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For You The War Is Over
'For You The War Is Over' is a podcast all about the history of Second World War Prisoner-of-War escapes.
First and foremost, these are true adventure stories; tales of human courage and endeavour.
In each episode we look at a new POW escape and the story behind how they were captured, what their lives were like in the POW camps, and how they escaped. We also look at the lengths they went to in order to prepare for their escapes, and the challenges they faced and overcame in pursuit of their…
Episodes
- For You The War Is Over
The Great Épinal Escape (Special Guest: Ghee Bowman)
We are delighted to be joined by Ghee Bowman to discuss his new book "The Great Épinal Escape", and the amazing tale of the mass breakout from a camp in Épinal…
- For You The War Is Over
Series 7 Intro
Welcome to series 7 of For You The War Is Over. We have some fabulous guests joining us, including a repeat guest, and some incredible new escape stories. We…
- For You The War Is Over
"The Caretakers" (Special Guest: Caitlin DeAngelis)
In the final episode of our series, we are joined by Caitlin DeAngelis whose book, "The Caretakers", looks at the role the Gardeners of the Commonwealth War…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenant Clifford Boiteaux-Buchanan
A paratrooper who was captured in North Africa, Lt. Clifford Denis Boiteaux-Buchanan escaped from Campo 21 at Chieti before making his way through the active…
- For You The War Is Over
Sergeant Cyril Rofe
Sgt Cyril Rofe tried to escape from pretty every one of the fifteen POW camps in which he was held, and succeeded more than once without getting home. However…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenant HE Stewart
A member of the Intelligence Corp, there is remarkably little information available on Lt. HE Stewart, despite receiving an Military Cross. In fact, this…
- For You The War Is Over
Sub-Lieutenant Benjamin Vlielander-Hein
There is much more to this escape than meets the eye as Vlielander-Hein made his way in and out of Norway in under 24 hours... One of the most perplexing…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenant Ian McGeoch
An absolutely epic escaper who was in hospital at the time of the Italian Armistice, and used the confusion it created to make his way to Switzerland. For You…
- For You The War Is Over
Guardsman John Jones
A repeated escaper, who even managed to get married in occupied Europe while escaping, Jones eventually managed to get away from a working camp. Making rapid…
- For You The War Is Over
Flight Lieutenant Harry Burton
One of the very earliest to escape from a prisoner-of-war camp - he has a possible claim to be the very first - he escaped from Stalag Luft I at Barth and…
- For You The War Is Over
Private Ellis Phythian
Private Ellis Phythian escaped from a working camp attached to Posen, making his way through Germany by jumping a freight train to France where he met an…
- For You The War Is Over
Third Mate Arthur Bird
A merchant sailor, Bird is captured in the Pacific Ocean but imprisoned in Marlag und Milag Nord, the POW camp in Germany for sailors. Escaping to a nearby…
- For You The War Is Over
Sergeant Philip Pepper
You might have heard of Sgt Pepper, but probably not of his wartime prisoner-of-war escape! Escaping from a working camp attached to the largest POW camp of…
- For You The War Is Over
Trooper Herbert Castelow (Special Guest: Damien Lewis)
To kick start the new series we are joined by historian and author of the 'SAS: Great Escapes' series, Damien Lewis, to look at the phenomenal escape and…
- For You The War Is Over
Series 6 Intro
Welcome to Series 6 of For You The War Is Over. We are delighted to bring to you another series with amazing guests, and even more amazing escape stories. We…
- For You The War Is Over
SQMS. Jimmy Smith (Special Guests: Barbara Smith and Sarah Hardcastle)
For this episode we were delighted to be joined by Barbara Smith and Sarah Hardcastle, the wife and daughter of SQMS Jimmy Smith, who served in MI9 during the…
- For You The War Is Over
Sergeant Philip Wareing
Escaping from Schubin, Sgt. PT Wareing had spent some time in Germany before the war as a member of the German Alpine Club, an experience which would help him…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenants Stewart Campbell & Denis Kelleher
A joint naval escape from Marlag Und Milag Nord, Campbell and Kelleher made a rapid escape, cutting through the wire, and making their way to Sweden in just a…
