University of Oxford
Browse

George Leslie Shorey's War Documents and Artefacts

online resource
posted on 2024-06-05, 16:39 authored by Their Finest Hour Project Team

Great Uncle in Met Police, London in 1930s-40s. Cleared the house when he died. Little is known about the background.

Have spoken to museums in London/Norway - given theories. Found a signed photo of Hitler (no longer have); found holster in umbrella stand with German Walther PPK 770A (has been deactivated). Records for guns in Germany were lost. Two badges - Hitler Youth. English version of Mein Kampf. Supposedly seduced by a Norwegian woman - possibly a Nazi sympathiser.

Died at 98, collected antique clocks. Said he worked for the Norwegian army and flew over mountains. He was a sergeant in the police. Found a Norwegian book about planes/military aircraft.

British passport. He would say he played football in Germany. Passport stamped in Germany in 1939. German paper 25 August (proof he was in Germany). Said he was on last train out of Germany. Museums etc have suggested he was a sympathiser rather than a spy. He and his wife went to Spain during the Franco War. September 1939, News of the World.

Photographs. Postcards - not sure why he had them. Policeman's diary

History

Item list and details

1. German Walther PPK 770A. 2. Hitler Youth badges. 3. English translation of Mein Kampf. 4. Norwegian book on military aircraft. 5. George Leslie Shorey's passport. 6. Newspaper from Germany, 1939. 7. Newspaper from the UK, 1939. 8. Photos of Germany, Aug 1939. 9. Postcards from Germany. 10. Policeman's diary.

Person the story/items relate to

George Leslie Shorey

Person who shared the story/items

Benjamin Edward Atkins

Relationship between the subject of the story and its contributor

He was their great-great uncle

Type of submission

Shared at RGS Worcester Perrins Hall, Worcestershire on 16 June 2023.

Record ID

97725 | WOR029