The Murder of Kuno Eversberg
H.M.S. Resolution S.M.S. Frankfurt
On the 21st June 1919 the German Fleet in Scapa Flow was scuttled. During this action a number of German sailors were shot and killed.
The Royal Navy Cemetery at Lyness has the graves of 13 German sailors but not all were victims of the shootings on the 21st June, some had died of illness in the months prior. As of 2018 seven of the headstones were dated 21st June 1919 and one dated 22nd June 1919.
It was known from some literature and newspaper cuttings that 19 year old Kuno Eversberg, of SMS Frankfurt, was shot and wounded on HMS Resolution at 00.05 on the 24th June 1919. He was taken to the Hospital ship Agadir.
The Royal Navy Cemetery at Lyness has the graves of 13 German sailors but not all were victims of the shootings on the 21st June, some had died of illness in the months prior. As of 2018 seven of the headstones were dated 21st June 1919 and one dated 22nd June 1919.
It was known from some literature and newspaper cuttings that 19 year old Kuno Eversberg, of SMS Frankfurt, was shot and wounded on HMS Resolution at 00.05 on the 24th June 1919. He was taken to the Hospital ship Agadir.
Hospital ship Agadir
Kuno Eversberg's headstone however was marked as one of those killed on the day of the scuttling 21-6-1919.
Photo: Brian Budge
In 2017 a group called ''Scapa 100'' was formed.
About Scapa 100
A group of like minded individuals mostly from the diving community in Orkney passionate about the WWI German Fleet in Scapa Flow and Orkney's rich maritime history.
Their Aims:
To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the German Fleet in Scapa Flow on 21st June 2019.
To promote & support related historically important events
To promote Scapa Flow
To promote quality diving related activities in Orkney
I (KH) approached the Scapa 100 team with the proposal to establish the true events surrounding the Kuno Eversberg shooting and together with Orkney Island Council, approached the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to see if the headstone could be corrected to show the date Kuno actually died. Both Scapa 100 and OIC were very supportive of the project.
The CWGC were extremely helpful but could only change the headstone once sufficient proof could be obtained for the correct date of death and if the authorities in Germany agreed to the change.
The research started:
A document is held at the National Archive Kew, ADM 156/92 ''Shooting of German prisoner of war K Eversberg on HMS Resolution 24/6/1919''.
This document was obtained and runs to 235 pages. The document shows clearly that Kuno was shot at 00.05 on the 24th June 1919 and was very badly wounded. Kuno Eversberg was taken to the sick bay on HMS Resolution and later that morning moved to the Hospital Ship Agadir. The document is very detailed with information into the shooting and the hunt for the person who fired the shot but no date of death for Kuno is given, just that it was some days after the shooting.
A telegram sent from Scapa Flow on the 30th June 1919 (telegram 58 below) but timed and dated 17,25 on 29th June 1919 lists those killed after the scuttling and Kuno is on this list with the others but no date of deaths are given.
Another document obtained was a German list of those who died with dates of death(German list below)
This lists Kuno as having died on the 29th June 1919. The document would be compelling if not for the fact it lists another sailor Gustov Pankrath as having died on the 26th June 1919 (Headstone Lyness 21-6-1919) but German documents complaining about the shootings after the scuttling list him as being shot in the stomach and left in a lifeboat wounded only to die later on the afternoon of 21st June 1919. Kuno's surname is spelt Evertsberg but authorities in Germany confirmed his name as Eversberg.
A sailor called James Wooley was blamed for the shooting of Kuno Eversberg on HMS Resolution and was sent for trial on 9th February 1920. The case ended with a verdict ''Not Proven''. James Wooley was acquitted and no one was ever convicted of the murder.
A number of references were consulted including newspapers on the court case, most of which just report on the case and state that Kuno Eversberg had ''been shot and killed'' on HMS Resolution. The medical staff who attended Kuno gave evidence in court and only one newspaper, The Orcadian (20/02/1920 below) gave a date of death which was in the medical staff evidence as 29th June 1919.
