While researching my book on Josef Jakobs, I necessarily delved into the files of the other LENA spies who were charged under the Treachery Act of 1940. The vast majority of spies who were brought to trial were convicted and executed by hanging. As I read the files, I became intrigued by the tactics used […]
Werner Walti – Facing Death without Defence Counsel Read More »
Most readers of this blog will know that Jack Mossop and family were dragged into the Bella in the Wych Elm mystery by Jack’s former wife, Una (nee Abel) Hainsworth a.k.a. Anna of Claverley. The West Mercia police files on the Bella case have a folder on Jack and Una’s son, Julian M.A. Mossop who,
An Older and Wiser Julian Mossop Read More »
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
Odds and Sods – Cripps, Sachsenhausen, Media Read More »
A few months ago, I received an email from Richard S. who said that, in 1941, his grandfather had given German spy Josef Jakobs his “last ride of freedom” on his milk float from Dove House Farm to the Ramsey Police Station. I suspected that Richard might be the grandson of Harry Godfrey as I
The Dairy Farmer and the German Spy Read More »
German spy Karel Richter landed near London Colney via parachute in May 1941. He was quickly apprehended by the local police and sent to MI5’s secret interrogation centre, Latchmere House (a.k.a. Camp 020 or simply Ham). During his many interrogations at Latchmere House, Richter stated that he was trying to get back to America where
Who was German spy Karel Richter’s Fiancée in New York Read More »
Introduction While researching the story of my grandfather, Josef Jakobs, I have dipped into the stories of many of the other German spies who were executed by the British during the Second World War. I have always been impressed by Karel Richard Richter’s defence lawyer, C.G.L. DuCann. He had only a few hours to familiarize
Charles G.L. DuCann: The Barrister who Defended a Doomed German Spy Read More »
Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about two officers from the Ramsey Home Guard, Captain William Henry Newton and Lieutenant John Curedale. Both officers were called upon to apprehend German spy Josef Jakobs who had landed by parachute on the evening on 31 January 1941. Lying in a potato field all night, just
The two Ramsey Home Guard Officers who apprehended German spy Josef Jakobs Read More »
Kurt Karl Goose (a.k.a. double agent GOOSE/GANDER) landed in England in October 1940 but was captured quickly thanks to an observant farmer. While MI5 tried to use him as a double agent, his wireless set could only transmit messages, not receive them, so his usefulness was limited. After a few months, Goose was sent to
The Family of German spy Kurt Karl Goose Read More »
Gustav Goldemann was the ill-fated Jewish German in-law of German spy Josef Jakobs. Goldemann was swept up in a transport of Jews from Berlin to Riga in 1942. He would never return. I published an earlier blog about Goldemann’s life, as best as I could piece it together based on readily accessible information on the
The Gestapo Orders that Sealed the Fate of Gustav Goldemann Read More »
I never really thought of MI5 as having a sense of humour. That was, until I received an email from Dr. Nicholas Hiley who kindly shared some MI5 cartoons from the First World War which seem to suggest that at least some of the MI5 officers had a sense of humour! Nick had initially written
The Comical Humour of MI5 Cartoons Read More »