Evidence On Spy’s Flat At Inquiry (Press, 25 January 1963)

On 23 January 1963, during a British security inquiry, reporter Norman Frederick Lucas testified about his findings in the flat of convicted Admiralty spy William Vassall. Lucas, a crime reporter for the "Sunday Pictorial," revealed that he discovered an array of unusual items, including perfume, cuddly toys, women’s corsetry catalogues, and photographs of French rugby players. His investigation at Vassall’s residence occurred after the spy's arrest, as he had been granted permission to negotiate publishing rights for Vassall’s life story. During his testimony, Lucas detailed how he noted the flat's decor and contents, which he described as being more indicative of a woman’s living space. He mentioned the presence of nine or ten bottles of perfume, colognes, and talcum powders, leading him to conclude that the environment felt distinctly feminine. Notably, he found a cuddly stuffed cheetah and a teddy bear among the belongings. Lucas also came across 80 to 100 photographs, some of which included images of the former Civil Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Thomas Galbraith. When queried about how Vassall might have obtained these photographs, Lucas suggested that they could have originated from Galbraith's wastepaper basket. The inquiry's chairman, Lord Radcliffe, interjected during the proceedings, clarifying that it was already understood that Vassall had homosexual tendencies, which were significant to the investigation. He expressed the need for the tribunal to assess whether Vassall's sexual orientation should have been evident to those in a position to report on him. Lucas further indicated that he had come across several letters in Vassall's flat written in unusually affectionate terms by various men, which further highlighted Vassall's private life. He recounted that after visiting the flat, the lingering smell of perfume remained on his hands for two days. Overall, Lucas's testimony provided insight into the personal and unusual aspects of Vassall's life, which, combined with his background as a spy, sparked significant interest and scrutiny during the inquiry.

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