J’AIME APRIL 2022

“When the prisoners were checked, some were in
possession of documents which the Intel Corps knew
were being faked to cover up real identities.
“One of these was a Sgt Heinrich Hizinger. Mr
Grayer and another sergeant by the name of Britton
became even more suspicious and the suspect was
ordered to write lines to confirm and ascertain his
handwriting.
“Soon the game was up, and the man identified
himself as Heinrich Himmler.”
Himmler inked lines repeating: “Ich soll das
Reinigungsgerät mitnehmen.” The Reinigungsgerät
34 was a cleaning kit for a rifle, so the writing
roughly translates as: “I must bring my rifle cleaning
kit.”
The macabre page from Himmler’s brief
incarceration contains possibly the last words ever
committed to paper by one of history’s most evil
men. Within hours, he would bite down on a cyanide
capsule – an ‘SS Cough Drop’ – secreted in a tooth.
The date was May 23 1945, two weeks after the
German surrender and three weeks after Hitler’s
own suicide.
In the hours that followed Himmler’s demise, Mr
Grayer liberated the handwriting samples and a
silk toiletry bag which belonged to the SS chief
as ‘tropaion’ – trophies of war – and the items
remained in his family ever since.
As J’AIME went to press, they were due to go under
the hammer as part of Mr Grayer’s medals archive,
including his British Empire Medal in original box of
issue, named to 135702 AWO CL 2 Grenville Grayer
of the Intelligence Corps, plus Africa, Italy, France
and Germany Stars, Defence and War medals, all
unnamed as issued.
The group was accompanied by an original cloth
insignia shoulder patch for 30 Corps and a souvenir
medallion celebrating the unit.
A wealth of other paperwork included a photocopy
of Himmler’s arrest report signed by those present
including Mr Grayer; an original photo of him
with colleagues from 45 FSS Intel Corps; original
paperwork from 30 Corps Intelligence Summary
including intercepts showing life at the front from
the German perspective; plus many other items of
papers, photos and forms and a large double sided
silk escape-style map.
The archive was expected to fetch in the region of
£2,000 to £3,000,
Other trophies of war from the collection of Mr
Grayer, who died in 1995 aged 78, were to be sold
separately.
These included a rare M41 tropical SS cap –
expected to fetch up to £2,000 – plus a swastika
armband complete with original manufacturer’s slip
and a Luftwaffe pilot’s parachute harness.
“All things considered, it is simply an amazing
archive,” added Mr Thompson.
Mr Grayer’s nephew Martyn Grayer, of Walsall
Road, Lichfield, runs an advertising and marketing
agency in the city.
“It has been a fascinating experience to revisit
the extraordinary story that relates his wartime
experiences and the event of Himmler’s capture that
with recent events seem to resonate even more,” he
said.
The family moved to Cromwell’s Meadow in the late
1960s and Grenville was a frequent visitor to the city,
dining regularly at The Shoulder of Mutton.
“Our ‘Uncle Gren’ fulfilled the entire definition of
a ‘favourite uncle’, a unique character, generous,
supportive with an anarchic humour but most of all
liked by everyone he met,” added Martyn.
“On behalf of my sister Melanie and brother Chris,
we are pleased that his story has been shared.”
To book an appointment for a valuation of medals or
militaria with Nick Thompson, call 01543 251081
or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.
GRENVILLE GRAYER’S MEDALS
WERE UP FOR AUCTION IN
TAMWORTH
www.jaimemagazine.com
13