Eric Teichman

Sir Eric Teichman, born Erik Teichmann (January 16, 1884 - December 3, 1944, Norfolk, England) was a British diplomat, orientalist.

He was a son of Emil Teichmann and Edith Harbord, and younger brother of Oskar Teichman (1880, Eltham, Kent - 1959). He was educated at Gonville College and Caius College, Cambridge University. At the time of his death, Sir Eric had been serving as as adviser to the British Embassy at Chungking.

Murder

Whilst at home at Honingham Hall, his estate in Norfolk, England, Teichman heard the sound of gunfire nearby. He went out to confront two poachers (Private George E. Smith of Pittsburgh and Private Leonard S. Wijpacha of Detroit) who were trespassing in the grounds of his estate. Both intruders were American soldiers based at a nearby USAAF airfield and each was armed with an M1 carbine. Sir Eric was shot during the confrontation, receiving a fatal gunshot wound to the head. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,778290,00.html]

Private Smith was subsequently arrested, court-martialled at Attlebridge, convicted of murder and executed by hanging at HMP Shepton Mallet on 8 May 1945 (i.e. VE day), despite appeals for clemency, including one from Lady Ellen Teichman. His companion, Private Wijpacha "(sp. Wojtacha?)", was charged with being an accessory to murder, but was not sentenced to death. [http://www.wcremembered.co.uk/history.html]

Literary works

* "Travels of a consular officer in North West China", 1921
* "Travels of a consular officer in Eastern Tibet", 1922
* "Journey to Turkestan", 1937
* "Affair of China", 1938

External links

* [http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/news/02112105.html Archives Hub: Teichmann Papers ] at www.archiveshub.ac.uk
* [http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/sheptonm.html Sheptonm ] at www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk

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