Cripps Auction
A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about the military members of the court martial panel who tried German spy Josef Jakobs in early August 1941. One of the members was Lieutenant Colonel H.H. Cripps, D.S.O. A few weeks ago, I received an email from David M. who had learned that an item related to Cripps would be coming up for auction in mid-September. Adam Partridge auctioneers is handling the auction of the silver mounted leather document wallet and their site included the following write-up:
WWII ESPIONAGE INTEREST; a hallmarked silver mounted leather document wallet with regimental crest above inscription ‘Presented to the Officers 1st Bn. Royal Fusiliers by Lt. Colonel H. H. Cripps on completion of four happy years from 1933-1937’, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co Ltd, London 1937, 35.8 x 24cm. Lieutenant Colonel H. H. Cripps served as a member of the Court Martial of the German spy Josef Jakobs, who parachuted into Britain but broke his ankle on landing and was soon after apprehended whilst still wearing his flying suit and carrying £500, forged identity papers, a radio transmitter and a German sausage. Jakobs was tried by Court Martial on the 4th and 5th August 1941 and was found guilty and sentenced to execution by Cripps and the other members of the Court led by G. M. Cornish [actually, the President of the court martial was Major General B.T. Wilson. Cornish was General Officer Commanding of the Grenadier Guards to whom Josef had been attached for the purposes of the court martial]. The execution, which was the last to take place at the Tower of London, took place on August 15th 1941 when Jakobs was blindfolded and tied to a Windsor chair, upon which he was shot by a Scots Guards firing squad.
The silver has some dents, as well as spotting, tarnish and scratches. Light general wear, some scuffs and marks to the leather. There has probably been a ladle or sticker on the reverse and this has lifted the surface of the leather. Some rubbing to the maker’s mark on the silver.
Presented by Lt. Col. H.H. Cripps to the officers of the 1st Bn. Royal Fusiliers
(Image courtesy of David Morrison)
At first, I thought that the item belonged to Cripps, but, according to the write-up, the item was given to the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers by Cripps. My earlier blog about Cripps noted that, in 1941, he was serving as the Officer Commanding, Infantry Training Centre, Royal Fusiliers. But, beyond that, I had very little information on him. Although, I may have to do a follow-up blog. Cripps passed away at Bath Lodge, Ballycastle, County Antrim, Ireland on 30 July 1960.
Response from the Sachsenhausen Archives
I wrote a letter to the archives of the former Sachenhausen concentration camp back in June of this year. I received a response a few weeks ago which confirmed what I had already feared. Most of the records were destroyed by the SS in the spring of 1945 before the camp was liberated. There are some scattered records which are already available on the Sachenhausen site. I translated the letter from the archives via Google Translate:
Almost all files of the commandant’s office of Sachsenhausen concentration camp, including the prisoner index and almost all prisoner files, were destroyed by the SS in the spring of 1945 before the concentration camp was liberated. The few, incompletely preserved files are in various archives, mostly in archives of the Russian Federation. The prisoner-related information in these documents is recorded in our archive in databases.
No entries for Josef Jakobs, born in 1898, could be found in our databases.
I can also recommend that you send an inquiry to Arolsen Archives. For decades, these have been the central collection point for all documents held at home and abroad about concentration camp inmates.
I have already written to the Arolsen Archives about Josef Jakobs and they were the ones who provided the documents surrounding his 1938 arrest in relation to the black market passport fiasco. Alas, I think trying to confirm Josef’s story about being interned in Sachsenhausen concentration camp has hit a rather impenetrable brick wall.
Anniversary of Josef Jakobs’ Execution
The Cambridgeshire Live news site had a little blurb on Josef Jakobs published on 14 August 2021. It’s actually more or less accurate but does skim over the story.
Bella in the Wych Elm
Rather interesting piece on Bella from the A.V. Club with more or less accurate information. Nice summary that seems to be tied to the Wikipedia article on her.