As you know, I often publish historical posts on the anniversary of an event. I have occasionally posted some a day or two prior to the anniversary. Today, however, I will be going back a day to the 25th of June. To the 25th of June, 1942 to be precise...
Gordon Cummins was born some time around 1913 or 1914, before the start of WWI. He married in 1936, and after the outbreak of war in 1939, he signed up for the Royal Air Force, Cummins was soon posted to the RAF Aircrew Reception Centre in London for training.
Due to the likelihood of air raids, nights in the capital city were subject to blackout conditions, with lights off, and windows painted or screened, but Londoners just carried on their normal lives as best they could. In 1942, Gordon Cummins intruded on that life.
On 9th February, 1942, 40-year-old Evelyn Hamilton's body was found in an air-raid shelter. She had been strangled.
The next day, Evelyn Oatley (35) was found dead at her home. She had also been strangled, but in addition, her throat had been cut, and she had been sexually mutilated.
Some 24 hours later, 43-year-old prostitute Margaret Lowe was found murdered at her home. She too had been strangled, and her body mutilated.
On Wednesday 12th February, Doris Jouannet (32) was found strangled and mutilated in her flat.
After four consecutive days of murder, nothing happened on the Thursday, but on Friday 13th February, two women were assaulted in separate incidents, but both managed to escape. In the first attack, he left behind the case to his gas mask - which contained his service number. Cummins was soon arrested, and his fingerprints matched those found in several of the murder locations. Evidence was overwhelming, and he was found guilty.
Gordon Cummins - dubbed the "Blackout Ripper" - was hanged at London's Wandsworth Prison on 25th June, 1942.
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