Harold Cole
Encyclopedia
Harold 'Paul' Cole was a British soldier in World War II
who became infamous as a traitor. He caused more damage and human suffering than any other British Traitor of World War II
. He had been killed before he was ever able to face trial for Treason
.
Harold Cole enlisted in the British Army on 4 September 1939 (Serial No. 1877989RE), his unit being the Eighteenth Field Park Company. He had only recently been released from prison. His unit was sent to France in late 1939 as a part of the British Expeditionary Force. Cole's unit was stationed in Loison-sous-Lens. Later, Cole became a Sergeant who was taken prisoner in France
during 1940 but escaped to Lille
and then Marseilles, where he helped establish and operate British escape lines with the French Resistance
. During this period he was known as Paul Cole.
In 1941 he was rearrested by the Germans and became notorious for his betrayal of the escape lines he had helped form in occupied France by collaborating with the Gestapo
. He denounced many important figures in the resistance movement including Ian Garrow
and Albert Guerisse
(1911–1989) of the Pat Line. It is believed Cole betrayed at least 150 people of the French Resistance, of which 50 of them were executed by the Gestapo
. The Deputy Commander of Scotland Yard
at the time, Reginald Spooner described him as 'The Worst Traitor of the War'.
At the end of the war, Cole was wanted by both France and especially by the MI9
in England for Treason
. He was captured at Bad Saulgau
in June 1945 and was later imprisoned at the SHAEF military prison in Paris
from where he escaped on 18 November 1945. A large manhunt was initiated for his re-capture.
On 8 January 1946, after receiving a tip, French police shot Harold Cole dead after discovering that he had been hiding on the fourth floor of a bar in the Rue de Grenelle in Paris. He was later buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in Paris.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who became infamous as a traitor. He caused more damage and human suffering than any other British Traitor of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He had been killed before he was ever able to face trial for Treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
.
Harold Cole enlisted in the British Army on 4 September 1939 (Serial No. 1877989RE), his unit being the Eighteenth Field Park Company. He had only recently been released from prison. His unit was sent to France in late 1939 as a part of the British Expeditionary Force. Cole's unit was stationed in Loison-sous-Lens. Later, Cole became a Sergeant who was taken prisoner in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during 1940 but escaped to Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and then Marseilles, where he helped establish and operate British escape lines with the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. During this period he was known as Paul Cole.
In 1941 he was rearrested by the Germans and became notorious for his betrayal of the escape lines he had helped form in occupied France by collaborating with the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. He denounced many important figures in the resistance movement including Ian Garrow
Ian Garrow
Captain Ian Garrow was a Scottish army officer with the Highland Light Infantry. Following the surrender of the Highland 51st Division at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux on the Normandy coast on 12 June 1940, Garrow evaded to Vichy France where he was interned....
and Albert Guerisse
Albert Guérisse
Major-General Comte Albert-Marie Edmond Guérisse, GC, KBE, DSO was a Belgian Resistance member who organized escape routes for downed Allied pilots during World War II under the alias of Patrick Albert "Pat" O'Leary, the name of a Canadian friend...
(1911–1989) of the Pat Line. It is believed Cole betrayed at least 150 people of the French Resistance, of which 50 of them were executed by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. The Deputy Commander of Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
at the time, Reginald Spooner described him as 'The Worst Traitor of the War'.
At the end of the war, Cole was wanted by both France and especially by the MI9
MI9
MI9, the British Military Intelligence Section 9, was a department of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, part of the War Office...
in England for Treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. He was captured at Bad Saulgau
Bad Saulgau
Bad Saulgau is a town in the district of Sigmaringen, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 23 km east of Sigmaringen, and 27 km north of Ravensburg between the Danube and Lake Constance....
in June 1945 and was later imprisoned at the SHAEF military prison in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from where he escaped on 18 November 1945. A large manhunt was initiated for his re-capture.
On 8 January 1946, after receiving a tip, French police shot Harold Cole dead after discovering that he had been hiding on the fourth floor of a bar in the Rue de Grenelle in Paris. He was later buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in Paris.
Further reading
- Brendan Murphy. TURNCOAT. The Strange Case of Traitor Sergeant Harold Cole. . Published by Macdonald & Co., Great Britain, 1987. (ISBN 0 356 15747 4).