Rocky man who took on the Nazis
Local News
Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
Adam Wratten
THE BBC is hunting family or friends of Rockhampton World War II veteran Lionel Jeffries.
Flight Lieutenant Jeffries was a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 3, the Polish camp made famous in the movie The Great Escape starring Steve McQueen.
The BBC, Britain's public broadcasting body, has obtained a diary of a man who spent time at the war camp and who frequently mentions the Rockhampton man.
The corporation is researching the camp and is trying to locate Mr Jeffries, or anyone who knows him.
In articles provided by Mr Jeffries to The Australians at War website, he outlines his ordeal during the war in two separate submissions.
One submission deals with the time after his plane was shot down over Nuremberg, during a night raid on the German city, to just before he went to the war camp.
In this he talks about a lynch mob turning on his wireless operator shortly after being captured.
"I don't blame the Germans for this attitude," Mr Jeffries said.
"I think I would have had similar thoughts to a German airman bombing my home town of Rockhampton."
After being taken to a prisoner of war hospital, Flt Lt Jeffries was eventually taken to Dulag Luft interrogation centre before being transferred to Stalag Luft III, where it appears he stayed for nearly two years.
Mr Jeffries also discussed the escape.
In March, 1944, a mass break out from Stalag Luft III by Allied air force officers caused huge disruption to the German war effort.
"Firstly, as officers, we were duty bound to escape if we could, and this is recognised by the Geneva Convention," he said.
"But why try to escape at that time when it was obvious, apart from the Arnhem battle, that Germany was beaten?
"We would all be free in the not too distant future and there were many who argued strongly on those lines.
"But who wouldn't want to make some effort to get away from the soul destroying prison camp environment? Even if the escape attempt failed, at least there was hope in the meantime, and you were acting positively with an aim.
"If you did get out and were captured, it meant, until the Great Escape, a return to the cooler for a period, then back to camp to start all over again."
He said the target of 200 escapees, instead of a dribble of two or three every now and then, was the prisoners' contribution to create maximum disruption to Germany.
"In this we were successful," Mr Jeffries said.
"The escape was such an embarrassment to German authorities as to involve Hitler himself.
"He gave the order to murder the 50 officers and it was estimated that some two million troops were involved in rounding up the escapees."
Mr Jeffries said the film, The Great Escape, had depicted the life-style with a reasonable degree of accuracy with many memory riveting incidents.
"For a fleeting moment, one of my own contributions to the tunnel activity was shown," he recalled.
"This was in the use of a knot hole in a blackout shutter, through which the entrance to the camp could be kept under surveillance. The entry of a German guard or 'ferret' was reported and the message relayed to cause a stoppage of work.
"I have no confirmation that the term 'to get knotted' originated from my duties in this area.
"And with equal conviction I can state that, unlike Steve McQueen, we were not issued with motor bikes."
"If you can help the BBC give reporter Adam Wratten a call on 4930 4281 or email adam.wratten@capnews.com.au
Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
© APN News & Media Ltd 2008