Kitchener - the Powers Hoax

[PhilB]

I read that there were calls in the mid 20s for the state funeral of the alleged remains of Lord Kitchener following the publication of a hoax story by Frank Powers. Can anyone expand on this?

[truthergw]

Hadn't heard of that one, Phil. There were repeated reports for decades of sightings. A very strong rumour had him spotted in Russia. One assumes on the side of the White Russians.

[MelPack]

Phil

Wiki has this snippet:

Probably the most spectacular Kitchener-related conspiracy was the effort in 1926 by a hoaxer named Frank Power to actually recover and bury Kitchener's body, which he claimed had been found by a Norwegian fisherman. He brought a coffin back from Norway and prepared it for burial in St. Paul's. At this point, however, the authorities intervened and the coffin was opened in the presence of police and a distinguished pathologist. The box was found to contain only tar for weight. There was widespread public outrage at Power, but he was ultimately never prosecuted.[9]

Mel

[Nigel Marshall]

Phil,

www.hmshampshire.co.uk might be a good place to start. I lifted this passage from there. You might find it interesting.

Frank Power was a journalist who caused much trouble over the sinking of the Hampshire. In October 1925 he began a weekly series of articles in the "REFEREE", a popular Sunday paper of the time. Week after week he piled claim upon claim, causing a public outcry. Public meetings were held all over the country, and the government began discreet enquiries, interviewing many persons about their recollection of events. This information was pulled together and published in August 1926, and finally told the whole truth about the Hampshire.

Power then changed his line, and claimed that Kitchener's body had been located in Norway. He made a trip to Norway with a film crew and a few weeks later a coffin arrived at Waterloo station in London, where Power picked it up. At this stage the authorities intervened and the coffin was opened in the presence of the police and Sir Bernard Spilsbury (the leading forensic scientist of the time). Power did not attend the opening as he was seeing his wife off on holiday!!

The coffin was empty, and it was later proved that Power had engaged in an elaborate hoax. The "REFEREE" disowned Power and he was interviewed several times by the police, but in the end he was not prosecuted.

This was a sad episode, causing a lot of grief to relatives of the men on the Hampshire.

Cheers,

Nigel

[MelPack]

And you can buy his book for a mere £225 here:

http://www.alibris.co.uk/search/books/qwor...hener%20mystery

Mel

[phil@basildon]

In 1926 Frank Powers bought back a coffin from Norway that he claimed contained the remains of Kitchener and that they had been found by a Norwegian fisherman. The authorities actually set the wheels in motion for a state funeral when it was discovered that the coffin contained only tar. Frank Powers was not prosecuted over the affair after he claimed he acted in good faith and was unaware of the coffins true contents.

[Martin Bennitt]

You can buy his book here for "only" 65 quid

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B...LI/ref=dp_olp_1

cheers Martin B

[Terry_Reeves]

There is also a copy on ABE Books for just £177 - 22 pence. I am a bit concerned about the 22 p. Frank Powers was a bit more astute than we think. TR (Enterprises) Inc. would have been proud to have him on board.

TR