Tamam Shud: A Beach, a Body, and a Code That Still Haunts

Posted by Vikas Batham Monday, February 24, 2025

Tamam Shud: A Beach, a Body, and a Code That Still Haunts

The Tamam Shud case, also known as the Mystery of the Somerton Man, is one of Australia's most enduring and perplexing unsolved mysteries. The enigma began on the morning of December 1, 1948, when the body of an unidentified man was discovered on Somerton Beach, near Adelaide, South Australia. What initially appeared to be a simple case of death by misadventure quickly spiraled into a complex web of intrigue, espionage theories, and unanswered questions that continue to fascinate and baffle researchers even today. The case derives its name from a Persian phrase, "Tamam Shud," meaning "ended" or "finished," found on a scrap of paper tucked into a hidden pocket of the man's trousers. This seemingly innocuous phrase, torn from a rare edition of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, became the key to unlocking a mystery that has spanned decades and involved meticulous investigations across multiple fronts.

The Discovery and Initial Investigation

On that fateful morning in 1948, at approximately 6:30 am, a couple strolling along Somerton Beach stumbled upon the body of a man lying in the sand. He was positioned with his head resting against the seawall, legs extended, and feet crossed. The man was well-dressed, of European appearance, estimated to be around 40-45 years old, and in good physical condition. Crucially, there were no immediate signs of violence, and his pockets contained no identification, wallet, or anything that could readily reveal his identity.

The initial police investigation, led by Detective Dave Bartlett, commenced immediately. The body was examined at the scene and then transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for a post-mortem examination conducted by pathologist Dr. John Dwyer. Dwyer's initial findings were perplexing. While he noted some internal organ congestion, particularly in the stomach and liver, he could not definitively determine the cause of death. No known poison was detected using the toxicology methods available at the time. The post-mortem also revealed some unusual anatomical features, including enlarged kidneys and spleen, and small vessels in the brain that were more prominent than usual. These findings, while not conclusive, hinted at a possible poisoning, but with an unknown substance.

The police diligently documented every detail about the deceased. He was approximately 180 centimeters tall, with grey eyes, fair to ginger-colored hair, broad shoulders, and narrow waist. His hands and nails were clean, suggesting he did not perform manual labor. His clothing was of good quality but notably, all labels had been removed from his garments. This deliberate removal of identifying tags immediately raised suspicions and suggested an attempt to obscure the man's origins.

Among the items found on the body were:

An unused train ticket to Henley Beach (a nearby suburb), which he had not used.
A used bus ticket from the city to St. Leonards, near Somerton Beach.
A packet of Army Club cigarettes, containing different, more expensive Kensitas cigarettes.
A box of matches.
A comb.
And, most significantly, the small scrap of paper with the words "Tamam Shud" printed on it, deeply tucked within a fob pocket sewn inside his trousers.

The discovery of the "Tamam Shud" paper marked a turning point in the investigation. Police efforts were intensified to identify the origin of this phrase. It was quickly recognized as Persian, meaning "ended" or "finished," and linked to The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, a collection of poems by the 12th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam. This clue, while intriguing, initially offered more questions than answers.

The Suitcase and Further Clues

In January 1949, a significant development occurred. A brown suitcase, with its labels removed, was found at the Adelaide Railway Station cloakroom. Railway staff recalled it being deposited there on November 30, 1948 – the day before the Somerton Man's body was discovered. Inside, investigators found a collection of items believed to belong to the deceased, further deepening the mystery.

The suitcase contained:

Red checked dressing gown and red felt slippers (size seven).
Shaving equipment and toiletries.
Several items of clothing, including trousers, shirts, and knitwear.
An electrician's screwdriver and a sharpened table knife.
Scissors with sharpened points.
Pencils and unused letter stationery.

Notably absent were socks, spare sets of underwear, and any form of correspondence or identification. Again, labels were meticulously removed from most clothing items. Some clothing, however, had names like "Keane" and "T. Keane" marked on them, along with laundry marks suggesting dry cleaning in a city outside of South Australia. These laundry marks became a crucial, albeit initially fruitless, line of inquiry.

Within the suitcase, police also found a piece of paper with writing on it, which appeared to be a code. This code consisted of seemingly random letters spread across five lines:

WRGOABABD
MLIAOI
WTBIMPANETP
MLIABOAIAQC
ITTMTSAMSTGAB

The discovery of this code fueled speculation that the Somerton Man might have been a spy, and the code held the key to his mission or identity. Despite numerous attempts by military intelligence and amateur cryptographers, this code has never been definitively deciphered.