About Scapa 100
A group of like minded individuals mostly from the diving community in Orkney passionate about the WWI German Fleet in Scapa Flow and Orkney's rich maritime history.
Their Aims:
To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the German Fleet in Scapa Flow on 21st June 2019.
To promote & support related historically important events
To promote Scapa Flow
To promote quality diving related activities in Orkney
I (KH) approached the Scapa 100 team with the proposal to establish the true events surrounding the Kuno Eversberg shooting and together with Orkney Island Council, approached the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to see if the headstone could be corrected to show the date Kuno actually died. Both Scapa 100 and OIC were very supportive of the project.
The CWGC were extremely helpful but could only change the headstone once sufficient proof could be obtained for the correct date of death and if the authorities in Germany agreed to the change.
The research started:
A document is held at the National Archive Kew, ADM 156/92 ''Shooting of German prisoner of war K Eversberg on HMS Resolution 24/6/1919''.
This document was obtained and runs to 235 pages. The document shows clearly that Kuno was shot at 00.05 on the 24th June 1919 and was very badly wounded. Kuno Eversberg was taken to the sick bay on HMS Resolution and later that morning moved to the Hospital Ship Agadir. The document is very detailed with information into the shooting and the hunt for the person who fired the shot but no date of death for Kuno is given, just that it was some days after the shooting.
A telegram sent from Scapa Flow on the 30th June 1919 (telegram 58 below) but timed and dated 17,25 on 29th June 1919 lists those killed after the scuttling and Kuno is on this list with the others but no date of deaths are given.
Another document obtained was a German list of those who died with dates of death(German list below)
This lists Kuno as having died on the 29th June 1919. The document would be compelling if not for the fact it lists another sailor Gustov Pankrath as having died on the 26th June 1919 (Headstone Lyness 21-6-1919) but German documents complaining about the shootings after the scuttling list him as being shot in the stomach and left in a lifeboat wounded only to die later on the afternoon of 21st June 1919. Kuno's surname is spelt Evertsberg but authorities in Germany confirmed his name as Eversberg.
A sailor called James Wooley was blamed for the shooting of Kuno Eversberg on HMS Resolution and was sent for trial on 9th February 1920. The case ended with a verdict ''Not Proven''. James Wooley was acquitted and no one was ever convicted of the murder.
A number of references were consulted including newspapers on the court case, most of which just report on the case and state that Kuno Eversberg had ''been shot and killed'' on HMS Resolution. The medical staff who attended Kuno gave evidence in court and only one newspaper, The Orcadian (20/02/1920 below) gave a date of death which was in the medical staff evidence as 29th June 1919.
Telegram 58 German List The Orcadian 12th February 1920
A request was made to the Scottish archive in Edinburgh to obtain a transcript of the court case, in particular the evidence given by the surgeons on HMS Resolution and the Hospital ship Agadir which would prove definitive, but these records were covered by the 100 year rule and would not be open until February 2020; too late for the anniversary, so a freedom of information request was made.
Ref: (FOI/18/02057 - Mr Heath - Closed court records from 1920).
The request was successful and the section relating to the surgeon's evidence was released and confirmed Kuno had died on the 29th June 1919.
Ref: (FOI/18/02057 - Mr Heath - Closed court records from 1920).
The request was successful and the section relating to the surgeon's evidence was released and confirmed Kuno had died on the 29th June 1919.
At the same time that the request for the court transcript was made I had also requested a search for any possible death certificates and one was found in the marine register as Kuno had died onboard a ship.
This was the conclusive evidence needed and it was all passed onto the CWGC. Permission was sought from Germany for the headstone to be updated which was granted.
This was the conclusive evidence needed and it was all passed onto the CWGC. Permission was sought from Germany for the headstone to be updated which was granted.
Kuno Eversberg's Death Certificate Image: Kevin Heath
The story of the murder of Kuno Eversberg and the trial of James Wooley told by Tom Muir.
