An original forged escape identity document belonging to Cap...

by Wellers Auctions Ltd
1/5

Hammer

£4,000.00

Fees

An original forged escape identity document belonging to Captain Rupert Barry (one of the longest serving POWs at Colditz) trying to pass himself off as a Belgian agricultural worker under the false name of Albert Van Der Meulen.

This would have been made in secret at Colditz Oflag IVc during WW2 and used in an escape attempt to evade capture from the Germans. Forged documents would take many weeks to complete and this is in remarkable condition considering its age.

Captain Rupert Barry (later Sir Rupert Barry) was at the heart of escaping activity at Colditz and was one of the "Laufen Six" along with Captain Harry Elliot, Major Patrick "Pat" Reid, Captain Richard "Dick" Howe (Escape Officer 1942-45), Lieutenant Peter Allan (famous for "The Mattress" Escape), and Captain Kenneth Lockwood MBE (one of the first six British prisoners at Colditz).

He had made a homemade receiver at Colditz and applied his radio skills, as before the war he had run his own radio company. Whilst at Colditz he invented ingenious means of using encrypted codes hidden in letters from POWs to genuine and ficticious family.

Closed
Auction Date:
30th Oct 24 at 10am GMT

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Sale Dates:
Wed 30th Oct 2024 10am GMT (Lots 0 to 999)