Rebels of London
The rebels of London were a group of freedom fighters opposed to the Daleks during their occupation of Earth from 2157 to 2167.
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
Dalek occupation[[edit] | [edit source]]
Based in a disused tube station, the rebel group was made up of survivors of the Daleks' invasion and led by Dortmun. Although based in London, they fought the Daleks everywhere and were aware of their mining activities in Bedfordshire, not realising how important it was to the Daleks' plans for Earth. They maintained contact with other groups of survivors, including a group in Africa who faded out in 2167. Members of the group were required to sign up for work detail.
Dortmun believed that one victory would inspire the rest of humanity to rise up against the Daleks and worked on a bomb which would be able to destroy them. He completed a new bomb after the Daleks issued an ultimatum directed to the "rebels of London", threatening to destroy the city unless the rebels gave themselves up. They were joined by Barbara Wright and Susan Foreman, whom Carl Tyler and another freedom fighter brought to the base from beside the River Thames, and decided to attack Heliport Chelsea to save the First Doctor and Ian Chesterton.
Tyler, Baker and other rebels pretended to be Robomen to get close to the Daleks before David Campbell and Susan attacked them with Dortmun's bombs, which proved ineffective. Tyler and Baker managed to save the Doctor, but most of the rebels were killed or wounded in the attack, prompting Tyler and Jenny Chaplin to suggest that they flee London to avoid retribution. Dortmun, however, insisted that he could make an effective bomb. He, Jenny and Barbara headed to the Civic Transport Museum to regroup whilst Tyler headed north. Baker was killed by a Dalek before he could leave London for Cornwall.
Dortmun, Jenny and Barbara were besieged at the museum and Dortmun attempted to use his improved bomb on the Daleks, but was killed in the act. Jenny and Barbara headed to Bedfordshire, as did David, Susan and the Doctor with the aim of meeting up with the resistance party there, bumping into Tyler on the way. David and Susan were able to immobilise the Daleks by fracturing the outer cable ring and the Doctor ordered the Robomen to destroy them, after which a bomb destroyed the Dalek saucers. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
Aftermath[[edit] | [edit source]]
By the time of Earth's liberation, most of the rebels were dead, with Tyler wishing that Dortmun in particular could have been there to witness the Daleks' defeat. The Doctor told Tyler that he would have to dedicate the rebuilding of society to Dortmun and his like. David decided to join a group that worked the land in order to provide food to the survivors, promising that he would say goodbye to Tyler before he left. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
Jenny searched for Victor Chaplin, eventually finding him and, upon his restoration from the robotisation process, decided to help cure other Robomen. (AUDIO: After the Daleks) Susan remained on Earth (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth) and assisted in the rebuilding, going on to marry David. (PROSE: The Five Doctors, etc.)
Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Fourth Doctor told Davros that the Dalek invasion occurred in 2000 and that the Daleks were defeated by the determination of human resistance fighters. (TV: Destiny of the Daleks)
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- In Terrance Dicks's novelisation Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth, the unnamed insurgent does not appear; Barbara instead leaves the vicinity of the TARDIS with Susan and Tyler.