In early 2019 the headstone was removed and replaced in May with the corrected date in time for the anniversary.
The Orcadian Articles
| kuno_1.pdf |
The Orcadian March 8th 2018
| kuno_2.pdf |
The Orcadian October 4th 2018
Newspaper Clips
Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands - Wednesday 04 February 1920
THE SHOOTING AFFRAY AT SCAPA. —At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, James Wooley, a British sailor, was charged with having on 23rd and 24thJune last year, on board H.M. Ship Resolution, then stationed at Scapa Flow, Orkney, discharged a rifle loaded with ball cartridge at Kuno Eversberg, of the German battleship Frankfurt, while a prisoner of war onboard the Resolution, and shot and murdered him. He pleaded not guilty, and Sheriff Crole remanded him for trial at the High Court, Edinburgh, on February 9.
THE SHOOTING AFFRAY AT SCAPA. —At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, James Wooley, a British sailor, was charged with having on 23rd and 24thJune last year, on board H.M. Ship Resolution, then stationed at Scapa Flow, Orkney, discharged a rifle loaded with ball cartridge at Kuno Eversberg, of the German battleship Frankfurt, while a prisoner of war onboard the Resolution, and shot and murdered him. He pleaded not guilty, and Sheriff Crole remanded him for trial at the High Court, Edinburgh, on February 9.
Western Times - Tuesday 10 February 1920
SCAPA SCUTTLE ECHO
Sailor Charged With Shooting a German Prisoner
James Woolley, 20, a sailor, tried High Court, Edinburgh, yesterday, a charge murdering Eversberg, a German prisoner of war by shooting him on board H.M.S. Resolution, Scapa Flow, June last. incident occurred two days after the scuttling. At the time it could not ascertained who fired the shot. Captain Alington said that conditions at the time were unique. Witness paraded the German officers and expressed' regret for the occurrence. Nothing implicating Woolley arose until the inquiry held at Weymouth in September, which time Woolley was a deserter. joined the navy a boy, and until his desertion his character was spotless from the Service point oi view. The sentry who was escorting Eversberg the fo'castle at the time of the tragedy, said that the bullets had apparently been fired from the boat deck overhead. It entered Eversberg's back, passed through his stomach and lodged in the deck. Rifles of the guard were examined and found to be clean. • John Copeland said earlier that night Wooley told him he was going to shoot a German prisoner 'He saw Woolley on the boat deck with a rifle, and witness- removed a cartridge from it. Woolley was drunk. Wm. Berry said Woolley had told him he lost two brothers in the war, and was going have his own back. The jury returned verdict "Not Proven," and accused was dismissed.
SCAPA SCUTTLE ECHO
Sailor Charged With Shooting a German Prisoner
James Woolley, 20, a sailor, tried High Court, Edinburgh, yesterday, a charge murdering Eversberg, a German prisoner of war by shooting him on board H.M.S. Resolution, Scapa Flow, June last. incident occurred two days after the scuttling. At the time it could not ascertained who fired the shot. Captain Alington said that conditions at the time were unique. Witness paraded the German officers and expressed' regret for the occurrence. Nothing implicating Woolley arose until the inquiry held at Weymouth in September, which time Woolley was a deserter. joined the navy a boy, and until his desertion his character was spotless from the Service point oi view. The sentry who was escorting Eversberg the fo'castle at the time of the tragedy, said that the bullets had apparently been fired from the boat deck overhead. It entered Eversberg's back, passed through his stomach and lodged in the deck. Rifles of the guard were examined and found to be clean. • John Copeland said earlier that night Wooley told him he was going to shoot a German prisoner 'He saw Woolley on the boat deck with a rifle, and witness- removed a cartridge from it. Woolley was drunk. Wm. Berry said Woolley had told him he lost two brothers in the war, and was going have his own back. The jury returned verdict "Not Proven," and accused was dismissed.
