Why do you think people were afraid of this person?
A story taken from the Buntingford General Occurence book
What did this spy supposedly look like?
Why do you think it was reported?
There were some alarms, in particular the appearance in several locations of an alleged German spy, who dressed in a variety of disguises. The first mention of him is on 26 August 1914 in a copy of telegram from a naval centre in Hull: “A German spy in the uniform of a boy scout..fully armed” gave a sentry a drug, pills and liquors. He was reported to be a “most dangerous character, fully armed going south a motor car accompanied by a motor cycle ridden by an alleged German spy” and “when challenged fired at the constable” Further reports noted a “man representing himself as a scout master selling pills and liquor to sentry”.
The man continued south, and on 28 August there were reports of a motor cyclist coming from Hitchin who, when challenged, drew a pistol and rode off to the railway station. He was described as -“medium height, moustache, macintosh overalls, leather helmet” The following night, sentries guarding the Digswell viaduct were alarmed by gunfire and started firing indiscriminately.
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