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Post by nigels on Jun 2, 2020 2:04:30 GMT
Hello, my first post so please be kind. Incidental to my topic I had problems registering which you might like to be aware of. My main email is with BT and I never - despite repeated requests - received the verification code required and it did NOT show up as SPAM either, as suggested it might in the help section. I changed my registration details to use a gmail address and received the verification email arrived straight away. So for anyone attempting to register with a BT email address, be warned, you may have problems. On to the business of Ibrahim Volkoff / Yolkoff www.unsolved-murders.co.uk/murder-content.php?key=6207&termRef=Ibrahim%20VolkoffI'm as certain as one can be that this is the man reported in the press as Ibrahim Volkoff in the 1945 story (as above) and that he is now buried in the Free French section at Brookwood Military Cemetery under a Muslim headstone. The date on the headstone agrees with that in the press reporting as 5th August 1945 and other than the change from 'V' to 'Y' and that the fact he's become French rather than the 'Russian' reported in the press, I find it very hard to believe that this isn't the same man. His Death was registered in quarter July-Sept 1945 Page 269 VIC-VOS: Volkoff Ibrahim, Age 21, District: Newcastle L. Volume 6b Page 69, which ties up with the location of the Keele Hall Camp, but what happened subsequently is a bit of a mystery. A little background: during the Great War a special cemetery (initially run by the War Department then later by the Imperial/Commonwealth War Graves Commission (I/CWGC)) was set up for Muslim burials on Horsell Common near Woking. It was used for the burial of some of the Muslim soldiers who died in the UK in that war, and then used again during WWII and amongst the burials made then were those of three 'Free French' Muslim servicemen - one of these being 'Yolkoff'. I would imagine that this would have been considered the most suitable location for these burials at that time The walled cemetery at Horsell was repeatedly vandalised during the late 60s and was eventually abandoned (It has since been restored, less graves, as a 'Peace Garden' and is Historic England Grade II listed) with the bodies removed to nearby Brookwood Military Cemetery. At this time a special plot was set up there for those of 'Empire/Commonwealth' Muslim Servicemen, and because there is also a French Military section there, the three 'Free French' servicemen (including that of Yolkoff/Volkoff) were re-interred within that all under French Muslim style headstones.This link www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish /3045050681/lightbox/ should show that of Yolkoff's which carries the inscription: " IBRAHIM YOLKOFF - SOLDAT F.F.L - 5.8.1945 " together with a traditional Muslim text common to the other French Muslim headstones. There is no indication that Yolkoff/Volkoff was buried as anything other than as a Frenchmen, but how did this come about? At the time of his suicide - if it was such, taking into account that a murder (that of Stubbs) was carried out with the same gun - the authorities appear to have had very little information on him other than that he was said to be a Russian (or possibly a Cypriot), may have committed murder in Russia and tried to commit suicide previously at another camp. There does not appear to have been any indication that he was French or for that matter that he was a practising Muslim, and I would have thought it likely that if there was any likelihood of this being known, it would have been mentioned at his inquest and in the, albeit minimal, reporting. Yolkoff/Volkoff does certainly sound Russian or eastern European, but this doesn't rule out that he could of been a Muslim or a French citizen, it's just that there doesn't appear to be any obvious sign of evidence available to account for the decision to bury him as such. His forename Ibrahim doesn't help either as, in my understanding, Ibrahim (or Abraham) is a common prophet to the Christian, Muslim & Jewish faiths - there could even be the possibility that he might have been a Russian Jew, with being a Cypriot the least likely. I did contact the CWGC a few year ago, and the confirmed that they had no more information as they were looking after the grave's maintenance on behalf of the French Government; similarly, I have been unable to track any record for him on the French online equivalent of the CWGC, and a request to the 'Secretariat General pour l’Administration Direction de la Memoire, du Patrimoine et des Archives' didn't, unfortunately, get a response. I'm not really expecting an answer to this conundrum which is probably well and truly buried in the large movements of refugees post WWII, but thought that if nothing else, this aspect deserves to be considered when looking at the Volkoff/Yolkoff story - at least the change from 'V' to 'Y' can be easily explained as a mis-recording, mis-reading or a simple typographical error. NigelS
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2020 11:22:37 GMT
Interesting observation.
I have added the link to Flick and also your post to the site entry as its clearly involved and details and would require some thinking to otherwise integrate. But the fact that the date on the grave stone is the same suggests its credibility etc.
