Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies

The Great Train Robbery

At 3.03am on Thursday 8th August 1963 a gang of men held up the “Travelling Post Office” train, on its way from Glasgow to London Euston, at Sears Crossing near Ledburn in Buckinghamshire. At the time, this was the biggest robbery ever committed in Britain, with the total amount stolen amounting to £2,631,784 (which is the equivalent of over £45 million today). Not only did the robbery happen in Buckinghamshire, but the gang then transported the sacks of money from the scene of the crime across the county to Leatherslade Farm, Oakley, where they intended to wait until it was safe to leave. However, they only stayed at the farm for a couple of days and tip-offs and the correct assertions of the police investigation meant that the criminals evacuated the scene far sooner than planned, leaving a range of evidence behind them. The first arrests were made within days and, although it took time to track some of the perpetrators, the gang were brought to justice (although some people speculate about other criminals who may have been involved who have never been found). This was one of only eighteen robberies reported in Buckinghamshire in 1963, but involved the Buckinghamshire Constabulary in a long investigation and then a long trial. Indeed, the local force sought early assistance from Scotland Yard in their investigations and the Flying Squad were also heavily involved. The Post Office Investigation Department also took a significant role in the investigations.

Committal proceedings were held at Linslade Magistrates Court between August and December 1963, but the courtroom in Linslade was nowhere near large enough to cope with the demands of such a trial and the accompanying press attention, and neither was Aylesbury Crown Court. The new Aylesbury Rural District Council chamber was altered to accommodate the event. The trial started in January 1964 at the Buckinghamshire Assizes, presided over by Mr Justice Edmund Davies, and ran until April. The sentencing was held in the Crown Court building – a far more traditional court than the adapted Council Chamber.

Committal proceedings of defendants apprehended after the main trial were held by Linslade Magistrates Court at various dates between 1964 and 1968. The Linslade Court also received and adjudicated upon applications for the return of property after 1964, under the Police Property Act.

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Guide to sources held at the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies Constabulary records Within the records of the Buckinghamshire Constabulary, the annual inspection report, dated August 1964, covers aspects of the police investigation (ref: BC 8/10). There are details about the police investigation, the photography used, and a note in the conclusion of the report (see below). In the section entitled ’Robberies’, it is obvious that the crime dominated the force: “The offence now commonly referred to as the ’Great Train Robbery’ overshadowed all other Police enquiries from August 1963 until the trials finished in April this year.” It also includes a photograph of the Incident Room set up following the robbery (see page 1).

Prison records Aylesbury Prison held a number of the accused after they were remanded and until they were sentenced in April 1964. The Nominal Register of Convicts, 1939-1964, includes these details (ref: HMP-A/7/4). Please note this volume is closed until 2065 under the Data Protection Act.

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Court records The records of the trial itself are included within the Special Buckinghamshire Assizes, 1964, at The National Archives (see page 8). However, the records of the committal hearings, which were heard at the Linslade Petty Sessions are held at the Centre (ref: PS/L/X/1/1-28). These records include witness lists, witness depositions, arrest warrants for the perpetrators, as well as correspondence and papers covering the trial and applications for the return of stolen money. Most of the records in this collection, particularly official records relating to the legal process, are copies or drafts of originals. Some of the these records are closed until 2065 under the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Acts – please contact the Centre for more information should you require access to this material.

In addition, the Register of Linslade Petty Sessions, Oct. 1963-Dec. 1968 (ref: PS/L/R/25, above) gives details of the passage through the courts of the majority of the accused from their first remand hearings (7th October 1963), through various other remand hearings, to the committal hearings (2nd December 1963). This volume appears to have been reserved for matters relating to this case and several of the accused who were apprehended later are added in after the main body of defendants in 1963. The volume not only covers those charged with “Conspiracy together and with others in stopping a train with intent to rob the mail” and “Armed with offensive weapons robbed Frank Dewhurst of 120 mail bags”, but also those people charged with “Receiving” differing amounts of money”. In 1966 and 1968, it also covers applications for the disposal of money in connection with the case by the banks from whom the money had been stolen. This volume is open to public consultation.

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Council records As the committal proceedings and the trial were held in the Council Chamber at Aylesbury Rural District Council at 84 Walton Street, Aylesbury, there are obviously mentions of the arrangements within the Council records. In particular, the Minute book of Aylesbury Rural District Council, Jun 1963-May 1964 (ref: DC 2/1/43) includes numerous mentions within the ‘Establishment and Legal Committee’ minutes of the requests for use and the decisions taken to allow the hearing and the Assize trial. There is also mention of the need for the Council to find alternative accommodation for the duration of the trial and the need for repairs and redecoration following the conclusion of the case. The Centre also holds some photographs of the Council Chamber as converted for use as a court room (ref: PHX 43/1-2 and PHX 148/1-10, see page 2 and below).

