As the Second World War began, Blackouts were enforced, with the aim of offering protection from the German bombs, but the darkness was also the perfect cover for those with ill intentions, including Gordon Cummins who would gain the moniker, The Blackout Ripper.


Gordon Cummins resources

A special thanks goes to Mike, the host of Murder Mile, whose episodes and Youtube videos aided in researching this episode.
https://www.murdermiletours.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@murdermileuktrue-crimepodc6719

https://www.stjohnswoodmemories.org.uk/content/amenities/clubs-societies/lords-cricket-ground/royal_air_force_in_st_johns_wood_in_the_2nd_world_war https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/the-memoirs-of-james-colin-burch-air-bomber-young-crew/ https://www.keymilitary.com/article/blackout-ripper http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/57108#:~:text=Located%20in%20the%20village%20of,had%20a%2020ft%20wide%20proscenium. https://youtu.be/cREG96eW8CA https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/the-blackout-ripper-a-serial-killer-in-wartime-london Scenes of Murder Then and Now, By Winston Ramsey, and After the Battle Bradford Observer - Wednesday 11 February 1942 Aberdeen Evening Express - Thursday 10 March 1955 Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 12 March 1942 Aberdeen Press and Journal - Tuesday 28 April 1942 Dundee Evening Telegraph - Friday 24 April 1942 https://www.napier.govt.nz/napier/about/history/early-napier/ https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/explore-rowntree-history/rowntree-a-z/new-earswick/ http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/20th-century/new-earswick https://www.britannica.com/event/the-Blitz http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/war/blackout.htm https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Blitz/ http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/war/blitz.htm https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-blitz-begins https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-blitz-around-britain#:~:text=The%20'Blitz'%20%E2%80%93%20from%20the,September%201940%20until%20May%201941. https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/cummins-gordon.htm https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/the-blackout-ripper-a-serial-killer-in-wartime-london https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otkwVaVzTxY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaYqmCphsAw https://www.mylondon.news/news/nostalgia/london-serial-killer-worse-ripper-21267680 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4167276/How-Blackout-Ripper-killed-horrifically.html https://www.northantslive.news/news/history/serial-killer-worse-jack-ripper-5789346 https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9464389.book-tells-of-york-born-killers-reign-of-terror/ https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/charming-fake-aristocrat-who-led-20701147 https://www.keymilitary.com/article/blackout-ripper https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/the-raf-airman-who-used-german-air-raids-to-mask-his-heinous-crimes.html?chrome=1 https://blackpoolcrime.wordpress.com/2018/10/25/edith-oatley-anchorsholme-to-the-west-end-gordon-cummins-the-blackout-ripper/
Daily News (London) - Friday 13 February 1942
Shields Daily News - Friday 13 February 1942
Shields Daily News - Thursday 12 February 1942
Belfast Telegraph - Wednesday 11 February 1942
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail - Friday 13 February 1942
Leicester Evening Mail - Friday 13 February 1942
Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Wednesday 11 February 1942
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Wednesday 11 February 1942
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Friday 24 April 1942
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Tuesday 28 April 1942
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 12 March 1942
Aberdeen Evening Express - Thursday 10 March 1955
Bradford Observer - Wednesday 11 February 1942