A young cigarette
manufacturer,
Maxilmilian (Walter Curtis)
Duntz
Aged 31, a fellow, having
failed
To register himself as
alien,
Stood before Mr Hopkins,
At Bow Street Police-court.
He had explained himself,
At the visit of a police
officer,
As being a Walter Curtis –
Considering himself as
Norwegian
Of birth - but later
admittance came
That his birthplace had been
Berlin,
But that he did not
recognise
Germany as his country.
Stating his father as being
Norwegian,
Inquiries showed in fact
that his father,
Was actually German and
registered.
It was also confirmed the
detainee
Was sworn to giving service,
In the role as a special
constable.
The magistrate declared,
That this fact made the case
serious.
The counsel for defence,
Said that, while the
prisoner
Had effectively been born in
Berlin,
At the age of 15, his father
Brought him over to Britain,
With German authority to
exempt
‘Mr Curtis’ of German
military service.
Since that time he had
worked
As a medical electrician,
And a cigarette
manufacturer,
Under the name of ‘Walter
Curtis.’
Upon learning of the
enforcement
Of the Alien restriction
order,
‘Mr Curtis’ spoke of this
with a friend,
From the London City
Council.
Whose advice was to register.
So the friend took him to a
station.
Upon talking with the duty
officer,
Told him there was no need
to register.
His consul added the
prisoner
Was married to an English
lady,
And how his sympathies are
British.
In wanting to serve the
country
He enrolled as a special
constable.
The magistrate was quoted
As saying that for such a
post
A man needs to be
British-born.
‘Mr Curtis’ again declared,
His release from any
allegiance
To the existing German
empire.
By the supplied
documentation,
Provided for him at 15
years,
Still in possession of his
father,
Who was at present in
Brussels.
Having no nationality ‘Mr
Curtis’
Considered himself quite
British.
Britain may be an ‘open
house’
But it had not yet come to
that,
Being the magistrate's
reply.
Furthermore came the
question
Over his given name of
Duntz.
Having been chaffed about,
Duntz sounding like dunce,
Led the detainee to use
Curtis.
Witnesses also gave
assurances
Of the prisoner's high
character.
The Magistrate, Mr Hopkins,
Said declarations of good
character
And intentions, was to no
avail.
As this man was quite
German,
Masquerading as an
Englishman.
Assigned a six months
imprisonment,
'Mr Curtis’ was recommended
For deportation, with
probable result
Of being detained until war
was finished.
by
Jamie Mann
Anon.,
1914. Spy Peril - German Special Constable - masquerading as Englishman. The
Daily Telegraph, [online] 9 Sept. p.5. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077809/Daily-Telegraph-September-9-1914.html
[Accessed: 9th September 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 9
September 2014).
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#WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone
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