Bio

August Sangret was born on August 28, 1913, in Battleford, Saskatchewan. He was of mixed race, with French Canadian and Cree ancestry. His family was poor, and he did not receive much education. He was considered illiterate, but he was not unintelligent. He spoke both English and Cree and learned traditional skills from his heritage. These included building wigwams, which are sturdy shelters made from poles and covered with birch bark.

In the 1930s, Sangret struggled to find work. To support himself, he joined the Battleford Light Infantry, a militia regiment, from 1935 to 1939. On June 19, 1940, he enlisted as a full-time soldier in the Royal Regina Rifles. During this time, Sangret had a criminal record, including a six-month sentence for violent assault in 1932. As a soldier, he often faced punishment for minor military infractions and had several health issues, including being treated for venereal disease multiple times.

Sangret arrived in Britain on March 24, 1940, and was stationed in Fleet. Later, he was sent to Aldershot. In July 1942, he was placed in an Educational Company that helped soldiers improve their basic education. It was during this time that he met Joan Wolfe.

Joan Wolfe was born on March 11, 1923, and lived with her mother in Tonbridge. Her family life was troubled; her mother had married multiple times and had difficulties stemming from her husband’s illness. Joan was engaged briefly but her engagement ended, and she began dating soldiers. After leaving home at a young age, she became increasingly involved with military life around Aldershot.

After they met, Sangret and Wolfe spent a lot of time together. August built a wigwam in the woods behind the army camp where they stayed. Wolfe lived in this makeshift home, and Sangret visited her whenever he could. They talked about marriage and shared letters when they could not meet. Wolfe often had trouble keeping jobs and frequently found herself in trouble with the police, leading to a cycle of returning home and running away again.

Murder Story

On October 7, 1942, two British soldiers discovered a human arm sticking out from a mound of earth at Hankley Common in Surrey. Upon closer inspection, they found the body of a young woman in a shallow grave. The woman was later identified as Joan Pearl Wolfe, who had been reported missing. Her body was badly decomposed, and a forensic pathologist determined she had died in mid-September.

The investigation revealed that Joan had suffered multiple stab wounds and had been struck on the head with a heavy object. A blood-stained birch branch was found near her grave, which was believed to be the murder weapon. During the investigation, the police discovered a letter written by Joan to August Sangret, in which she informed him she was pregnant. This letter contributed to the suspicion against Sangret.

Sangret was arrested on December 6, 1942. He was a soldier and had been in a relationship with Joan. Bloodstains were found on his clothes, and his army knife was discovered in a nearby drainpipe. After a lengthy interrogation, he was charged with her murder.

Sangret’s trial began in February 1943. The evidence against him was mostly circumstantial, but included the bloody branch and the letter. Despite the jury recommending mercy, they found him guilty of murder. The Home Secretary later rejected the recommendation. August Sangret was executed by hanging on April 29, 1943, at Wandsworth Prison.