- For You The War Is Over
Gunner David Davies
A prisoner-of-war who ended up in a concentration camp, Gunner Davies managed to escape from one of the most dangerous places we have seen yet! For You The War…
- For You The War Is Over
Sergeant Jacques Mouhot
A Free French member of the SAS, Mouhot narrowly avoided the Commando Order to escape four times, eventually returning to the UK despite having the opportunity…
- For You The War Is Over
Midshipman Peter Newsome
Our first escape from the Pacific Theatre, we look at the escape of Midshipman Peter Noel Vesey Newsome, who despite being a Merchant sailor for the Blue…
- For You The War Is Over
Driver William Martin (with Special Guest, John West)
For this episode we were joined by John West, who runs the 140 Artillery Regt website (http://140th-field-regiment-ra-1940.co.uk/), to talk about Driver John…
- For You The War Is Over
Flight Lieutenant Gustaf Lonnberg
The only Swede who was to escape as a prisoner of war, there were some similarities between the escapes of Sam Derry and Lonnberg. However, despite being…
- For You The War Is Over
Second Lieutenant Peter Douglas
Captured in the aftermath of Dunkirk, Douglas was treated appallingly during his time in Nazi hands, he eventually escaped from Stalag XXI D, in Posen, making…
- For You The War Is Over
Flight Sergeant Cyril Flockhart
Cyril Bruce Flockhart was to spend some time being held by both the SS and the Gestapo for his escape attempts. Despite this he eventually escaped from…
- For You The War Is Over
Fusilier Joseph Purvis
Fusilier Joseph Purvis was captured not long after Dunkirk, and spent three years in captivity before eventually making good his escape, via Switzerland…
- For You The War Is Over
Flight Lieutenant John Shore
To kick off our new series, we look at the escape of Fl/Lt Shore who wasted no time at all getting stuck into escaping, remaining a POW only a matter of months…
- For You The War Is Over
Series 5 Intro
Welcome to Series 5 of For You The War Is Over. We are delighted to be able to bring you another twelve brand new episodes. As ever we look at some brilliant…
- For You The War Is Over
Major Sam Derry: The Rome Escape Organisation (with Special Guest, Claire Derry)
We were joined by Claire Derry to talk about her father, Major Sam Derry, who wasn't just satisfied with managing to escape from a moving train, he would go on…
- For You The War Is Over
W/Cmdr. Robert Stanford-Tuck & F/Lt. Zbigniew Kustreynski
Battle of Britain Legend and flying 'Ace', Bob Stanford-Tuck, made his escape with his partner, Zbigniew Kustreynski, during the Long March away from Stalag…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenant David James
Not short of a sense of humour, Lt. David James was to make an escape attempt under the pseudonym, 'I. Bugeroff'. This one is well worth a listen! For You The…
- For You The War Is Over
Corporals Serge Vaculik & Thomas 'Ginger' Jones
Ever hear the one about the two guys who escaped from a Firing Squad...? Now you can! For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories…
- For You The War Is Over
Lance Corporal William Richards
L/Cpl. Richards was very good at getting out and staying out, but never quite made it home in four attempts. However, his fifth escape effort would see him…
- For You The War Is Over
Private Leonard Mann
Another escaper who was to join the Polish Resistance after escaping, but there was to be more than one similarity with the escape of Easterbrook... For You…
- For You The War Is Over
Private Robert Easterbrook
For Easterbrook escaping was the easy part, as after getting out he was to take his life into his own hands by fighting the Germans in Poland as part of the…
- For You The War Is Over
Flight Lieutenant Allan McSweyn
Allan McSweyn was an Australian Bomber pilot who made many escapes efforts before he finally succeeded, before finally tunnelling his way out of Lamsdorf. For…
- For You The War Is Over
Sergeant Rene Renet
Sgt. Renet was only a prisoner for a very short period of time, but was able to make his escape during an RAF strafing raid on Germany. Having made his escape…
- For You The War Is Over
Flying Officer Raymond Sherk
In one of the most exciting escapes yet, F.O. Raymond Sherk was captured in North Africa, held in Italy until the Armistice when he took to the hills. He made…
- For You The War Is Over
Premier Maitre Andre Desgranges
In this episode we look at the escape of P.M. Andre Desgranges, a member of the Fighting French Navy, who under threat from the Gestapo escaped from a camp in…
