War hero's weapons found in house clearance in Surrey

**stewfoxy** · 05-11-2010, 08:51 AM

Six firearms which once belonged to World War II hero Geoffrey Hallowes have been handed over to a museum after being found at a house in Surrey.

The guns were discovered in March 2008 by a woman who was clearing out the property in Walton-on-Thames and handed them over to police.

Firearms specialists established their link with Mr Hallowes, who served with the Special Operations Executive (SOE).

The full story's here.

**ss sniper** · 05-11-2010, 09:18 AM

I'm glad to see that the Weapons went to a museum instead of being cut up or smelted down.

**Richie B** · 05-11-2010, 10:15 AM

Interesting story

One of the weapons found according to the BBC - Othaca .45 pistol (copy of an American Colt M1911.45) !

It does make a change to see these things preserved rather than being destroyed.

I'm surprised they didn't arrest the woman who handed them in - only joking (or am I ?)

Richie

**bikerboyzx6r** · 05-11-2010, 10:21 AM

You spot on mate! You can get done now for just handling it! "In posession of a firearm". There was a link about that on here. The guy handed a gun in to the police & was arrested! He found it in his garden

**Richie B** · 05-11-2010, 10:30 AM

by bikerboyzx6r

You spot on mate! You can get done now for just handling it! "In posession of a firearm". There was a link about that on here. The guy handed a gun in to the police & was arrested! He found it in his garden

Dan

Yes I remember the story - hence my comment.

I think however there was a little more to that story than was initially reported - walking into a police station and pulling out a sawn off is possibly not the best approach even if he did "find it in his garden.

Regards

Richie

**shadowwolf** · 05-11-2010, 10:55 AM

I Completely agree, about 20 years ago I found some live ordnance near the remains of the pier in Margate Kent. I carried it to the police station, about 100 yards away, and the police so kindly arrested me. So much for me thinking of the safety of others on the beach. I latter had the charges dropped, no pun intended

**lithgow** · 05-11-2010, 11:51 AM

If I was the police, I would be less than impressed if someone turned up with UXO and took it inside the building-if you find it don't move it-mark it (nearby) and evacuate the area then contact the authorities-it may seem cautious but its better than being spread around the landscape!

**m3bobby** · 05-11-2010, 06:27 PM

I think thats a Ithaca pistol, they manufactured the 1911 under licence for the US Government.

**HARRY THE MOLE** · 05-11-2010, 08:25 PM

The Police do at times show a bit of sense. Back in the early 90's I had a German Maxim 08 on a trench-mount. I had obtained it from the South Lancs Regimental Museum in Warrington. I gave them a 1914 Vickers gun for it - which is now at Fulwood barracks - Preston. The Police got wind of the Maxim, and took it off me and put it in a cell at Chester Police HQ until I could make arrangements for Ryton Arms to pick it up and deactivate it. They could have chosen to prosecute me - but they didn't, and I did get the gun back!