Henry Tibbs facts for kids
Henry Stanley Tibbs (born 1877, died 1943) was a priest from Ireland and Britain. During World War II, he was briefly held by the government. This happened because some people thought he supported the Nazis, a dangerous political group.
Tibbs was the main priest, called a rector, for the church in Teigh, Rutland, England. On July 8, 1940, he was arrested. People claimed he was a fascist, which is someone who believes in a very strict government system. He was let go on August 19, as the authorities decided he wasn't a threat.
Who Was Henry Tibbs?
Henry Tibbs was born in King's County, Ireland. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1904, he married Evelyn Mary Livesey in England.
From 1925, Tibbs served as the rector of Teigh. He preached to about 72 people in his church. While he was a priest there, he became the subject of local talk. He also had disagreements with some people. These disagreements led to rumors that he was a fascist.
Why Was He Arrested?
On July 8, 1940, Tibbs was arrested and taken to Liverpool Prison. One person who claimed he was a fascist was Douglas Bartlett, a priest from a nearby area and a former friend.
Bartlett claimed that Tibbs had once hidden two members of the Gestapo in his home. The Gestapo was the secret police of Nazi Germany. Bartlett also said that Tibbs was sharing his Nazi ideas with his church members. He claimed Tibbs was saying that the enemy's attacks on British ships were worse than what the official reports said. Bartlett even alleged that Tibbs told his children that Hitler and Goering were "the finest men in the world."
Tibbs was also accused of saying that Germany was "our natural friend." People also claimed he was too interested in local aerodromes, which are small airfields. Another accusation was that Tibbs used the name of Edward, Duke of Windsor instead of the King's name when praying.
What Did Tibbs Say?
When questioned, Tibbs admitted that in 1935, he had joined the British Union of Fascists. He said he joined because he liked their ideas about farming. His son, John Dudley Montague Tibbs, who was an amateur boxer, was also in this group. However, Tibbs claimed his son only joined because he liked the uniform. Dudley Tibbs was also held by the authorities.
Henry Tibbs explained that local people often watched planes at RAF Cottesmore, an air force base. He said he mentioned the Duke of Windsor because he felt the Duke needed prayers just like anyone else.
His Release and Later Life
On August 19, 1940, the restrictions against Tibbs were removed after he appealed. Officials thought that because he was Irish and liked to talk a lot, he might "let his tongue run away with him." However, they still felt his initial arrest was reasonable.
Tibbs went back to Teigh, but he never fully recovered from being held in prison. While there, he caught pneumonia, a serious lung illness. He said, "You have completely destroyed the life of an innocent man." He led his last church service on January 31, 1943, and was buried ten days later.
Today, many believe that Tibbs was held without good reason. Most of the evidence against him seems to have been based on local gossip.
