Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell
The Great Escape was masterminded by RAF Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell. Born in South Africa, Roger was the son of a wealthy mining engineer. He was educated in Britain and studied law at Cambridge. He joined the RAF in 1932 and worked as a RAF lawyer. In 1940 he was given command of a fighter squadron but was shot down on his first sortie over Calais during the Dunkirk evacuation.
ROGER BUSHELL © CWGC
Roger made several attempts to escape captivity. His first try was in May 1940, and he succeeded in getting to the Swiss border, only to be stopped by a border guard. His second attempt in October 1941 saw him jump from a moving train. He made it all the way to Prague before being captured again. He arrived in Stalag Luft III in October 1942 and began planning the escape attempt that would become known as the Great Escape. His code name on the camp escape committee was Big X.
Roger was one of the seventy-six men who escaped on 24 March 1944. He was arrested the next day and murdered on 29 March 1944. He was 33 years old. He is commemorated today in CWGC Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Collective grave 9. A. Upon his headstone are inscribed the words, ‘A leader of men. He achieved much, loved England and served her to the end.’
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