This is one of those cases where I also feel its a bit of a cheat adding it as it does look like suicide as opposed to some gargantuan conspiracy etc, but I generally add this sort of entry when there is any doubt or it plays significantly in the case of some other mystery, in this case Herbert Stubbs
However, what I find most interesting is how it supports the underlying facets of historical research itself. In essence, historic facts require reference, and in particular, reference from multiple sources and that when those sources are referred to they should match in their facts. In this case, clearly the dates are the same and the names are nearly identical. This might sound trivial, but its the foundation of historic research. This is key the further you go back, for example, the historic research into Jesu Christ, there are only a small finite number of refernces that historians have been battling over the intereptation of for years. Also, the Roman occupation of England and in particular major battles, none are know of. The point being that even in near modern history, the number of absolute historic eferences can be scant, this case, Ibrahim Volkoff / Yolkoff being a good example. And clearly you have unearthed another separate reference to this historic incident. Conversley, the second world war has more reference material than you can shake a stick at.
Whilst this concept is not 'mind blowing', its one that always fascinates me as it effects how history is interpreted and presented. I often write up a case, and then, at the end, find another resource where the case has already been written up, maybe in a magazine and find that its nuance is flaired in a certain way. This is especially the case in newspaper articles where reporters know the essence of the details at issue. For example, when they open a report sating that the case revolved around whether a person was there or not or was seen by a witness correctly or not, or whether the public gallery booed or cheered the verdict, none of which are presented in depositions etc. The point being however, that the main facets should match, like jigsaw pieces and that they should match without effort. Its also worth noting that that is both how courts work, and donts, as the facts should lead the jury to a conclusion, but can also require them to make a decision, in circumstantial evidence based on how they feel, which has little to do with facts. Judges will often comment on that. So a good historian really only presents the jigsaw pieces and like science, anyone that puts them together should produce the same picture.
Of course the information you supplied fits in with that, the registration of his death, which you provide almost fully, but dont supply the actual source/publication. The fact that you mention that he was suspected of having committed murder in Russia before is also intersting and also that he attempted suicide before. It all supports the obvious concusion that he myrdered stubbs and committed suide, but its not proof.
Whilst I don't think its a massivly intersting case like Jack the Ripper or anythng, its interesting to consider what else could be found, on this, and all other cases. Its unlikely that much else could be found out, but evidence that might exist could be plans of Keele Camp, histories from Keel Camp and the like. Maybe some whre there are police notes or military notes on his death, maybe even people still alive who know whar happened.
It is worth noting that Stubbs was said to have been murdered by three foreign soldiers - so the mystery is not completely solved by Ibrahims death, and you might have thought that Stubb's wife might have recognised him if he had been. So its not unlikely that he was not involved, and also not too far fetched to consider that he was murdered in order to make it look like he did it, etc etc.
Anyway, thats just my immediate observations. I dont have my thinking cap on right now, but it might halp if you can complete this refernce?
quarter July-Sept 1945 Page 269 VIC-VOS: Volkoff Ibrahim, Age 21, District: Newcastle L. Volume 6b Page 69
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Post by nigels on Jun 4, 2020 12:27:02 GMT
Thanks for your comments and observations. The record is from Free BMD's transcript of the General Record Office death registration indexes for 1945 and they do provide access to a scan of the original page www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl? scan=1&r=190932061:1751&d=bmd_1588661647 ; The reporting of Volkoff's suicide that I've seen says that the inquest was adjourned, but I haven't come across any further reporting on the case possibly it was left open? (my knowledge on this aspect of Coroner's inquests is lacking) or possibly, as the police had decided that Volkoff probably wasn't involved in Stubb's murder, the press considered there would be little or no interest to the public in further reporting of the matter. I had toyed with getting a copy death certificate, but at £11 and the likelihood that it wouldn't yield any further information, didn't dwell on the idea for too long! I suspect that the information on how it came to be decided that Volkoff was FFL and qualified for burial under one of its headstones (and later in one of its burial grounds) - I doubt the French would have just accepted without some knowledge - must be recorded somewhere, but getting at that information is another matter altogether. I have carried out a brief search on Keele Hall Camp and discovered that it forms the location for today's Keele University. I wasn't expecting to find anything that might help, but this history page www.keele.ac.uk/thekeeleoralhistoryproject/historyinkeelebuildings/ mentions the unsolved murder of a Polish woman - unfortunately no name given - when she was returning there from Newcastle in 1948. I couldn't find any mention in the cases on the website for a Polish looking name, but the mention of it having been the only murder within the estate puzzled me as there was, although a subtle difference, the case of of the manslaughter of Cypriot by another. Nigel
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Post by liferreilly on Jun 4, 2020 14:17:14 GMT
Hi Nigels
Don't know anything about the case above, but was interested and did a little reading. The inquest was resumed, see below.
report from the Staffordshire Advertiser (Saturday 1st September 1945):
Keele Camp Inquest A verdict of suicide was recorded by the Deputy District Coroner (Mr R.S Marshall) at the resumed inquest at Keele Hall repatriation camp on the body of Ibrahim Volkoff, said to be a Turkish-speaking Russian, who was found dead in a camp with an automatic pistol of German origin by his side. The inquest had been adjourned for the translation of a letter in Russian found in the deceased's kit. At the resumed inquest Supt J. H. Swain, of the Staffordshire County Police, said inquiries made about the deceased had revealed no further information, and Capt. M. Haron, of a Palestinian Regiment, to which Volkoff was attached, gave evidence that the letter contained a passage to the effect that he was about to commit suicide.
