THE PLAYERS

One of five POW hand-picked by Hitler himself to be sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp after "The Great Escape". After learning of the murder of fifty of his comrades, Sydney then promptly escaped Sachsenhausen. Before his Spitfire was shot down, Sydney was part of the illustrious First Photographic Reconnaissance Unit of the Royal Air Force. At Stalag Luft 3, he befriended a German Luftwaffe guard named Eberhard Hesse (played by Robert Graf) who provided crucial intelligence not only for the escape, but the war effort. Sydney would be portrayed by John Leyton and James Garner in the 1963 classic "The Great Escape" directed by John Sturges. His escape partner "Danny" Król was brought back to life on film by Charles Bronson. 

Polish fighter pilot turned tunneller, portrayed by Charles Bronson in “The Great Escape”. After the fall of Poland, Danny made his way to France, after their collapse he flew to Britain. Only to be shot down and captured. Despite his claustrophobia, Danny would be promoted to the position of 'Tunnel King' after Wally Floody was transferred prior to the escape from Sagan. Tragically, he was one of the fifty escapers murdered by the Gestapo. In his memory, above the tunnel Sydney dug to escape Sachsenhausen concentration camp he inscribed the number '18' as it would have been Danny's eighteenth tunnel.

Known as “Big X”, Roger was the backbone and mastermind behind the escape from Sagan. He was portrayed by Richard Attenborough in the 1963 film. Although warned by Sydney that the SS had him marked, Roger still participated in the escape and made the ultimate sacrifice. He is also responsible for giving Sydney the moniker “Dynamo”

A German guard (‘Goon/Ferret’) that Sydney turned to work for the escape. He provided Sydney with not only up-to-date identity papers and documents but a camera which was vital for the forging of false papers. Warned Sydney that Roger’s life was in peril and provided vital intelligence which led to the bombing of Peenemünde called “Operation Hydra”. He was portrayed by Robert Graf in the 1963 epic. 

First man to ride across India on a motorcycle and surf the Severn Bore. 'Mad Jack' famously said that "[a]ny officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed". A Commando and real-life action star, he charged into battle with not only a broadsword, but a longbow and bagpipes. Although in no way related to Winston Churchill, Jack was beaten regularly by the SS as if he was due to his last name. 

Ironically, John Dodge was Churchill’s cousin but wasn’t tortured due to his different last name. Portrayed by none other than Christopher Reeve in “The Great Escape II”. Like Sydney, Jimmy and Wings, John participated in both the escape from Stalag Luft 3 and Sachsenhausen. Unlike Sydney, when offered a trip home by the Nazis in exchange for being Hitler’s messenger to Churchill, he obliged. 

Jimmy shared a hut with Sydney in Sachsenhausen. After a bit of convincing, they began their next tunnel under Jimmy’s bed. During the escape, Jimmy teamed up with ‘Mad Jack' Churchill but was recaptured. After the war, Jimmy wrote a memoir of his experiences entitled “Moonless Night”.