The Kray brothers are gangsters who controlled the underworld in London's East End in the middle of the last century. Their deeds were so daring and comprehensive that even legends began to be made about them. Over the long years of their reign, they have tried everything from simple robbery to murder and drug trafficking.
It should be noted that several books have been written about the life of the brothers, and two full-length films have also been shot. Such popularity is quite obvious, because they were a thunderstorm for an entire generation of people. However, how true are the stories about their lives? Where are the facts and where is the fiction? And what were the Kray twins really like?
Young tomboys
Twins Ronald and Reginald were born October 24, 1933 in one of the poorest families in the East End. Already in early childhood they had to face the first severe test of fate. Both boys fell ill with diphtheria and only miraculously managed to get out. Soon the whole neighborhood knew who the Kray brothers were. The biography of the twins is full of stories and tales,who tell about the crazy adventures of young tomboys.
The fact is that Ron and Reggie were obsessed with boxing. They could punch a pear from morning to night, and then spin around in the ring in a full-fledged sparring for several more hours. Naturally, then they gladly demonstrated their skills on the street, showing everyone else “who is in charge here.”
When the army is not good
The day when the Kray brothers got into the army became a real holiday for the whole district. The old people breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that the service would correct the crazy nature of the guys. Alas, their expectations were not destined to come true. Ron and Reggie were constantly violating discipline and even managed to beat up a police patrol.
For this offense they were put in a guardhouse, where they subsequently staged a real riot. As a result, the leadership decided that they did not need such soldiers. In 1952, the Kray brothers were ignominiously expelled from the ranks of the British army. But during the time spent in the guardhouse, the guys managed to acquire a couple of useful acquaintances, which became the thread that led them straight to the underworld.
Creating a "firm"
Upon arrival home, the Kray brothers gathered a gang of the most repulsed fellows who agreed to kill their own mother for a coin. They jokingly called their group "the firm", but the name has grown so strongly with the reputation of the gang that it has remained with it forever. As for their field of activity, they traded in petty robberies, car thefts and racketeering.
But over the years, the scope of their lawlessnessonly increased. Therefore, it is not surprising that the police soon followed them. The collected evidence was enough to put Ronald in jail for three years in 1960. And while his brother was in prison, Reggie developed his own business. He even set up his own club, which later became their headquarters.
After Ron's release from prison, the Kray brothers increased their influence on the underworld of London. Thanks to this, in the mid-60s they already completely controlled life in the East End, and even the police were afraid of their administration. And only in 1968, the investigators were able to collect the necessary amount of evidence to put the twins behind bars forever.
In 1969, a London court sentenced the brothers to life imprisonment. However, Ronald was declared insane due to a mental disorder. He was placed in a psychological hospital, where he died in 1995. As for Reggie, he was released into the wild in 2000, and a month and a half later he died of cancer.
Reginald Cray
Reggie was the brains of the entire "firm". He liked to carefully calculate each move, which allowed the gang to achieve such a tremendous success. If we talk about his personality, then Reginald was a balanced and calm person. It was possible to have a dialogue with him without fear that every word could be the last.
Ronald Cray
Unlike his brother, Ron was an extremely cruel person, one might even say a psychopath. Everyone who knew him claimed that he killed only in order to revel in the suffering of other people. He thoughtenemies of absolutely everyone, with the exception of his own brother. In addition, doctors later diagnosed the gangster with schizophrenia, which partly explained his craving for violence.
It is noteworthy that Ronald was still the main one among the brothers. It was he who had the last word. And this despite the fact that Reginald had much more intelligence and sanity.
The Kray brothers: personal life
According to the official version, Reggie was in love with a sixteen-year-old girl named Frances. They dated for a long time, and eventually she became his wife. However, life with such a person led to the fact that her psyche broke down. She tried to commit suicide several times, after which she was locked up in a lunatic asylum.
But Ronald loved boys. He was not shy about it and boldly spoke about the fact that he was bisexual. The gangster often changed lovers and only once fell in love for real. His chosen one was called Teddy Smith. They had a lot in common, which bribed Ronald. However, it so happened that a serious quarrel arose between them, after which Teddy disappeared. Rumor has it that the gangster simply killed his lover in a fit of rage.
