Shot at the Tower – A Commemoration of the Spies executed in the Miniature Rifle Range

The year 2014 is the centenary of the beginning of World War I. From August 5 to November 11, the moat in the Tower of London has been progressively filled with ceramic poppies, one for every Commonwealth soldier who died during the war (888,246).

Tower of London poppy display (Copyright G.K. Jakobs)
Tower of London poppy display (Copyright G.K. Jakobs)

The poppies cascade out of the Tower from two points, the Legge’s Mount tower at the northwest corner of the Tower and from a point along the eastern wall.

Eastern wall cascade of poppies (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Eastern wall cascade of poppies (copyright G.K. Jakobs).

The eastern cascade of poppies is located along that stretch of the outer wall near the Constable and Martin towers. During the two world wars, a miniature rifle range was located in the Outer Ward, between the Constable and Martin Towers.

Eastern cascade of poppies - rounded Constable Tower (left) and Martin  Tower (right) (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Eastern cascade of poppies – rounded Constable Tower (left) and Martin Tower (right) (copyright G.K. Jakobs).

The rifle range was torn down in the 1970s and a covered car park now occupies the former site between the Constable and Martin Towers. Until this year, no memorial has marked the site of the rifle range nor commemorated the deaths that occurred there during the two world wars.

Car park roof where rifle range used to sit.  (copyright G.K. Jakobs)
Car park roof where rifle range used to sit. (copyright G.K. Jakobs)

Historic Royal Palaces commissioned a four part installation, Shot at the Tower, to document the history of the miniature rifle range. The display is located on the Wall Walk between the Constable and Martin towers.

Commemorative installation for the Miniature Rifle Range.  (Copyright G.K. Jakobs)
Commemorative installation for the Miniature Rifle Range. (Copyright G.K. Jakobs)

The first part of the installation presents the images of twelve men who were executed at the Tower during the two world wars.

Wartime Executions display (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Wartime Executions display (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).

The three-dimensional brass images give the name, nationality and execution date of the spies. Eleven men were executed at the Tower during World War I. Carl Hans Lody was the first, on November 6, 1914. Two men were executed in the Tower moat by firing squad during the summer of 1915, while the old rifle range was replaced by a new one.

Wartime Executions display - WWI spies (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Wartime Executions display – WWI spies (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Wartime Executions display (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Wartime Executions display (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).

On the right hand side of the display is the photograph of Josef Jakobs, the only spy executed by firing squad in Britain during World War 2.

Wartime Executions display at the Tower of London--Josef Jakobs (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Wartime Executions display at the Tower of London–Josef Jakobs (Copyright G.K. Jakobs).

The second display shows replicas of some of the items that incriminated the spies: coded letters, lemon juice (for secret writing), bottles of invisible ink, etc.

Evidence for the Prosecution (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Evidence for the Prosecution (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Evidence for the Prosecution (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Evidence for the Prosecution (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Evidence for the Prosecution (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Evidence for the Prosecution (copyright G.K. Jakobs).

The third display presents some of the documents surrounding the execution of the World War I spies, including a replica of a letter that Carl Hans Lody wrote to the commander of the Grenadier Guards at the Tower.

Executions at the Tower (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Executions at the Tower (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Executions at the Tower - map showing location of rifle range.  (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Executions at the Tower – map showing location of rifle range. (copyright G.K. Jakobs).

The fourth display is a brass replica of a rifle rack containing Lee-Enfield rifles used by the firing squads. A slightly more modern version of the Lee-Enfield was also used at the execution of Josef Jakobs in 1941.

Executions at the Tower - replica rifle stand.  (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Executions at the Tower – replica rifle stand. (copyright G.K. Jakobs).

The four-part display was designed and created by Loz Simpson of Topografik, a tactile display company.

Loz Simpson of Topografik (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Loz Simpson of Topografik (copyright G.K. Jakobs).

Many people are surprised to learn that more people were executed within the walls of the Tower during the 20th century than during the time of the Tudors. It is hoped that this new display will kindle the interest of visitors in the stories of these men and the varied history of the Tower.

Shot at the Tower installation (copyright G.K. Jakobs).
Shot at the Tower installation (copyright G.K. Jakobs).

See the Historic Royal Palaces link on Twitter.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.