Not sure if any of this helps, but good luck with your research.
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Post by Admin on Jun 4, 2020 15:22:13 GMT
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Post by nigels on Jun 5, 2020 16:56:55 GMT
Thank you both Not sure if any of this helps, but good luck with your research. I believe it might, then again it might not! The piece gives some useful information which makes it possible to speculate - I must emphasise it is only that, as there is no concrete evidence to prove it - as to the Volkoff/Yolkoff' French connection. The article gives that Capt M. Haron was of a " Palestinian Regiment, to which Volkoff was attached." At that time Palestine was still under British Control indicating that Haron was probably serving with British/Commonwealth forces. A search through the London Gazette does find, in the years 1943-46, No. 266816 Moshe Haron of the Palestine Section, Pioneer Corp being promoted from 2nd Lieut to, on relinquishing his commission on 7th March, 1946, the honorary rank of Captain. (a later record - although not really relevant other than showing, assuming it is him, that he did end up in the UK - gives, in a " LIST of ALIENS to whom Certificates of Naturalization have been granted by the Secretary of State...": "…Silberberg, Moshe Vladimir (known as Moshe Haron); Palestine; Export Merchant; 19, Eton, Court, Eton Avenue, London, N.W.3. 9 May, 1947. " Getting back to Volkoff, I revisited the headstone inscription at Brookwood "... SOLDAT, FFL." Initially I had assumed that FFL was "Free French", but I'm now thinking that it might actually be " French Foreign Legion" (although this is, of course, the English Abbreviation; I'm not sure what it might be in French but as the Legion is known as Légion étrangère, probably LE.) The FFL was well known as accepting pretty much anyone suitable for military service regardless of their nationality, religion, past history, background, even crimes & false IDs - ie the classic running away to fight with the FFL scenario. So it seems possible that Volkoff may enlisted with the FFL (possibly even running away from a murder he'd committed in Russia when serving with the Russian army) to serve at some stage with them attached to the British Army Palestine Section explaining Capt Haron's knowledge of him. The FFL were certainly involved in Allied Forces' campaigns in that neck of the woods during WWII so the attachment of an FFL soldier (or for that matter units) to British forces doesn't seem unreasonable. One of the press reports on Volkoff's suicide (Western Daily Press, Wednesday 08 August 1945) gives that, before being moved to the UK, he had been "passing himself as a Cypriot" in German Prisoner of War camp, which, as a " Turkish speaking Russian" clearly wouldn't have been difficult for him. However, In going back through all this - I'd left it untouched for two or three years - I came across another press report which I'd overlooked, on the suicide but written prior to the inquest, which might negate the FFL theory and even put some doubt on that the man that committed suicide was even Ibrahim Volkoff. From the Dundee Courier, Tuesday 07 August 1945, : ‘Russo,’ Camp Mystery Man, Shot Spoke Turkish And Served With Russians An identity puzzle is presented in the case of a foreign soldier, believed to be a Russian, and found dead with a bullet wound in the neck at Keele Hall Camp, Newcastle-under-Lyme. on Sunday night.
A revolver was nearby.
The body was lying behind one of the concrete huts of the camp, where are stationed about 700 released prisoners of war of various nationalities.
His name is not known, and an officer said the man came to the camp without any official papers and they were not sure of his nationality. He was stated by others at the camp to be a Turkish-speaking Russian. He was known as " Russo."
TWICE CAPTURED.
A Greek soldier able to speak Turkish said the man told him he joined the Russian Army at the outbreak of war, was captured by the Germans, escaped from prison camp and joined with some soldiers from Cyprus, who befriended him. He was then recaptured by the Germans. On his recapture he gave false name and said he was a British subject, thinking he would be better treated. When released he was among Cypriots.
For several days Chief Inspector Barrett and Detective-Sergeant Mackechnie, of Scotland Yard, have been carrying out an investigation at the camp, following the death of Herbert Stubbs, a 25-year-old brickyard worker, who was shot while walking with his wife in Gallows-tree Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ten days ago.