Within the records of Buckinghamshire County Council, there are also records that pertain to the arrangements for the trial. The Clerk of the Council’s files, in particular, have information about the plans for the court, the payments made after the trial and correspondence with the press, 1963-1965 (ref: AR 111/1991/2). Also included are newspaper cuttings and correspondence about the costs of the trial to the people of Buckinghamshire (which, in 1964, were stated to be over £37,000).

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The Centre also holds a comment book from the Judges’ Lodgings (used by those presiding over cases at Aylesbury; ref: AR 60/1991). Included within the book, is a comment written by Mr Justice Davies: “The trials of twelve men on charges arising out of what has become known as ‘The Great Mail Train Robbery’ of £2 ½ m. at Cheddington on Aug 8/63, and of six receivers, have lasted from Jan. 20 until today [Apr. 17] – apart from a 10-day break at Easter. The main trial lasted 51 days and the sentencing another day. It has been a unique experience – but once is enough for me. To quote from the indorsement on the brief of Arthur James, Q.C., who led the presenting team – ‘During that time

the Judge’s first grandson was born and one Crown counsel (Sabin) became a grandfather,

two defence counsel became fathers, two Jurymen were bereaved, there was attempted embracery of one Juryman and no-one went sick.’

Throughout my long stay I have been the recipient of great kindness from two High Sheriffs - firstly, David Roberts, Esq., and then Elliott Viney, Esq., and the lovely flowers supplied by their ladies have brought colour and comfort with a drab and arduous sojourn. The Under-Sheriff (Col. Owen Jones) could not have been more helpful. And Mrs. Fordyce and her staff have been most attentive in these very comfortable Lodgings. Edmund Davies April 17/64”

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Local newspaper reports Obviously, local newspapers covered the robbery and trials extensively. At the Centre, we hold the Bucks Herald and the Bucks Advertiser for the period of the robbery, investigation and trial. Other local newspapers are held at different local studies libraries across the county. For details of different newspapers and where they are held, please visit our website: www.buckscc.gov.uk/archives. Cuttings files We also hold a series of cuttings files on the robbery, which includes national newspaper reports and other material produced locally, both at the time of the event and since. These include a significant number of the reports of the robbery and the investigation, but cannot be said to be comprehensive. There is also a large scrapbook consisting of cuttings from national newspapers with reports of the event. These can be viewed in the Local Studies Library of the Centre. Printed books The Centre holds a number of printed works about the robbery, available for reference consultation in the Local Studies Library. These are: The Train Robbers, by Malcolm Fewtrell (1964) The Great Train Robbery, by John Gosling and Dennis Craig (1964) The Robbers’ Tale, by Peta Fordham (1965) The Train Robbers, by Piers Paul Read (1975) The Most Wanted Man: Ronald Biggs, by Colin Mackenzie (1976) The Great Train Robbery: Crime of the Century, The Definitive Account, by

Nick Russell-Pavier and Stewart Richards (2012) The Great Train Robbery: A New History, by Jim Morris (2013) The Great Train Robbery: The Untold Story from the Closed Investigation

Files, by Andrew Cook (2013) Other material There were always going to be people who were extremely interested in the case, and the Centre holds the notes from one such individual: a scrapbook of newspaper cuttings and notes on the Great Train Robbery compiled by G. Osterfield, 1960s (ref: D 105/207), including personal thoughts and assertions about the case.

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Sources held elsewhere The National Archives Records of the trials at the Assizes are held at The National Archives at Kew. Those relating to the main trial, held at a Special Buckinghamshire Assizes in 1964, are to be found under document references ASSI 13/642-659. In addition, The National Archives holds records under the classes for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Home Office (HO), the Metropolitan Police (MEPO) and the Court of Criminal Appeal and Supreme Court of Judicature (J). The catalogue entries for these records can be viewed on The National Archives’ website. Some of the records held by The National Archives are subject to differing closure periods, and they should be contacted for further details: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. British Postal Museum and Archive The Post Office Investigation Department had a significant role in the investigation and their records are now held by the British Postal Museum and Archive (please see their catalogue for further details, ref: POST 120/95-141). There are also a number of oral history interviews listed on the catalogue that make mention of the Robbery, but that were not necessarily involved with the investigation. As with The National Archives, some of the records held by the British Postal Museum and Archives are subject to differing closure periods, and they should be contacted for further details: www.postalheritage.org.uk. Thames Valley Police Museum Thames Valley Police (the successor body to the Buckinghamshire Constabulary) have a small museum at the White House, Sulhamstead near Reading. The museum has some artefacts from the robbery on display, including items from the scene of the robbery and from Leatherslade Farm, and has a section on their website dedicated to the Robbery: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-museum.htm. For further information, please contact them. This is not an exhaustive list, and other repositories may hold other material, but the summaries given above represent the main places of interest.

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