The Outer Courtyard from Room 217, looking South towards
main entrance
This view from Room 217 in the Senior British
Officers' Quarters in the theatre block was painted by Major
W.F. Anderson in the winter of 1941- 2. It shows roughly the
view that Douglas Bader, would have had of the sentry patrolling the outer
courtyard during the the escape by Reid, Stephens, Littledale and Wardle
on October 14th 1942 which Pat Reid describes in the Colditz
Story. Music was used for signalling to the escape party - who could
not see the sentry themselves - and the sentry had to become accustomed
to it beforehand. For several days prior to the escape, music practices
were arranged in the evenings. Anderson describes these as follows:
"The oboe reeds are also just in time - the other ones had really
practically breathed their last and the new ones produce at least twice
the noise with half the effort. George Young and I do some combined operations
with him on the piano, which is quite fun - also now and then in our room
with him on the harmonica (sic) - this clears the room in a very short
while.”
On the evening in question Bader watched the sentry and acted as conductor,
Anderson played the oboe and Colonel George Young played the concertina.
When the players were silent it meant that the sentry was in a suitable
position for the escapers to cross his path without being seen. The escape
was successful.
----o0o----
Notes
Reid, P.R.: The Colditz Story Hodder
& Stoughton 1952 Chapter XX pages 248 and following.
