The Herbert Balmer thread.

[Chris48]

Has anybody got any stories about Herbert Balmer, maybe real life experiences or info about his life, family or maybe even the cars that he drove. Anything at all! He certainly will remain an interesting character and I anticipate that he will be newsworthy in the media in the not too distant future. I am NOT writing a book, I just have an interest in this Detective and his methods. I know we have the Cranborne and Cameo threads already, but I think Balmer deserves a dedicated thread of his own.

[shoney]

Has anybody got any stories about Herbert Balmer, maybe real life experiences or info about his life, family or maybe even the cars that he drove. Anything at all! He certainly will remain an interesting character and I anticipate that he will be newsworthy in the media in the not too distant future. I am NOT writing a book, I just have an interest in this Detective and his methods. I know we have the Cranborne and Cameo threads already, but I think Balmer deserves a dedicated thread of his own.

a Bert balmer lives next door to my mum, he is late 90's don't think he is an ex cop or anything maybe its a coincidence name,is the said mr balmer still alive?

[ChrisGeorge]

Chief Superintendent Herbert Balmer died in 1970.

[shoney]

Chief Superintendent Herbert Balmer died in 1970.

thanks chris, just been looking the case up, not familiar with the whole story and would hate to have a 100 lunatics knocking on a poor unsuspecting blokes door.

[Chris48]

Chief Superintendent Herbert Balmer died in 1970.

Deputy Chief Constable/Acting Chief Constable Herbert Balmer died in 1970.

[burkhilly]

Two of the main cases discussed on this forum - the Cameo and Cranbourne Road murders - where Balmer was lead investigation officer - look like serious miscarriages of justice. This being the case - a dreadful man who abused his power.

[Chris48]

is right!

[Gerry Jones]

Detective Herbert Balmer lived for a time in Lingfield Grove, Broad Green, between the hospital and the station. This round had its numbering reversed, so while he lived in "No. 1 " that house is currently numbered 42.
Gerry.

[CanadianLad]

I've heard so much about this guy. So really what was his deal.. was he just a ******* or one of those pig headed morons who didn't care who he nailed as long as he nailed some one?

[Ged]

Seems like doesn't it?

[Johnny Robbo]

I can recall going with my Dad to a chandlers / plumbing shop in Mill Lane in West Derby in the late 50's to get some tap washers. It was on the block between Eaton Road and West Derby Station. When we came out of the shop Dad told me we'd just been served by Bert Balmer, who had just bought the business following his retirement from the police. At my then tender age the name meant nothing to me until Dad added "He was the famous detective who solved the Cameo murders." As they say, hindsight is such a wonderful thing. Balmer was a local copper, born in the Toxteth Park area around 1903 and rose to level of Assistant Chief Constable. Would not happen these days, when senior ranks are always "outsiders".

[ChrisGeorge]

I've heard so much about this guy. So really what was his deal.. was he just a ******* or one of those pig headed morons who didn't care who he nailed as long as he nailed some one?

From our perspective he seems like an evil man, considering that one man was executed and the other man served time for crimes they didn't do.

But looking at it from Balmer's perspective, he probably thought he was doing good. He had got two crooks (as he saw them) off the streets and not only did he (supposedly) "solve" the crime, but even if it wasn't the right men who were convicted, their convictions served as a warning to other would-be robbers/murderers that they couldn't get away with it in Liverpool.

Chris

[Famous Scouser]

.

[Paddy]

If he never ran that shop who did :ninja:

[Famous Scouser]

He still had a lo of years to serve in the 1950s. He never retired until 1967.

[Paddy]

Moonlighter you wouldn't think he would find the time to frame people.:002:

[Famous Scouser]

.

[Paddy]

Anyone with a name like Herbert has to be suspect :PDT_Xtremez_12:

[Harryboy]

I've been told he consorted with lots of prostitutes and was a racist.
He liked to play the sporting gentleman and boxing enthusiast, as when he was pictured with world boxing champ, Hogan Kid Bassey at Stanley House youth club in Toxteth, but behind their backs, he called the coloured folk from around there, N.....s!!

[Paddy]

The prostitute connection features saliently in the Kelly case :002:

[AndyD]

If you consult the book `Off The Cuff` by Swasie Turner, he makes reference to Bert Balmer. I believe he was famous across the world in Police circles for starting a section in the Liverpool Police called "The Commando's" - a sort of undercover forerunner to the OSD.

[Famous Scouser]

.

[Famous Scouser]

.

[Johnny Robbo]

If he never ran that shop who did :ninja:

I was talking with some other friends recently about the shop in Mill Lane, West Derby. It seems my Dad was mistaken when he told me we had been served by Bert Balmer. It now appears that we were indeed served by a Mr Balmer but that Mr Balmer was none other than Jack Balmer, who once played football (inside left I think) for Liverpool FC and whose trade outside football was as a plumber.

[ChrisGeorge]

I was talking with some other friends recently about the shop in Mill Lane, West Derby. It seems my Dad was mistaken when he told me we had been served by Bert Balmer. It now appears that we were indeed served by a Mr Balmer but that Mr Balmer was none other than Jack Balmer, who once played football (inside left I think) for Liverpool FC and whose trade outside football was as a plumber.


That sounds more like it. Thanks for the clarification, Johnny R.

Chris

[Paddy]

A plumber hey :ninja: