The Scottish Government

From the National Archives

Document of the Month - March

With the threat of an invasion by the Hitler's forces in 1939, plans were drawn up regarding the security of items of particular national significance. The Government felt it was important that the Regalia of Scotland (the crown, sceptre and mace) should not fall into the hands of the enemy.

The propaganda benefit from capturing the Scottish crown jewels would have been considerable to any invasion force. As much of Europe fell, the possibility of the German military arriving at Edinburgh made imperative the securing of the Regalia in a secret place where they could be retrieved later.

On May 12, 1942, under the supervision of the Lord Justice Clerk, The King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer and the Senior Architect of the Ministry of Works, the Regalia were removed from the oak chests where they had been placed in 1939 and sealed in zinc-lined cases. These cases were then deposited in the secret places shown on the accompanying map. A ruse was instigated to convince the workmen employed on the project that the Scottish Regalia had not been removed from the oak chests.

Apart from a strictly limited number of people in Scotland who were aware of these plans, a copy of the map was sent to the Governor General of Canada. Evidently, he was considered to be a senior government representative who was unlikely to be captured or killed by the axis powers (Australia was by no means safe).

After the war the Governor General returned his copy of the map and this is reproduced here. The files, referring to the hiding of the Regalia are marked 'to be destroyed if in danger of being seized by the enemy'.

Transcription of text

SECRET

Scottish Regalia.

The Commissioners for the Custody of Scottish Regalia at a meeting on 4 ^th May decided that in view of invasion and other risks it was desirable, at the earliest possible date, that the Regalia should be moved from the Vault in Edinburgh Castle where they were placed in the Oak Chest in September 1939 and should be hidden in concealed places on lines mentioned at the meeting.

It was also agreed that one or more of the Commissioners should superintend the removal and that a confidential record of the places of deposit should be kept so as to guarantee the tracing of the Regalia in future.

The Secretary of State having ascertained that His Majesty was agreeable to the proposed action, preparations were made and on 12 ^th May, 1942, the arrangements were carried out in the presence of the Lord Justice Clerk (Lord Cooper) and the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (Mr. P.J. Rose) and under the direct charge of Mr. J. Wilson Paterson, C.V.O., M.B.E., A.R.I.B.A. (Senior Architect, Ministry of Works).

The various articles were taken from the Oak Chest and packed by Mr. Brook (of Messrs. Brook & Son, Jewellers) and his assistant in two zinc-lined cases which were then sealed by soldering. The contents of the respective cases are given in Appendix I.

The two cases were then deposited in the places which had been prepared and were covered in the same night. The appended three plans made by Mr. Wilson Paterson show the places of deposit.

On the next day (13 ^th May) the Oak Chest, which had been locked overnight in the Outer Vault, was replaced in the Inner Vault. Efforts were made, by renewing the seals on the various padlocks, by loading the Chest and by building a brick baffle across its outer end to produce the impression on the workmen necessarily employed for moving it and on any other persons who have access to the entrance to the Outer Vault that the Regalia are still in the Oak Chest in this Inner Vault.

Four copies: -

1. The King.
2. The Secretary of State for Scotland.
3. The King's Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer.
4. The High Commissioner for Canada.

Copy No. 4.

AppendixI.Contents of the two Cases.

Case I.

(The Sword of State)
(The Belt of the Sword of State)
(The Lord Treasurer's Mace (in separate box))
(The Crown Cap)
The Sceptre
The Scabbard

The first four articles (bracketed) are with the Sword of State in the box which held the latter in the Oak Chest. The last two articles are in separate boxes.

Case II.

The Crown
The Collar of the Order of the Garter
The George of the Order of the Garter (together with four pearls and mountings from the Crown Cap)*
The St. Andrew of the Order of the Thistle.
The Ruby Ring.

* The Jeweller advised that the Pearls should be detached from the Crown Cap.

HH41/453/2 map and covering notes

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