The Rubaiyat Connection and Jessica Thomson

The "Tamam Shud" paper and the reference to The Rubaiyat led investigators to launch a public appeal to locate the specific edition of the book from which the scrap had been torn. Remarkably, a man came forward with a rare edition of The Rubaiyat, published in New Zealand, which he had found in his unlocked car in Glenelg on the night of November 30, 1948. Crucially, the last page of this book, where the phrase "Tamam Shud" would have appeared, was missing, perfectly matching the scrap found in the Somerton Man's pocket.

Even more astonishingly, on the back inside cover of this Rubaiyat book, investigators discovered faint pencil markings. These markings included an unlisted telephone number and more seemingly random letters, separate from the code found in the suitcase. The letters were:

QBYAGOR

The telephone number was traced to a woman named Jessica Ellen "Jestyn" Thomson, a nurse living in Glenelg, not far from Somerton Beach. This connection was a major breakthrough in the investigation, leading to intense scrutiny of Thomson and her possible link to the Somerton Man.

When questioned, Thomson claimed she had no knowledge of the Somerton Man and no idea how her phone number ended up in the book. However, she admitted to owning a copy of The Rubaiyat which she had given to an army lieutenant named Alfred Boxall during World War II. Boxall, when located, was alive and well and still possessed the Rubaiyat given to him by Thomson – with its last page intact. This meant the Rubaiyat found in the car, and linked to the Somerton Man, was a different copy altogether.

Despite her denials, many investigators believed Thomson held the key to the mystery. Her demeanor during questioning was described as evasive, and some circumstantial evidence suggested a deeper connection. Notably, Thomson lived very close to where the body was found and had a known association with The Rubaiyat. Furthermore, it was revealed that Thomson had a son, Robin Thomson, born a few years after the Somerton Man's death. Intriguingly, Robin shared a rare genetic trait with the Somerton Man – a lack of upper incisor teeth and a specific ear shape. This biological link further fueled speculation about the Somerton Man's relationship with Jessica Thomson.

The Inquests and Lack of Identification

Two formal inquests were conducted into the Somerton Man's death, in 1949 and 1958. Both inquests were led by Coroner Thomas Erskine Cleland. The inquests meticulously reviewed all the evidence gathered: the post-mortem findings, the items found on the body and in the suitcase, the "Tamam Shud" paper, the code, and Jessica Thomson's testimony.

Despite the extensive investigations and detailed testimonies, both inquests failed to conclusively identify the Somerton Man or determine the exact cause of his death. Coroner Cleland, in the final inquest, stated his belief that the man had died from poisoning, likely digitalis, despite it not being detected in toxicology reports. He also acknowledged the possibility of espionage but could not definitively prove it. The official verdict remained "cause of death unknown," and the identity of the Somerton Man remained a mystery.

The lack of identification was a major impediment throughout the investigation. Fingerprints, dental records, and photographs of the Somerton Man were circulated internationally, but no matches were ever found in any known databases. This absence of any pre-existing record further deepened the enigma and contributed to the enduring mystery surrounding his identity.

Theories and Speculations

The Tamam Shud case, due to its baffling nature and Cold War backdrop, has spawned numerous theories and speculations over the years. These theories range from plausible scenarios to more outlandish conjectures:

Espionage: The most prominent theory revolves around espionage. The Cold War was intensifying in 1948, and Australia was a strategic location. The coded message, the lack of identification, the removal of clothing labels, and the unusual circumstances of his death all fueled speculation that the Somerton Man was a spy. Some theories suggested he was a Soviet agent, others that he was connected to Western intelligence. The Rubaiyat, with its themes of secrecy and hidden meanings, further lent itself to this interpretation.
Accidental Poisoning: Another theory suggests the Somerton Man was accidentally poisoned. Digitalis, suspected by Coroner Cleland, is a potent toxin derived from the foxglove plant. It's possible he ingested it unknowingly, perhaps through contaminated food or drink. However, the lack of detectable digitalis in the toxicology reports and the deliberate nature of some clues (like the code) make this theory less compelling for many.
Suicide: Suicide is another possibility, although less favored due to the circumstances. The Somerton Man was well-dressed and appeared to be in reasonable health. The "Tamam Shud" phrase, signifying "the end," could be interpreted as a suicide note of sorts. However, the elaborate nature of the clues and the lack of any personal items suggesting despair make suicide a less straightforward explanation.
Love Triangle/Personal Tragedy: The connection to Jessica Thomson and the rare genetic similarities with her son have led to theories involving a personal tragedy or a love triangle. Perhaps the Somerton Man was a former lover of Thomson, and their relationship ended tragically. This theory, while lacking concrete evidence, accounts for the emotional resonance of The Rubaiyat and the Thomson connection.
Accidental Death with Obscured Identity: It's also possible that the Somerton Man's death was accidental, perhaps due to a heart attack or another natural cause, and his identity was deliberately obscured for personal reasons unrelated to espionage. This theory, however, doesn't fully explain the coded message or the "Tamam Shud" paper.

