British pow collaborators

davidbfpo · Jun 26, 2022

A pre-book publication story: 'The Traitor of Colditz: British officer sabotaged his comrades' escape from the notorious PoW camp and was tried for treason. So why, ROBERT VERKAIK asks in a riveting new book, did Walter Purdy escape the gallows TWICE?'
Link: ROBERT VERKAIK: Why did the Traitor of Colditz Walter Purdy escape the gallows TWICE? | Daily Mail Online

The Daily Telegraph had a similar article a few days ago and the reviewer stated:

Robert Verkaik’s book may not offer any great insights into the nature of treason, but it doesn’t really matter. This is a vastly entertaining tale, bursting with astonishing stories and extraordinary characters. Much of it will be new, even to fans of the Second World War espionage genre.
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From and behind a pay wall: The Dagenham car plant egotist who became a Nazi agent

There is no mention of what happened to Purdy after his treason trial, not even his sentence and possible life afterwards.

There is an update elsewhere: Walter Purdy (Treason) and Walter Purdy – The History Room

An Essex paper story in 2008: Quiet man of Thundersley was the Colditz traitor

horsapassenger · Jun 26, 2022

There are some very interesting reports on Oflag 373, Steinburg, which was described as “The Officer's Holiday camp"

PsyWar.Org · Jun 26, 2022

Purdy was given a death sentence which was later commuted to life.

CL1 · Jun 26, 2022

sadly he lived a longer life

An Essex engineer who became a Nazi spy was condemned to death at the Old Bailey.
HE was, or seemed, a nondescript man without ambition, lacking any sort of attitude or opinion. Born in Barking, he moved east to Essex, settling in Thundersley after the war. That move appeared to be the most dramatic thing that Walter Purdy had ever done with his life. He did some sort of job with a firm that made water softeners, then towards the end of his life worked as a storekeeper for Ford in Dagenham. He died in Southend Hospital on July 26 1982

Quiet man of Thundersley was the Colditz traitor

alieneyes · Jun 26, 2022

It's unfortunate this site is no longer active....unless you need the services of a locksmith.

https://web.archive.org/web/20170117133915/https://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/walter_purdy.htm

Introduction
Walter Purdy was one of four British Citizens convicted of High Treason after World War Two. The other three were John Amery, William Joyce and Thomas Cooper.

Case of Roy Walter Purdy
Roy Walter Purdy was born in Barking, Essex, in May 1918. He qualified as a naval engineer, and was an active member of the Ilford branch of the British Union of Fascists. During action off Navik, Norway, Purdy's ship HMS Van Dyck was sunk and he was taken prisoner.

Purdy was taken to several different POW camps in Germany, before entering the naval POW camp at Marlag in 1943. Whilst at this camp he purchased William Joyce's book "Twilight over England" from the camp shop. This was notice by a German guard who offered to get the book autographed by Joyce. When Purdy said that he would like the book autographed, the guard made Purdy another offer. If Purdy agreed to make ten radio broadcasts from Berlin, he would be allowed to escape to a neutral country.

Purdy was unsure whether to accept the offer, but after meeting William Joyce in Berlin, he decided to accept the offer. He began broadcasting in August 1943, using the pseudonym 'Pointer'. After he had given six anti-Semitic talks, Purdy was switched to newsreading broadcasts.

In March 1944, Purdy was arrested by the Germans in Berlin, after he went absent without leave. He was sent to the famous officer's camp at Colditz. Once he arrived at this camp, Purdy was subjected to an extended interrogation by his British POW comrades. They had already heard what activities Purdy has been involved in.

The Senior British Officer informed the German commandant that Purdy's safety could not be guaranteed. However, Purdy had already betrayed J.H.O. Brown, a British prisoner in Berlin who was gathering intelligence by the pretence of co-operating with the Germans. Luckily for Brown, the Germans did not believe Purdy's account.

Purdy was eventually moved by the Germans, and used as a translator for the a SS propaganda regiment. After his unexplained absence in Berlin, Purdy was kept under close guard by the Germans.

After the war ended in 1945, Walter Purdy was tried at the Central Criminal Court in London with High Treason. He was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.

Like the case of Thomas Cooper, Purdy's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. It was felt that Purdy was a follower in treason, not a leader and recruiter.

Walter Purdy was released from jail in 1954. He had a child called Stephan by a woman called Margaret Weitemeir born near Ravensbruck on 5 April 1945. Purdy planned to return to her but this never happened. He married his childhood sweetheart called Muriel in 1957 but she soon died. He married another lady in about 1960 and had a son. Walter Purdy died in Southend during 1982.
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Should you want more, then a free 160 MB file awaits. Lots of good stuff. Roy Walter PURDY, alias WALLACE, POINTER: a member of the British Union of Fascists... | The National Archives "I am sorry to have to pass you this screaming baby"

Roy Walter PURDY, alias WALLACE, POINTER: a member of the British Union of Fascists before the war, he served as a junior engineer in the Royal Navy, until in 1940 his ship was sunk and he was captured. As a prisoner of war he broadcast for the enemy and prepared propaganda. He was convicted of treason in 1945 and sentenced to death, later reduced to life imprisonment. While he was on trial an ex girl-friend in whom he had confided his treason attempted to blackmail him and was herself tried for that offence and convicted.
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Regards,

Dave

Tim091 · Jun 29, 2022

Reg Beattie worked with/for BQMS Brown and his diary of the time is a good read: Captive Plans The POW Diary of Reg Beattie.

He was suspected of being a traitor by other prisoners but was in fact "friendly" with the Germans to get information. Information he was feeding back to Mi6.

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