After Sunday night's discovery they were recalled to the camp and resumed interrogations. The police do not suspect foul play in "Russo's" case. None of the press reporting of the inquest mentions, other than by the letter that was found, how the man was identified as Ibrahim Volkoff. Capt Haron gave evidence that the letter contained a paragraph in which the writer gave their possible intention to commit suicide. It was also given that Volkoff was attached to Haron's Palestinian Regiment. The letter might well have been mentioned which force Volkoff had served with and more on his background, unfortunately - if it did - it didn't make into the press; similarly there's no mention of whether the letter was found on the body, in possessions said to be his, or even firm proof that he actually wrote it. Yes, Haron knew the man - possibly only by name - but there's no mention of him having actually identified the body - he may well have done so, but, again, there's no firm evidence. A Russian born FFL man may well have been attached to the British Palestine forces (BPF), and an escaped Turkish speaking Russian soldier POW may well have fallen in with Turkish speaking Cypriot POWs, but I don't see A Russian Soldier having been attached to the BPF as I don't believe that Russia ever got involved in that theatre of war. Seeing a copy of the inquest report might be useful although whether it still exists or is accessible, I doubt, and from what little is said in the press reporting - some of which not relating to the inquest, particularly that from other camp residents, is likely just to be hearsay, I'm not sure there's anything more to be found. There certainly still no evidence to confirm his Muslim faith, nor why he was identified/accepted as French FL. Incidentally, the two other French servicemen (Mohamed Ben Hammou & Mohamed Ben Tahar) moved from the Horsell cemetery to the French plot at Brookwood, are also FFL, from their names, are clearly Muslim and both, unlike Volkoff have records listed on the Memoire Des Hommes website (www.memoiredeshommes) There's such a web of intrigue surrounding this man, some of his own making, some down to hearsay from fellow camp residents, some down to press reporting that may or may not be factual, with such a small amount of concrete evidence ie a few known knowns and many, many known unknowns. As I've mentioned previously, I don't see that there will be much opportunity of getting any further. It's possible to speculate until the proverbial cows come home, but it is just that, although this can throw up other interesting avenues - more often cul-de-sacs - & diversions to travel down (Capt Haron being one such) but for now, I think I'll put it away again for another couple of years, in the hope that more information might come to light in the meantime. Thanks again for your interest. Nigel
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Post by Admin on Jun 5, 2020 17:57:26 GMT
Phenominally interesting. The ability to 'speculate until the proverbial cows come home' is key to this type of mystery. There is another case, which I don't have time to find right now ( www.unsolved-murders.co.uk/murder-content.php?key=6703&termRef=Man ), maybe two, where people were found dead and they might or might not have been who they were thought to be. One was a soldier of some sort, possibly German or Russian who might or might not have been mixed up in war crimes and who was found dead in a pond I think, about 46-50 period in the unsolved site. The body was found with papers and a letter but his hair was not blonde (or vice versa) which according to the camp record where he was, it was. The inference being that the person killed the man and assumed a new identity, staging his own death. It could be something similar. tHE war years are rife with false identities at all levels. Whilst completely unrelated, this case had me thinking along similar lines, mainly because of the namse ROUSE, which of course makes no sense: www.unsolved-murders.co.uk/murder-content.php?key=6882&termRef=Douglas%20Rollo%20Rouse
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Post by Admin on Jun 5, 2020 18:06:55 GMT
Regarding Volkoff. Its all speculation, but if you were to shoot yourself, would you not: 1) go somewhere quiet and nice, a remove field? Behind a hut sounds like he was taken there and shot. 2) shoot yourself in the head and not in the neck. 3) make some more concerted effort to justify why, if it was guilt for murder, by explaining what happened in a suicide note? Saying sorry or naming the other people. Like Nigels, I don't have time to dig deeper and deeper, but the Dundee Courier, Tuesday 07 August 1945 article sounds compelling. This all reinforces my notions on history from the point of view of who records it. With the demise of the printed press, who will record all these things? People are not saving web sites. The only real evidence of these events are from news papers, with one coroners entry and a photo of a grave. As with this entry www.unsolved-murders.co.uk/murder-content.php?key=6703&termRef=ManAre we even certain enough that it was Volkoff and not just a an unidentified male.
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Post by Admin on Jun 5, 2020 18:13:24 GMT
Maybe because I read so much of this sort of stuff, I might have expected the inquest on Volkoff to have instead of eturned 'suicide' to have been open with the coroner saying something like 'However, the coroner said that he could not entirely eliminate foul play.' as per 'Man'. www.unsolved-murders.co.uk/murder-content.php?key=6703&termRef=Man
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