- For You The War Is Over
MI9 (with Special Guest, Dr Helen Fry)
To open series 4 we welcome Helen Fry, author of "MI9", to discuss its work aiding the escape and evasion of Prisoners-of-War. We discuss the key players in…
- For You The War Is Over
Series 4 Intro
Welcome to Series 4 of For You The War Is Over. We are excited to bring you brand new episodes covering some fantastic new escapes as well as some brilliant…
- For You The War Is Over
Pilot Officer Keith Chisholm
After making multiple escape attempts, as well as multiple identity changes, Chisholm finally escaped from a camp in Poland, before making his way through…
- For You The War Is Over
Captains George Tsoucas & Ralph 'Buck' Palm
A couple of serial escapers, Captains Tsoucas and Palm escaped from Moosburg, hid in a couple of beer barrels on a goods train, before making contact with an…
- For You The War Is Over
Warrant Officer Gordon Woodroofe
In this episode we look at the escape of W/O. Gordon Thomson Woodroofe, an inveterate escaper who spent three years giving the Germans the run around, escaping…
- For You The War Is Over
Sergeant Harry Dalby
Another POW who was captured on Crete, he endured a gruelling time in camp before escaping and making his way by rowing boat across the Aegean Sea to Turkey…
- For You The War Is Over
AC1 Jacob Gewelber
Captured while working as a translator on Crete, Gewelber was to make multiple escape attempts despite the risk to his life as a Jewish Prisoner-of-War. He…
- For You The War Is Over
Major Anthony Deane-Drummond
Second in this double-header, we look at Deane-Drummond's other successful escape, this time from Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. For You The War Is…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenant Anthony Deane-Drummond
First of a double-header, we look at the first escape of Anthony Deane-Drummond, the only man to successfully escape twice during the Second World War…
- For You The War Is Over
Wing Commander Basil Embry
This episode looks at the escape of Wing Commander Basil Embry, who made his escape after seeing a road sign pointing to the village of "Embry". Taking it as a…
- For You The War Is Over
Sq/Ldr. McAuley, Fl/Sgt. Nightingale and CQMS Cook
In this episode we look at what may be the shortest escape of the war, both in timeframe and distance. But that also make it one of the most interesting! For…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenant Commander Redvers Prior
In this episode we look at Lieutenant Commander Redvers Prior. A First World War Navy veteran, he was one of our oldest escapers when he escaped from a…
- For You The War Is Over
Flight Lieutenant Denis Cowley
In this episode we look at the capture and escape of Fl/Lt. Denis Martin Cowley. After being due to be repatriated on medical grounds, he made his escape while…
- For You The War Is Over
Life as a POW (with Special Guest, Dr Midge Gillies)
To kick off this new series we welcome Midge Gillies, author of "The Barbed Wire University", to discuss what life was like as a Prisoner-of-war. We discuss…
- For You The War Is Over
Series 3 Intro
Welcome to Series 3 of For You The War Is Over, introducing a new series and a new presenter, we are excited to bring you brand new episodes covering some…
- For You The War Is Over
Flight Sergeant James Dowd
In the final episode of this series we look at the escape attempts of Flight Sergeant James Patrick Dowd. After a number of escape attempts, he eventually…
- For You The War Is Over
Captain Ian Thomson
In this episode we look at the escape of Captain Ian Poole Thomson, who was captured at El Alamein, escaped from Lamsdorf, was in Paris for D-Day and fought…
- For You The War Is Over
Brigadier James Hargest
In this episode we look at the escape of Brigadier James Hargest, a New Zealander who was captured by Rommel, held in Campo 12 in Italy, reaching Switzerland…
- For You The War Is Over
Corporal Jack Byrne
In the second episode of this series we look at the escape of Cpl. JV Byrne. A member of the SAS when captured, he made several attempts to escape, eventually…
- For You The War Is Over
Lieutenant The Earl of Cardigan
In this first episode of the second series we look at the escape of Lt. The Earl of Cardigan. Captured early in the war, he makes a dash for it from a moving…
- For You The War Is Over
Series 2, Episode 0 - Dedication to Dave Harrison
For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of POW escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by History Nerd @DaveMcRobbo and…