Remembering the Great Escapers

[Woolgar]

70 years ago today.

RIP to the 50 who lost their lives

F.O. Birkland, Henry J.
Flt.Lt. Brettell, E. Gordon
Sqd.L. Bull, Leslie G.
Sqd.L. Bushell, Roger J.
Flt.L. Casey, Michael J.
Sqd.L. Catanach, James
P.O. Christensen, Arnold G.
F.O. Cochran, Dennis H.
Sqd.L. Cross, Ian E.K.P.
Lt. Espelid, Haldor
Flt.Lt. Evans, Brian H.
Lt. Fuglesang, Nils
Lt. Gouws, Johannes S.
Flt.Lt. Grisman, William J.
Flt.Lt. Gunn, Alastair D.M.
Flt.Lt. Hake, Albert H.
Flt.Lt. Hall, Charles P.
Flt.Lt. Hayter, Anthony R.H.
Flt.Lt. Humphreys, Edgar S.
F.O. Kidder, Gordon A.
Flt.Lt. Kierath, Reginald V.
Flt.Lt. Kiewnarski, Antoni
Sqd.L. Kirby-Green, Thomas G.
F.O. Kolanowski, Wlodzimierz A
F.O. Krol, Stanislaw Z.
Flt.Lt. Langford, Patrick W.
Flt.Lt. Leigh, Thomas B.
Flt.Lt. Long, James L.R.
Flt.Lt. Marcinkus, Romas
Lt. McGarr, Clement A.N.
Flt.Lt. McGill, George E.
Flt.Lt. Millford, Harold J.
F.O. Mondschein, Jerzy T.
F.O. Pawluk, Kazimierz
Flt.Lt. Picard, Henri A.
F.O. Pohe, John
Lt. Scheidhauer, Bernard W.M.
P.O. Skanzikas, Sotiris
F.O. Stevens, Rupert J.
F.O. Stewart, Robert C.
F.O. Stower, John G.
F.O. Street, Denys O.
Flt.Lt. Swain, Cyril D.
F.O. Tobolski, Pawel
Flt.Lt. Valenta, Ernst
Flt.Lt. Walenn, Gilbert W.
Flt.Lt. Wernham, James C.
Flt.Lt. Wiley, George W.
Sqd.L. Williams, John E.A.
Flt.Lt. Williams, John F.

[StefanM]

Today the Beeb also mentions a commemoration ceremony:

"A ceremony to commemorate the Great Escape, the famous breakout from German prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft Three in 1944, is due to take place later.

Survivors, families and UK and Polish officials will gather at Zagan in Poland, 70 years after the escape plot."

BBC News - Ceremony to commemorate 'The Great Escape'

[Paul D]

Well done Nick for posting this , I would have been at the ceremony if I hadn't been on holiday in Thailand , I took three tours to the camp last year and was fortunate to meet Charles Clarke and Andy Wiseman who together with the Museum staff have been instrumental in keeping Alive the history of the camp and the memory of the 50 !!

[Panzer 3]

Hi,
Such brave men they knew what would happen to them if caught but still took the chance, R.I.P,
Dave.

[harryamb2]

remembered.R.I.P.

[Jerry B]

RIP. Brave men who never gave up the fight.

[ruddersrangers44]

Nice one Nick.I see there's loads on tv about it,gone but never forgotten

[Danmark]

I heard an interview on the radio this morning with one of the only two escapees surviving – West Australian Paul Royle – who is 100yrs old.

He said of the film “ there were no larrikins in the tunnels and certainly NO motorcycles". He said "I didn’t like the film much” .......... ( which is a pity – because I do ( and when my kids were young they liked ‘Chicken Run’ that was wholly based on the Great Escape ) .......... well, he was there so he is the better film critic I guess!!!!!

Dan

[Woolgar]

RAF Personnel commemorated the 50 murdered Great Escapers with 50 current personnel marching with their photographs in the grounds of Stalag III in Poland.

[Paul D]

I heard an interview on the radio this morning with one of the only two escapees surviving – West Australian Paul Royle – who is 100yrs old.

He said of the film “ there were no larrikins in the tunnels and certainly NO motorcycles". He said "I didn’t like the film much” .......... ( which is a pity – because I do ( and when my kids were young they liked ‘Chicken Run’ that was wholly based on the Great Escape ) .......... well, he was there so he is the better film critic I guess!!!!!

Dan

Unfortunately Dan the Great Escape was a typical Hollywood production where they had to alter the story even though the real event was exiting enough . No Americans were in that part of the camp at the time other than George Harsh the Security Officer as they had been moved to their own camp but of course that was no good for Hollywood.

Many of the types of escape featured happened but not during the Great Escape and the executions of the 50 happened in a totally different way , in small groups and in different locations by different offices of the Gestapo . The last time I did my presentation at the Zagan Museum it was in front of Charles Clarke who gave me the thumbs up afterwards !!!