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English Hangmen Trivia Quiz

An interesting job for these men listed below - they were some of Britain's hangmen! Questions vary on the men and some of their 'clients'!

A multiple-choice quiz by chrzuk. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
chrzuk

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
273,430

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
857

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Albert Pierrepoint was responsible for hanging approximately 200 Nazi war criminals, including Josef Kramer who was hanged along with 12 other German war criminals on 13th December 1945. Kramer was better known as? Hint

The Beast of Belsen

The Dachau Doctor

The Auschwitz Terror

None of these

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Question 2 of 10

2. William Calcraft was Britain's longest serving executioner. When did he serve? Hint

1879-1905

1842-1864

1829-1874

1831-1870

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Question 3 of 10

3. Calcraft officiated at the last public hangings in Britain. What was the name of the last woman to be hanged in public in Britain? Hint

Ester Hibner

Frances Kidder

Mary Ann Barry

Ruth Ellis

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Question 4 of 10

4. Albert Pierrepoint executed 14 men convicted of espionage and treason during and immediately after World War 2. On 3rd January 1946 he executed 'Lord Haw-Haw'. What was Haw-Haw's real name? Hint

Stephen Arnold

William Joyce

Lord Haw of Whore

John Amery

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Question 5 of 10

5. James Berry was a hangman from 1884-1891. How many executions did he carry out in this period? Hint

131

207

349

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Question 6 of 10

6. Albert Pierrepoint and his wife, Anne, ran a pub in Much Hoole near Preston in Lancashire. What was the name of the pub? Hint

Help the Poor Struggler

Ye Olde Creaking Gallows

The Jolly Hangman

The Executioner's Arms

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following executioners had three sons who were also on the Home Office list of official executioners? Hint

John Smith

William Calcroft

James Billington

James Berry

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Question 8 of 10

8. Henry Pierrepoint was an executioner from 1901-1910. Files recently released from the Public Record Office show Pierrepoint left the job after nine years. Why did he leave? Hint

He was sacked for arriving 'considerably the worse for drink'

He died of a heart attack on the scaffold

He retired

He became a policeman instead.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen was hanged on 23rd November 1907 at Pentonville Prison for the murder of his wife, Cora Crippen. Who was his executioner? Hint

Edward Staunton

Henry Pierrepoint

John Ellis

James Berry

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Question 10 of 10

10. One of the following executioners was appointed by the US Military and was responsible for the hangings of US servicemen at Shepton Mallet during World War 2 - which executioner was it? Hint

Henry Pierrepoint

John Franks

William Calcroft

Thomas Pierrepoint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: The Beast of Belsen

Albert Pierrepoint was the last of the Pierrepoints to serve as Official Executioner of Great Britain and Ireland. He also 'performed' in Germany and other European countries and was responsible for hanging approximately 200 Nazi war criminals. The early hangings of Nazi war ciminals took place at Hameln an der Weser of 'Pied Piper' fame.

2. William Calcraft was Britain's longest serving executioner. When did he serve?

Answer: 1829-1874

Calcraft was noted for his short drops which caused most of his 'clients' to be strangled instead of being hanged.

3. Calcraft officiated at the last public hangings in Britain. What was the name of the last woman to be hanged in public in Britain?

Answer: Frances Kidder

The execution of Frances Kidder took place at Maidstone, Kent, on 2nd April 1868 for the drowning of her stepdaughter.

4. Albert Pierrepoint executed 14 men convicted of espionage and treason during and immediately after World War 2. On 3rd January 1946 he executed 'Lord Haw-Haw'. What was Haw-Haw's real name?

Answer: William Joyce

Albert's autobiography, 'Executioner - Pierrepoint' is still available and a film about his career, 'Pierrepoint', was released in April 2006 and starred Timothy Spall.

5. James Berry was a hangman from 1884-1891. How many executions did he carry out in this period?

Answer: 131

This included five women. James Berry was very proud of his work and even had a waxwork figure displayed at Tussauds!

6. Albert Pierrepoint and his wife, Anne, ran a pub in Much Hoole near Preston in Lancashire. What was the name of the pub?

Answer: Help the Poor Struggler

In his autobiography Pierrepoint tells the story of having to execute someone he knew - a regular customer and his singing partner at the pub, who had killed his girlfriend in a jealous frenzy. He expresses no particular sorrow, only satisfaction that he had made the condemned man's last few minutes more bearable by addressing him as a friend, by his nickname, Tish.

7. Which of the following executioners had three sons who were also on the Home Office list of official executioners?

Answer: James Billington

Thomas, William and John all followed in their fathers' footsteps! They were not the only family to do this, the Pierrepoints also had more than one member of the family perform as executioners.

8. Henry Pierrepoint was an executioner from 1901-1910. Files recently released from the Public Record Office show Pierrepoint left the job after nine years. Why did he leave?

Answer: He was sacked for arriving 'considerably the worse for drink'

Henry assisted at 30 and presided over 68 of his own executions during this time. He was known for calculating the drops of his 'clients' very carefully to avoid strangulation and ensure a quick death.

9. Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen was hanged on 23rd November 1907 at Pentonville Prison for the murder of his wife, Cora Crippen. Who was his executioner?

Answer: John Ellis

Before his suicide on September 20th 1932, Ellis wrote his memoirs "Diary of a Hangman" which has been recently reprinted.

10. One of the following executioners was appointed by the US Military and was responsible for the hangings of US servicemen at Shepton Mallet during World War 2 - which executioner was it?

Answer: Thomas Pierrepoint

He was assisted by his nephew Albert, son of Henry. Sixteen American soldiers in Europe were court martialled for murder and rape.

Source: Author chrzuk

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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