In the novel Postern of Fate, the twelve year old Henry Bodlicott offers Tuppence Beresford his help and the help of his friends in solving the mystery at The Laurels.
Tuppence recognises that Henry could be useful as he is personally interested in finding out who had killed his grandfather Isaac Bodlicott. Moreover, by this time, Tuppence knows, from Tommy's sources such as Colonel Atkinson and Colonel Pikeaway that probably somebody had hidden something at the Laurels long ago. This item had yet to be found and would still be relevant and important in the present day. Isaac had probably been killed because he knew too much. Isaac had probably talked and told stories to his peers. These children would have heard stories from their parents and grandparents. They could also help actively in searching the grounds. Accordingly, Tuppence forms them into an informal Junior Brigade to help her.
Members of the Junior Brigade[]
Probably more than just these turned up. Not all the names are mentioned and for some of them, only the briefest character sketches are provided in the novel.
- Henry Bodlicott
- Clarence - informal "leader", escorted Tuppence to the PPC, gets most action in the text
- George - supposedly talks a lot
- Betty - didn't get picked to escort Tuppence to the PPC because she had "gone" (somewhere) the last time
- Janet - supposedly the "intellectual" one among them, goes to grammar school (not to be confused with Janet, the granddaughter of Tommy and Tuppence in the same novel), escorted Tuppence to the PPC
- Fred - volunteers to escort Tuppence to the Pensioners' Palace Club (PPC) but wasn't picked
- Bert - escorted Tuppence to the PPC
Others Mentioned[]
These names were mentioned by Henry but it is not clear if they joined the brigade
These names were listed by Tuppence when describing who Clarence heard his information from but she might not have remembered correctly
- Algernon
- Jimmy
- Johnny
- Mike