were marked by fear of imminent bombing, influenced by recent events like the Spanish Civil War. The false alarm siren that sounded shortly after the declaration of war only amplified the populace's terror, as the anticipated German bombings did not materialize immediately, leading to prolonged periods of stress without immediate release.

3. Impact of Blackouts and Evacuations on Communities (03:15 - 05:12)

As the war progressed, the Blitz began in September 1940, bringing actual bombings that killed approximately 43,000 people across Britain. However, alongside the aerial assaults, a darker menace emerged: a surge in violent crimes and serial killings that exploited the chaotic wartime conditions.

Professor Bell discusses heart-wrenching cases of "mercy killings" where individuals, overwhelmed by fear and separation from loved ones, took their own lives alongside their children. One poignant example involves Pamela and Lily Wright, where Lily, an 11-year-old girl, succumbed to anxiety over her father's enforced absence, leading to a tragic double-fatality gas incident.

"It's a very tragic story... she was so worried about the Germans coming." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (04:45)

These acts underscored the severe emotional toll the war took on families, compounded by the inability to openly express fear and grief due to societal expectations of resilience.

4. Mercy Killings and Emotional Struggles (05:12 - 06:16)

The repression of emotions during the war led to extreme actions. Professor Bell highlights instances where individuals, unable to cope with fear and separation, turned to violence against those they loved. One such case involved an ARP rescue worker in the East End who strangled his mother to spare her from the despair of not reaching a shelter in time.

"There's a sense that within the trial themselves, the victims are really there just as objects... they cease to be people." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (05:30)

These stories reveal how the psychological strain of wartime life could distort familial bonds, resulting in tragic outcomes fueled by suppressed emotions.

5. The Blitz and Shifts in Public Mindset (06:16 - 07:29)

With the commencement of the Blitz, Londoners experienced both relief and heightened tension. On one hand, there was solace in collective courage as bombings directly impacted their lives. On the other, the physical devastation of the city—filled with shelters, ruins, and strangers—created opportunities for illicit activities and crimes.

Professor Bell notes that the breakdown of social structures during the Blitz allowed criminal elements to flourish, taking advantage of the darkness and destruction to conceal their activities.

"What we see in the first period of the war is this anxiety and fear coming out, often against the people that you love the most." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (06:50)

6. Challenges Faced by Police During Wartime (07:29 - 09:07)

Law enforcement during WWII grappled with unprecedented challenges. The police force was severely understaffed, declining from 4,000 officers in 1939 to half that number by 1945 due to conscription and enlistment. Efforts to bolster the force through war reserve policemen provided some relief, but the workload remained overwhelming.

Professor Bell explains that the police prioritized cases with definitive evidence of foul play, often sidelining missing person reports due to the sheer number of casualties and uncertainties of war times.

"They really focus primarily on cases in which they really believe there has been foul play." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (08:30)

This shift meant that many crimes, especially those involving disappearances without clear evidence, went unresolved.

7. Serial Killers in London During WWII (09:07 - 14:58)

Amidst the war's chaos, London became a hunting ground for serial killers who exploited the disrupted societal norms and infrastructure.

Gordon Cummins: The Blackout Ripper (09:27 - 11:13)

Gordon Cummins, known posthumously as the "Blackout Ripper," was one of three serial killers active in London during the war. Cummins, a respected aircraftsman with no prior history of violence, embarked on a killing spree in 1942, targeting women under the cover of darkness.

Professor Bell details how Cummins leveraged his military uniform to gain trust, making it difficult for authorities to trace him until a lucky escape by Greta Haywood led to his identification through forensic evidence tied to his belongings.

"It's okay to use that term when women weren't really being killed, just their clothes being slashed... not during the war when women are actually being murdered." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (10:45)

John Christie: The Notorious Murderer (12:35 - 14:58)

Another infamous criminal, John Christie, operated during and after the war, murdering numerous women in his Notting Hill flat. Utilizing his role as a wartime special constable, Christie concealed his crimes effectively, hiding bodies in bomb sites and under the cover of night.

