For You The War Is Over

Langford enlisted very early in the war, but was shot down on only his second operation, suffering severe injuries. The Canadian had the unique role of ‘trapfuhrer’ for tunnel 'Harry', able to shut it down within twenty seconds if a guard got too close to hut 104!  For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War...

A Guernsey native, Roy Langlois was manning the guide rope from the woods when the tunnel was discovered, and so was captured at the mouth of the tunnel. We were joined by Alan Malpass, a POW historian in Lincoln, to look at Langlois' life. For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the S...

Having enlisted only nine days before his wedding, he bailed out after a flare exploded in the bomb bay. However, they succeeded in putting out the flames, with the plane eventually returning to base, but without McGill and three other crew mates! For the Great Escape he was one of the senior security team members, in charge of 75 stooges.  For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at t...

Neville McGarr was a South African fighter pilot who overcame childhood Polio to become a pilot, and then endured a three day march across the desert with no food or water before being captured close to Allied lines. He would then form part of the security team for the Great Escape, but he was never forgotten by his family, even decades after his murder. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that l...

Holly Harris, a young academic whose work looks at Allied Prisoners of War during the Second World War, joined us to look at Paul Royle, an Australian who was a dispersal 'penguin' for the Great Escape, and would go on to be one of the last two surviving Great Escapers! For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner...

Edgar Humphreys was one of three ‘Halton Brats’ involved in the Great Escape, and he was also one of the two murdered Great Escapers who had been known personally by Frank McKenna, the lead RAF Police investigator on the Great Escape investigation. We were joined by Angus Wallace, from the WW2 Podcast, to look at Humphreys' life. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life sto...

Peter Sinclair joined us to recount of Denys Street, the son of the Air Ministry’s Permanent Secretary at the time. He was both a tunneller and a ‘penguin’ involved in dispersal who, along with his escape partners, Birkland and Brodrick, was recaptured only miles from the camp. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second W...

Leslie Brodrick served under Wing Commander Guy Gibson, of 'Dambusters' fame, before being shot down, being sent to Stalag Luft III and was one of the 26 to survive the Great Escape. We were joined by author and historian, Graham Pitchfork, who delved deep into the research to tell us more about Brodrick's life. For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which...

Laura Imrie, a Curator at National Air Force Museum of Canada joined us to look at the life and escape of Henry 'Hank' Birkland, himself a Canadian, and one of the key tunnellers in the Great Escape, given his pre-war work as a miner. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony...

Gordon Brettell was something of an adrenalin junkie! A pre-war racing driver in his spare time, he was a Fighter Pilot who completed over 100 sorties, before getting stuck into the escaping lark, working as a forger for the Great Escape. His short life was full of action, including an incident that may or may not have got him court martialled! For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at th...

Karel Strobbe, a Belgian historian and author, joined us to look at the life and escape of the Belgian artist, forger, and a member of the 'Amiable Lunatics', Henri Picard. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape.  If you woul...

Chris Wroblewski, from the Kresy Siberia Foundation, retired Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, a history undergraduate at University of Calgary, and co-author of "Sabotage", a book about the plane crash that killed General Sikorski, joined us to look at Polish airman, Wlodzimierz Adam Kolanowski, who played a crucial role in assisting Desmond Plunkett in the preparation of the escape maps. F...

Jon Müller, the son of Jens Müller, joined us to share the story of his father's life and escape. As one of only three Great Escapers to make a 'Home Run' this one is absolutely unmissable! For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. If you would like to follow us on...

Per Bergsland, also known as 'Peter Rockland', was one of just three Great Escapers who managed to complete a 'Home Run', getting to neutral Sweden with his escape partner, Jens Muller, within just five days. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode look...

Tony Hoskins looked into the life of Albert 'Shorty' Armstrong, about whom there is very little publicly available information, but with the help of his family, we have been lucky enough to piece together his fascinating life story, including his Great Escape experience. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World Wa...

Sotiris Skantzikas, the only Greek Great Escaper, was the escape partner of Jimmy James, but there is very little information available about his life otherwise. However, Dave Robertson had a dig around and managed to find out more about the adventurous life he lived in just 22 short years. For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real lif...

Former RAF pilot, Colin McGregor, joined us to look at the life of Bertram 'Jimmy' James, who was an inveterate escaper, survived not only the Great Escape but also was one of those survivors who would go on to escape from Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Jimmy James was nothing short of an escape legend! For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War...

Tony Hoskins looks into the life and escape of Antoni Wladyslaw Kiewnarski, a highly decorated Polish airman, who served in three different conflicts - First World War, Polish-Soviet War, and the Second World War, and in three different countries - Poland, France, and the UK - all before becoming a prisoner of war and taking part in the Great Escape! For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks...

Paul Bavill, host of the "History Rage" podcast, joined us to look at Kazimierz Pawluk, about whose early life very little is known, but who would become a highly experienced airman taking on the Luftwaffe during the Battles of Poland and France, and finally with the RAF as an Observer with Bomber Command, before being taken prisoner of war, and taking part in the Great Escape. For You The War Is...

Dave Robertson takes a look at the life and escape of James Wernham, a Scots-born Canadian who took part in the first 'Thousand Bomber Raid', later shot down over the Netherlands, and was to be the escape partner of Johnnie Dodge for the Great Escape. For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes fro...

Laurence Green, author of "Great War to Great Escape" and grandson of Bernard 'Pop' Green, joined us to tell all about the remarkable life of his grandfather, from service in both the First and Second World Wars, through to being the oldest participant in the Great Escape, aged 56! For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories...

We were joined by Dr Midge Gillies author of "The Barbed Wire University", to look at Jerzy Mondschein, a Polish airman who contributed to the Great Escape in a number of different areas, but sadly was to pay the ultimate sacrifice for his escape. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robert...

Reg 'Rusty' Kierath followed his brothers into the military, one of whom served in both the First and Second World Wars. Part of the carpentry team, he specialised in the creation of hides, a crucial task when hiding all the escape contraband needed for the Great Escape. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World Wa...

Louise Williams, author of "A True Story of the Great Escape: A Young Australian POW in One of the Most Audacious Breakouts of WWII" and niece of John Edwin Ashley Williams, joined us to tell her uncle's story from Sydney to Sagan. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hos...

John Bigelow Dodge was a larger than life veteran of the First World War, who signed up again for the Second World War and despite being in the Army, ended up at Stalag Luft III to take his place in the Great Escape. We were joined by his biographer, Tim Carroll, to tell us more about the fascinating life of this incredible escaper. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life...