Letting the Side Down:British Traitors of the Second World War

This is the fascinating story of a collection of misfits and renegades who came from all walks of life and different social backgrounds, but who all had one thing in common. During the Second World War they chose to reject their country and follow the path of treason through collaboration with the Axis powers. Altogether, about two hundred British citizens were under investigation for assisting the Axis powers. Using the case studies of the individuals concerned, Sean Murphy uncovers the reasons for their treacherous activities, describes how they collaborated with the enemy, and come the end of the war he explores their respective fates. The stories of some of the more notorious traitors like William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) and P.G. Wodehouse are already well-known but also included are some of the lesser known but equally treacherous individuals. For example, Duncan Scott-Ford, a Scottish merchant seaman, who sold information to the Germans about convoy movements, and Harold Cole, who infiltrated Allied escape lines in Europe and betrayed between 100 and 150 British and French agents to the Germans.

Sean Murphy
Hardcover 256 pages 2004