The Aftermath

The fate of Margaret Joyce, who had followed much the same path as her husband, in terms of treasonable actions, was markedly different to that of her husband.

There are two main theories about her treatment after their arrest in Flensburg, and her return to the UK: firstly, that the authorities felt that she had suffered enough through her husband’s trial, and that they had no appetite for a further trial, and secondly, that Joyce agreed to keep his connections to MI5 secret, in exchange for the freedom of Margaret. Certainly, as a British citizen, born and raised, a treason case against her could more easily have been made than against her husband, although she was not as well known a broadcaster as her husband had been.

For whatever reason, she was never charged, and was instead shipped out of Britain shortly after his execution, but was allowed to return back to the UK some years later. She died in Soho, reportedly from alcohol-related illness, in 1972.On 18 August 1976, William Joyce's remains were exhumed from their site within Wandsworth Prison and returned for burial to Ireland, where they were re-interred at the New Cemetery in Bohermore, County Galway.