Modern Investigations and Potential Identification

For decades, the Somerton Man remained unidentified, his body buried in an Adelaide cemetery with a simple headstone. However, advancements in forensic technology and genealogical research have breathed new life into the case in recent years.

In 2021, the body of the Somerton Man was exhumed to extract DNA samples using modern techniques. Professor Derek Abbott, a scientist from the University of Adelaide, and genealogist Colleen Fitzpatrick, spearheaded a renewed investigation using these samples and advanced DNA analysis.

In July 2022, Abbott and Fitzpatrick announced a potential breakthrough. Using hair samples taken from the Somerton Man at the original autopsy, combined with genealogical research and DNA analysis, they claimed to have identified the Somerton Man as Carl "Charles" Webb, born in 1905 in Melbourne. Webb was an electrical engineer who had disappeared in the late 1940s.

This potential identification is based on matching DNA from the hair samples to distant relatives of Carl Webb found in genealogical databases. While this evidence is compelling, it is not yet definitively verified by South Australian Police or Forensic Science South Australia. Authorities have stated they are "cautiously optimistic" but are conducting further investigations to confirm the identification beyond doubt.

If confirmed, the identification of Carl Webb would be a monumental step in solving the Tamam Shud mystery. However, even with an identity, many questions would likely remain unanswered. Why was Carl Webb on Somerton Beach? What was the cause of his death? What was the significance of the code and the Rubaiyat? And what was his connection to Jessica Thomson?

Unanswered Questions and Enduring Mystery

Despite the potential identification of Carl Webb, the Tamam Shud case continues to be shrouded in mystery. Many crucial questions remain unanswered:

Cause of Death: Even if identified, the exact cause of Carl Webb's death remains undetermined. While poisoning is suspected, the substance and method remain unknown. Modern forensic toxicology might offer new insights, but definitive proof may be elusive after so many years.
The Code: The coded message found in the suitcase remains undeciphered. If it was indeed a code, its purpose and meaning are still unknown. Was it related to espionage, or something else entirely?
The Rubaiyat and "Tamam Shud": The significance of The Rubaiyat and the "Tamam Shud" phrase is still debated. Was it a cryptic message, a personal symbol, or simply a random item? Its connection to Jessica Thomson adds another layer of complexity.
Jessica Thomson's Role: Jessica Thomson remains a central, enigmatic figure. Her denials and evasiveness during questioning, coupled with the genetic link between the Somerton Man and her son, suggest she knew more than she revealed. Her true relationship with the Somerton Man and her possible involvement in the events leading to his death remain unclear.
Missing Pieces: The deliberate removal of labels, the lack of identification, and the carefully curated items found with the body and in the suitcase all point to a deliberate attempt to obscure the Somerton Man's identity and purpose. What were these missing pieces, and why were they concealed?

The Tamam Shud case, even with potential breakthroughs, stands as a testament to the enduring power of unsolved mysteries. It is a case study in meticulous investigation, forensic science, and the limitations of both. The mystery of the Somerton Man has captivated generations, inspiring books, documentaries, and countless online discussions. Whether the recent identification as Carl Webb is definitively confirmed and whether it will unlock further secrets remains to be seen. But regardless, the Tamam Shud case will likely continue to intrigue and challenge investigators and armchair detectives alike, a haunting reminder of the secrets that can remain buried, even in the face of detailed and persistent investigation. The case serves as a fascinating, if somber, example of how even the most thorough investigations can sometimes reach an impasse, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and enduring mystery.