X. Finally, Owens was given ‘CHRISTMAS CAROL’ as the new codeword to indicate wind speed. Wind direction was to be indicated by A for North, B for South, C for East and D for West.
As instructed, Owens raised the issue of money and Rantzau explained that there had been trouble with his agents in Britain, and that they were making new arrangements for payment. He was given £215 as an advance, which had been collected in Holland as £1 notes and then changed into £5 notes at a bank in Antwerp. Referring to C HARLIE , Owens informed Rantzau that he had written to him and told him to get the apparatus he needed to make microphotographs.
In his subsequent report to MI5, S NOW stated that the Germans were keen to know about plans to lay mines in the Irish Sea as they wanted to disrupt traffic around Liverpool. As soon as C HARLIE was ready to commence operations, Owens was to inform Rantzau who would start putting his agents in touch with him. Owens was told that these agents would use the phrase ‘greetings from Auerbach’ as their recognition code.
Apparently the Germans had not been too impressed by Gwilym Williams , as they had found him to be too nervous. Owens said that he was satisfied with him, but if they wanted to carry on making use of Williams it would be best to contact him direct. Despite their concerns about Williams, the Germans still intended to send explosives by submarine to South Wales as arranged previously, but now they would wait until Owens had given them the go-ahead.
Owens was also to make arrangements to receive a new kind of explosive that had been designed to sabotage shipping. The bombs were to be concealed in electric accumulators which neatly fitted with Owens’ battery business. Each of the accumulators would contain a bomb but, although charged, in case they were checked by customs they would not contain any distilled water, which rendered them safe. Detonation would be controlled by a small timer which could be set to go off at any time from one hour to seventeen days. When he was ready to receive the bombs Owens was to write to the Societé de Consignation et Affrètement (SOCONAF), at 25–27 rue Jesus, Antwerp. He was also told about a new type of incendiary device which was to be packed in Swedish bread. When the bread was opened it would reveal a small ring which, when pulled, would ignite twenty seconds later.
MI5’s interest was caught by a further item reported by S NOW . Allegedly a man codenamed L LANLOCH was to stand as a candidate at the next elections . He was described as exceedingly influential, especially in high military circles and may already have passed on a good deal of information to the Germans. This man would write to J OHNNY and arrange to meet him at his club. After this meeting, Owens was to go to Antwerp to collect the names of other Members of Parliament who were alleged currently to be helping the Germans. If Owens’ information was true then the Nazi infiltration of British society had reached levels more worrying than MI5 had previously realised.
Rantzau also informed Owens that he might be needed in Canada as the Germans were very interested in war materiel produced there. In particular , they wanted to find out about the production of artillery shells by theCanadian National Car Company of Hamilton, Ontario. The Germans were also keen to discover what they could about new aircraft manufacturing plants in Toronto and Montreal, and the names and particulars of the firm producing Bren guns. They also wanted to contact someone in Canada who would be prepared to put explosives on board cargo ships destined for Britain.
On his trip to Brussels Owens also met ‘the Commander’, but this time he was accompanied by a woman whom Owens described as being fairly tall, with medium hair, who spoke good English and was well dressed. She was about thirty-eight years old and wrote shorthand. Before the war she had lived in Farnborough and London, and had
As instructed, Owens raised the issue of money and Rantzau explained that there had been trouble with his agents in Britain, and that they were making new arrangements for payment. He was given £215 as an advance, which had been collected in Holland as £1 notes and then changed into £5 notes at a bank in Antwerp. Referring to C HARLIE , Owens informed Rantzau that he had written to him and told him to get the apparatus he needed to make microphotographs.
In his subsequent report to MI5, S NOW stated that the Germans were keen to know about plans to lay mines in the Irish Sea as they wanted to disrupt traffic around Liverpool. As soon as C HARLIE was ready to commence operations, Owens was to inform Rantzau who would start putting his agents in touch with him. Owens was told that these agents would use the phrase ‘greetings from Auerbach’ as their recognition code.
Apparently the Germans had not been too impressed by Gwilym Williams , as they had found him to be too nervous. Owens said that he was satisfied with him, but if they wanted to carry on making use of Williams it would be best to contact him direct. Despite their concerns about Williams, the Germans still intended to send explosives by submarine to South Wales as arranged previously, but now they would wait until Owens had given them the go-ahead.
Owens was also to make arrangements to receive a new kind of explosive that had been designed to sabotage shipping. The bombs were to be concealed in electric accumulators which neatly fitted with Owens’ battery business. Each of the accumulators would contain a bomb but, although charged, in case they were checked by customs they would not contain any distilled water, which rendered them safe. Detonation would be controlled by a small timer which could be set to go off at any time from one hour to seventeen days. When he was ready to receive the bombs Owens was to write to the Societé de Consignation et Affrètement (SOCONAF), at 25–27 rue Jesus, Antwerp. He was also told about a new type of incendiary device which was to be packed in Swedish bread. When the bread was opened it would reveal a small ring which, when pulled, would ignite twenty seconds later.
MI5’s interest was caught by a further item reported by S NOW . Allegedly a man codenamed L LANLOCH was to stand as a candidate at the next elections . He was described as exceedingly influential, especially in high military circles and may already have passed on a good deal of information to the Germans. This man would write to J OHNNY and arrange to meet him at his club. After this meeting, Owens was to go to Antwerp to collect the names of other Members of Parliament who were alleged currently to be helping the Germans. If Owens’ information was true then the Nazi infiltration of British society had reached levels more worrying than MI5 had previously realised.
Rantzau also informed Owens that he might be needed in Canada as the Germans were very interested in war materiel produced there. In particular , they wanted to find out about the production of artillery shells by theCanadian National Car Company of Hamilton, Ontario. The Germans were also keen to discover what they could about new aircraft manufacturing plants in Toronto and Montreal, and the names and particulars of the firm producing Bren guns. They also wanted to contact someone in Canada who would be prepared to put explosives on board cargo ships destined for Britain.
On his trip to Brussels Owens also met ‘the Commander’, but this time he was accompanied by a woman whom Owens described as being fairly tall, with medium hair, who spoke good English and was well dressed. She was about thirty-eight years old and wrote shorthand. Before the war she had lived in Farnborough and London, and had
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