Body 115: The mystery of the last Victim of the King's Cross Fire

by Paul Chambers

In 1987 a tragic fire swept through London's King's Cross underground station claiming 31 lives after a dropped match set fire to escalator machinery. The charred remains of the victims were painstakingly identified from a list of reported missing persons and their dental and medical records, but twelve months later, one body remained unidentified. The last victim acquired the name it had been given at the morgue, Body 115, and that was where it appeared the investigation would end late in 1988, when all leads had run dry. But Inspector Ian Wilkinson could not let the case rest. Despite much unwarranted and very public criticism over his handling of the search and rescue mission, he vowed that he would not leave the British Transport Police until the nameless 5 foot 2 inch smoker had been identified.

The 17 years which followed were filled with more dashed hopes, false leads, forensic anomalies and dead ends than a murder mystery novel - would the unclaimed sailor's suitcase in lost property hold the key? Or the Japanese surgeon's clip? Could new forensic technology provide the answer? The solution eventually came to rest with two families, both desperately hoping to solve the mystery of their father's disappearance and both anxiously needing to end their suffering by burying their relative, but always knowing that only one could be the victim's true family.

The truth was only uncovered at last by the diligent and exhaustive detective work of Inspector Wilkinson, who wouldn't let the case rest and astonishing forensic evidence that finally proved the true identity of Body 115.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, London

254 pages, Hardcover

First published December 18, 2006

Reviews

[teleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly a really good read that tells you enough about both the fire, and the identifying of the unnamed man without feeling like the topic is drawn out.

[Book_Worm_Jim.83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to reading I already knew the identity of body 115 as I’d already read about the Kings Cross Fire. I decided to read it was of interest to me.

I’ve been in a fire myself and as I wear hearing aids I was not aware of the smoke alarm going off. I was taken from my flat by fire fighters in full BA (breathing apparatus).

This was a small flat fire in which I survived due to the bravery and outstanding skill of the fire crews. Anyone who’s been in a fire will understand the fear that a fire brings and the fear of the smoke and “not getting out”

I can not imagine the scale of the fear that those that were caused up in and those that sadly perished in the KCF felt.

There were many failings on many levels and the KCF should have ever have happened. It’s good that lessons were learnt and that safety on the underground has improved vastly.

It’s good that body 115 was finally identified and that the family of Alexander Fallon were able to draw a line under the disappearance of their father.

I was hoping that the epilogue that the family of James Brown would have found closure but sadly this was not to be.

A book that was well researched, well written and I enjoyed reading.

[Katia M. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent account of the struggle to identify the 31st victim of the King's Cross tube fire. Of all the things I have watched and read about the tragedy, I had never heard of this unidentified person or the 16 years it took to finally put a name to the horribly burned remains. The amount of investigative work put in by the British Transport Police was astounding and this book is a detailed report of the entire process as well as an overview of the fire and its cause. Read if you are interested in forensic investigation and identification of the dead.

[Warren Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kings cross fire was devastating. But some of the people that suffered the most were the police he kept trying to search for the identity of Body 115. They had little to go on on other than an aneurysm clip and dentures. But in the days before computer records tracking that down was difficult. It took 16 years before they finally figured out the identity of Alexander Fallon.

[Lisa-Jaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book, looking into the disaster that took place at King's Cross Station engulfing it in flames. More so the unknown man aka body 115 and the steps and dead ends that were faced in trying to give this man his identity.

[Breige · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the PopSugar challenges was to read your mother’s favourite book and while this probably isn’t her absolutely favourite (I’m sure if she had to answer she couldn’t, just like I couldn’t), it was the one that sparked my interest most out of the handful of books she thrust in my hands. In 1987 there was a massive fire in King’s Cross Tube Station and for years there was one person unidentified, Body 115. This book tells the story of how the fire happened, the aftermath and most importantly all the hard work put into finding out who Body 115 was. It was upsetting in parts to read how people suffered in this horrific accident but it was fascinating to get a look behind what happens in such an event and especially all the different routes taken to finally get a positive match.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and unusual book