The Brookwood Killers: Military Murderers of WWII

The Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial is located in Surrey and contains the names of nearly 3,500 men and women of the land forces of Britain and the Commonwealth who died in the Second World War and have no known grave. Among these are Special Operations Executive agents, servicemen killed in raids on enemy-occupied territory, and those who died at sea. However, the memorial also hides a dark secret: nineteen men whose last resting place is known, and whose deaths were less than glorious. All were murderers who were executed for their heinous offences, and their bodies, with the exception of one, were buried in un-consecrated ground. The cases of the Brookwood Killers are violent, disturbing, and often brutal, and they highlight the need for justice to be served, even in times of war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Nestled deep within the picturesque Surrey countryside stands the Brookwood 1939-1945 Memorial, a poignant testament to the sacrifices made during the Second World War. Maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, its panels bear the names of nearly 3,500 men and women of the land forces of Britain and the Commonwealth who perished in the conflict and have no known grave. Among the distinguished individuals etched into the memorial are Special Operations Executive agents who valiantly gave their lives as prisoners or while collaborating with Allied underground movements, servicemen who lost their lives in the numerous raids on enemy-occupied territories in Europe, including the iconic battles of Dieppe and Saint-Nazaire. These brave souls also include men and women who tragically lost their lives at sea aboard hospital ships and troop transports, British Army parachutists, and even pilots and aircrew who met their end in tragic flying accidents or aerial combat. However, the memorial holds a darker secret, one that intertwines the names of heroes and heroines with the nineteen men whose final resting place is known, and whose deaths were less than glorious. These nineteen men were murderers, convicted of heinous offenses following civil or military trials, and executed for their crimes. Shockingly, the bodies of these individuals, with the exception of one, were buried in un-consecrated ground. As journalist Paul Johnson reveals, the cases of the Brookwood Killers are violent, disturbing, and often brutal in their content. They are not war crimes per se, but crimes committed in the midst of war, for which the offenders have their names recorded and maintained in perpetuity. It is a stark contrast to the treatment of the victims, who often receive less recognition and attention. The Brookwood Memorial serves as a haunting reminder of the complexities of war, where the lines between heroism and villainy can blur, and where the consequences of actions can endure long after the guns have fallen silent. It is a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of those who served during this tumultuous period, and a call to remember the lessons learned from history to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.

Weight: 734g
Dimension: 166 x 241 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399011822