As news emerges that actor Ricky Tomlinson and members of the so-called Shrewsbury 24 are to have their 1970s convictions reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, we look at the role played in that conviction by Woodrow Wyatt’s Red Under the Bed documentary. The Monocled Mutineer wasn’t the only occasion that the book’s author…
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Spies, Secrets & Mutiny: The story behind The Monocled Mutineer
In the previous article, we looked at John Fairley’s role in the 1973 British television documentary, Red Under the Bed, and how it served as a catalyst for the conviction of the ‘Shrewsbury Two’ following the national builders’ strike. This time we turn to the book’s publisher Quartet, and its proprietor, Naim Attallah. By the…
The Cross Keys Mystery
In the end it turns out that detective Woodhall may have had every reason to be suspicious about Private Percy Toplis. In January 1920 Toplis had been a suspect in the murder of Mrs Frances Buxton, capable and affluent landlady of the Cross Keys tavern in London. According to a report published by the Daily…
Illegalists and Anarchists
The way that Edwin Woodhall’s narrative evolves is that Percy Toplis, like motor-gang nemesis Jules Bonnot before him, had been helped by radicals he’d met in the deserter camps around Camiers. If this is true, then its possible that once back in England he had somehow managed to embed himself into the deeply subversive sub-culture…
Harry Reeve – The Boxer, The Ripper and The Mutiny in France
A look at the life of the man who triggered the Etaples Mutiny and his links to Whitechapel and Jack the Ripper
Captain Francis Percy Toplis, DCM – Really?
If this is a picture of Percy masquerading as ‘Captain Toplis, DCM’, then why isn’t he wearing a Captain’s uniform? And why is there no DCM? Read on.
Etaples Mutiny – First Eyewitness Account
New Zealand’s Otago Daily Times was the first newspaper in the world to publish a full eyewitness account of the Etaples Mutiny
Toplis Detective Edwin Woodhall
A look at Toplis detective and intelligence officer, Edwin T. Woodhall and claims that he encountered Toplis at Etaples.
Monocled Mutineer – Mutiny at the BBC
Why did Bleasdale’s drama cause such a media storm? Why was the BBC Director Alasdair Milne removed? And what were Willie Whitelaw’s links to Toplis’ killer?
Percy’s REAL Aunt Annie – Toplis in Newport, South Wales
If you remember the BBC serial drama, The Monocled Mutineer you’ll doubtless remember Percy’s beleaguered guardians, the Websters. Annie was always being pestered for money, and Frank was always being pestered for his bike. But this is a look at the real Webster family. And it’s not what you’d expect. The tale might even provide…