A few days prior to Josef Jakobs’ execution on 15 August, 1941, Lt. Col. W.E. Hinchley-Cooke of MI5 met with W.B. Purchase, the Northern District Coroner (London) and G.H. Cox, Assistant Adjutant General of the London District (military). The three men met around 10 August to discuss the procedure surrounding a coroner’s inquest in the […]
The Tower of London is a Fortress and Royal Palace, not a Prison Read More »
On 4 and 5 August, 1941, German spy Josef Jakobs was brought before a court martial at the Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea. The court martial had a panel of “judges” who were high-ranking military officers. It was there job to decide whether Josef was guilty or innocent of the charges brought against him.
Condensed timelines of Josef Jakobs’ time in England generally have him landing in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, being transferred to Ham Common (a.k.a. Camp 020) on the outskirts of London and then being executed at the Tower of London. In truth, Josef was transferred between several London locations from February 1 to August 15. On February 1,
A Brief Internment in Brixton Prison for German Spy Josef Jakobs Read More »
Last year, I wrote a post about the Miniature Rifle Range at the Tower of London. The rifle range was used for the firing squad executions of eight World War I spies and one World War II spy (Josef Jakobs). Two other World War I spies, Haicke Petrus Marinus Janssen and Willem Johannes Roos were
Tower of London – The Summer of 1915 – Plans for a Miniature Rifle Range Read More »
I went to prison while visiting London last year. Before that statement gives my parents heart failure, I must note that I went to prison as a visitor, not as an inmate. It was an enlightening and disturbing experience. A few months prior to my visit, I had contacted Prison Officer Stewart McLaughlin who also
A Peek inside Wandsworth Prison Read More »
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). The poppies cascade out of the Tower from two points, the
Shot at the Tower – A Commemoration of the Spies executed in the Miniature Rifle Range Read More »
During World War I and World War 2, a dozen German spies, including Josef Jakobs, were executed by firing squad at the Tower of London. Ten of the executions took place in the miniature rifle range and two took place in the Tower moat. More than one Rifle Range? When one hears of the miniature
The Tower of London’s Shed of Death Read More »
On 30 June 1894, four years before Josef Jakobs was born, the Prince of Wales (soon to be King Edward VII) officially opened Tower Bridge. Since then the bridge has become an iconic symbol of London. A marvellous feat of engineering, the bridge also has some hidden features which played a part in the saga
Tower Bridge Mortuary and Josef Jakobs Read More »
It is a well-established fact that Josef Jakobs was executed at the Tower of London on 15 August 1941. What is not so clear is this: was Jakobs held at the Tower prior to his execution? Several stories variously suggest that he was held at the Tower (a) for the night prior to his death,
Was Josef Jakobs held as a prisoner of the Tower of London? Read More »
On the morning of 4 August, 1941, Josef Jakobs was driven from Wandsworth Prison to the Duke of York’s Headquarters. His court martial convened at 10:30 am and concluded at 1 pm the following day. The Duke of York’s Headquarters is a building located on King’s Road in the Chelsea area of London, just southwest
Court Martial of Josef Jakobs held at Duke of York’s Headquarters, Chelsea Read More »