Professor Bell discusses Christie's tactical use of empty air raid shelters and densely populated areas to commit and hide his murders, a method that allowed him to evade capture until years later.

"It's a way to garner trust during wartime that other occupations maybe would not have." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (10:57)

These serial killers highlight how wartime London's unique conditions facilitated criminal endeavors that might not have been possible in peacetime.

8. Influx of Foreign Troops and Racial Violence (14:58 - 25:03)

The war brought a significant influx of foreign troops to London, including African American soldiers, Jamaican airmen, and servicemen from various Allied nations. This demographic shift led to increased racial tensions and violent crimes rooted in prejudice.

Philip Berry Case (21:15 - 25:03)

One notable case involves Philip Berry, who in 1945 fatally shot a drunken Dutch merchant seaman, Pervin, after enduring racist abuse. Despite initial adversity in the courtroom, changing racial attitudes began to influence legal outcomes, leading to Berry's sentence being commuted from death to life imprisonment.

"He wasn't going to put up with that abuse." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (24:15)

This case exemplifies the evolving recognition of racism as a provoking factor in violent crimes, reflecting broader societal changes during and after the war.

Rise in Racially Motivated Crimes

Professor Bell underscores that racial violence was not an isolated phenomenon. Multiple incidents of racist abuse and subsequent retaliatory violence plagued London, fueled by the presence of diverse military personnel and the stresses of war.

"There is a lot of unsolved murders as well that take place... small pockets of places where nobody's watching." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (15:36)

These tensions mirrored the complexities of a multicultural metropolis under siege, where different cultural groups intersected in high-stress environments.

9. Media Representation of Crimes During the War (17:23 - 19:01)

The British media during WWII adhered to strict guidelines, refraining from sensationalizing crimes to maintain public morale. Detailed coverage of violent acts, especially those involving sexual assault, was limited to prevent fostering fear.

Professor Bell notes that the press focused on broader war narratives, often allowing individual crimes to "surface and disappear" quickly unless they involved foreign servicemen from allied nations, who were granted even less media attention.

"It's not considered respectful in the context of this atmosphere of math death to focus too much on one crime." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (17:23)

This restrained reporting style contributed to many wartime crimes remaining obscure or unresolved in the public consciousness.

10. Post-War Violence and Its Aftermath (27:48 - 28:04)

The end of the war did not immediately alleviate the violence in London. The immediate post-war period, up to about 1948, was marked by heightened tensions due to demobilization, stringent rationing, and the reintegration of soldiers—some of whom returned with weapons, contributing to a spike in violent crimes.

Professor Bell observes that by the 1950s, the situation began to normalize, but the legacy of wartime criminal patterns persisted, with domestic murders and racially motivated offenses continuing to affect the city's fabric.

"The much more insular domestic murder... continues to the present." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (28:04)

11. Lessons from Wartime Violence (29:19 - 30:04)

Reflecting on the era, Professor Bell emphasizes the importance of compassion and understanding when examining historical violence. She advocates for viewing violent acts within their context, acknowledging the extraordinary pressures and fear that influenced human behavior during the war.

"See violence not as something that's monstrous and an aberration, but it's a very human response to an extraordinary situation." — Professor Amy Helen Bell (29:19)

This perspective encourages a more nuanced interpretation of history, recognizing the complex motivations behind criminal actions in crisis periods.

12. Conclusion

The episode "Murder in WW2 London" offers a profound exploration of how the Second World War's upheaval and psychological strain on Londoners created an environment where violent crimes could thrive. Through Professor Amy Helen Bell's insightful analysis, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between societal stressors and criminal behavior, challenging simplified narratives of wartime resilience. The discussion not only sheds light on lesser-known aspects of London's wartime history but also invites reflection on the enduring impact of war on urban life and human psychology.

This episode was produced by Jack Bateman. For more fascinating historical stories and expert conversations, subscribe to the History Extra podcast, brought to you by the team behind BBC History Magazine.