Relic Radio Thrillers – "The Church Without a Cross" (Top Secret)
Original Airdate: August 20, 1950
Podcast Release: November 7, 2025
Notable Cast: Ilona Massey (Baroness Karen Gaza)
Summary by Relic Radio
Episode Overview
This thrilling episode from the Top Secret radio series plunges listeners into wartime espionage, set against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Belgium. The courageous Baroness Karen Gaza, working for the Allies, embarks on a dangerous mission to locate "Location Rx," a secret V2 rocket launch site threatening London. With London on the brink of devastation and previous operatives vanished without a trace, the fate of the city—and many lives—hangs in the balance.
Key Themes & Purpose
- Espionage and courage under pressure
- The human cost of war—civilians and operatives alike
- The tension of trust and betrayal within resistance networks
- The race against time to avert disaster
Detailed Breakdown & Major Plot Points
The Mission Begins: Stakes and Sacrifice
[01:46]
Baroness Karen Gaza recounts her assignment:
"Assignment 11 was a fight against death. Death that came silently, without warning. I had to find a place, a pinpoint on the coast of Europe... known as Location Rx." (C, 01:46)
- London is under threat from V2 rockets.
- Gaza requests dangerous infiltration by parachute into Belgium.
- Sir Eric Hamilton is initially reluctant, citing deadly risks (twelve previous agents have disappeared).
Quote:
"Twelve other operatives have searched for location Rx and vanished. You are the 13th." (B, 04:36)
Into Enemy Territory: First Contacts and Isolation
[06:16 – 10:05]
- After an evocative, unsettling descent into a wartime cityscape, Baroness Gaza finds Pierre Lebrun, her French contact, identified by a 1920 English penny.
- Lebrun, traumatized by preceding losses, offers little hope and warns of the deadly odds:
Quote:
"They come. They vanish. They die. But still they come again." (B, 07:20)
- The only clue: Colonel Hans von Karsch, master of "Location Rx," operates from the Hall of Liberty, Brussels.
- Lebrun describes von Karsch as:
"Half the chemist, half the soldier, all the Nazi." (B, 08:19)
Dangerous Isolation and Building Cover
[11:05 – 14:33]
- Feeling abandoned, Gaza goes underground, working persistently to get close to von Karsch.
- Over weeks, she infiltrates his inner circle, eventually securing a role as his secretary.
Espionage Web: Allied Contacts in Disguise
[15:07 – 16:10]
- An elevator operator covertly reveals himself as an Allied agent—another in the line of "penny" operatives.
Quote:
"12 agents have come over, mademoiselle. I was the seventh." (B, 15:27)
- Both understand the grave danger—most contacts end up dead or missing.
The Critical Break: Overhearing the Target
[16:14 – 18:33]
- Gaza types up a pass for Leopold Schalk after overhearing key intelligence: the launch site is near ostend, at a church eight miles away.
- The Nazi plan:
"The first rocket with the aiming device will be fired at midnight. If possible, we wish to hit Buckingham Palace. The death of the King and the Queen would be a tremendous blow..." (B, 17:17)
Last Preparations and Final Alliances
[19:04 – 23:36]
- Determined to leave a trail for the next agent, Gaza returns to Lebrun's house, finding Lebrun imprisoned by his son, Jacques, who suspects his father's collaboration with Nazis.
- Tense confrontation; Gaza proves her Allied loyalty.
Quote:
"For weeks now I've suspected my father of collaboration. It is very important that you tell me the truth. Are you a British agent from Sir Eric Hamilton?" (B/Jacques, 22:07)
The Operation: Approaching the Church Without a Cross
[24:18 – 27:44]
- With Jacques and Roger (the Dublin agent), Gaza drives to Ostend. They approach the white church—a "church without a cross"—concealed V2 launch site.
- Passing Nazi guards with forged documents, the team confirms the site’s location. Jacques is caught in an electrified trap but urges others to flee and report.
Quote:
"My leg is artificial. Otherwise I'd be burned to a crisp. Now go." (B/Jacques, 26:25)
- Roger and Gaza, guilt-ridden, escape and radio London as bombers strike the launch site at dawn.
Memorable Final Moments
- After the strike, as the church is destroyed, Roger solemnly dedicates the attack:
Quote:
"One for London, one for France." (B, 27:44)
"And our Father, which art in heaven. One for Jacques Lebron." (C, 27:53)
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- "12 other operatives have searched for location Rx and vanished. You are the 13th." (B, 04:36)
- "They come. They vanish. They die. But still they come again." (B, 07:20)
- "Half the chemist, half the soldier, all the Nazi." (B, 08:19)
- "12 agents have come over, mademoiselle. I was the seventh." (B, 15:27)
- "The first rocket with the aiming device will be fired at midnight. If possible, we wish to hit Buckingham Palace..." (B, 17:17)
- "My leg is artificial. Otherwise I'd be burned to a crisp. Now go." (B, 26:25)
- "One for London, one for France." (B, 27:44)
- "And our Father, which art in heaven. One for Jacques Lebron." (C, 27:53)
Important Segments & Timestamps
- Baroness requests mission, stakes set: [01:46–04:54]
- First meeting with Lebrun (penny exchange): [07:08–09:43]
- Gaza's infiltration and establishing cover: [11:05–14:33]
- Elevator operator revealed as Allied agent: [15:07–16:10]
- Key intelligence overheard (church location): [16:14–18:33]
- Showdown at Lebrun’s house: [20:30–23:36]
- Approaching and identifying the church launch site: [24:18–27:44]
- Aftermath and tribute: [27:44–28:16]
Tone & Style
The episode exudes classic wartime suspense, with powder-dry dialogue, stoic resolve, and emotional undercurrents. There is a persistent undertone of loss and the costs of heroism—underscored in the tense father-son confrontation, and the ultimate sacrifice by Jacques.
Conclusion
"The Church Without a Cross" is a taut, emotionally resonant story about sacrifice, cunning, and persistence in the face of almost certain doom. Through nuanced performances and period-appropriate atmosphere, it distills the uncertainty and courage of wartime espionage—a hallmark of the Top Secret series.