Billy Kitchen (1886-1921) was a member of the Peaky Blinders gang who led their 100-man crew in Camden Town, London during the early 20th century. He was murdered by Alfie Solomon's men in 1921.
Biography[]
Billy Kitchen was born in the industrial Black Country region of Midlands, England in 1886, and he served in the British Army during World War I, winning medals while fighting alongside fellow Midlands resident Tommy Shelby. After the war, both of them threw their medals in the Cut, and they both became gangsters. In 1921, he was shot by the Sheffield mob at the Wincanton trotting track, but he recovered in time for Shelby to recruit him into the Peaky Blinders gang. He was given command of 100 men by Shelby, who had him recruit his Black Country boys into the gang, making peace between the former rivals and forging an alliance so that the Blinders could take over London. He was sent to serve as "Head Baker" (leader of the 100 men) at Alfie Solomon's "bakery" (distillery) in Camden Town, but Solomon later betrayed the Blinders and attempted to murder Arthur Shelby and Kitchen at a meeting. Kitchen was shot dead by one of Solomon's men, while Shelby succeeded in escaping.