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Douglas Bader-Colditz
In the book Colditz, by Henry Chancellor-2001, he states that Bader,
while a POW at Colditz,kept his orderly, Alec Ross, who was about to be repatriated, two extra years at Colditz so that Ross would remain his orderly for the duration of Baders' imprisonment. "he came here as my lackey and he'll stay here as my lackey". Is there any credence to this authers claim that Bader had the clout to keep Ross from being repatriated and if he did would he have done so? Ron |
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On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 17:34:49 -0000, "Jim Doyle"
wrote: [repatriation from Colditz] Pat Reid was one of the first Brits into Colditz, and certainly one of the first out. Yes, I read Reid's books on Colditz when I was at school - but I don't recall anything in them about Bader quashing repatriation for his orderly, but then it's been a long time since I've read them. Gavin Bailey |
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"RON" wrote in message ... In the book Colditz, by Henry Chancellor-2001, he states that Bader, while a POW at Colditz,kept his orderly, Alec Ross, who was about to be repatriated, two extra years at Colditz so that Ross would remain his orderly for the duration of Baders' imprisonment. "he came here as my lackey and he'll stay here as my lackey". Is there any credence to this authors claim that Bader had the clout to keep Ross from being repatriated and if he did would he have done so? Ron My opinion is absolutely no, it that opinion matters at all. I knew Douglas for many years. During that time we discussed numerous issues and subjects, but seldom talked in great detail about his tenure at Colditz. He didn't remember it kindly. I knew about Alec of course, but Douglas never said a word to me that would indicate anything that relates to your scenario/question as being accurately founded in fact. I would only add that for Douglas to have done something like this even had he wanted to do so, would have exceeded any authority he had to make it happen. Also, from my personal experience with Bader, it would be my considered opinion that committing an action like this would in no way whatsoever compute with Douglas's later actions when interacting with people. Douglas could indeed be a hard nose on occasion , but only about technical issues he believed in strongly; never to my knowledge to the extent that he would treat someone like this who had openly helped him. I CAN however FWIW, envision Douglas saying in complete sarcastic jest...with absolutely no malice intended....and strictly as an inside joke between he and Alec Ross...the line attributed to him with the lackey reference! Douglas had a rapier sense of what he felt was funny...and enjoyed tremendously this kind of fooling around with insiders!! If you equate the countless hours Douglas spent helping people, especially children, who had suffered amputation; in many cases actually changing their very lives by his intervention, it just doesn't compute that he would have done something like this to Alec. In my opinion, this just isn't Bader at all.....in any shape or form whatsoever...period! There are several kooks out there pushing books about Douglas; each involving some unbelievable scenario. If I were you, It's consider the "hype factor" seriously before putting any credence in these unfavorable stories about Douglas Bader. The DB I knew would NEVER have done things like this! Just my opinion FWIW. Thank you, Dudley Henriques International Fighter Pilots Fellowship Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired For personal email, please replace the z's with e's. dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt |
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"RON" wrote in message ... In the book Colditz, by Henry Chancellor-2001, he states that Bader, while a POW at Colditz,kept his orderly, Alec Ross, who was about to be repatriated, two extra years at Colditz so that Ross would remain his orderly for the duration of Baders' imprisonment. "he came here as my lackey and he'll stay here as my lackey". Is there any credence to this authers claim that Bader had the clout to keep Ross from being repatriated and if he did would he have done so? Ron From what I have read of Bader, it seems unlikely. Given his own constant attempts to escape, I cannot imagine he would do anything to keep someone else prisoner of the Nazis. It also seems unlikely given his hatred for the Nazis that he would prevent someone returning to the UK, where they might make a contribution (however slight) to the fight. As a practical matter I also find it unlikely that he could overule a decision to repatriate (on whatever grounds), that the Nazis supported. |
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"L'acrobat" wrote in message ... From what I have read of Bader, it seems unlikely. Given his own constant attempts to escape, I cannot imagine he would do anything to keep someone else prisoner of the Nazis. It also seems unlikely given his hatred for the Nazis that he would prevent someone returning to the UK, where they might make a contribution (however slight) to the fight. As a practical matter I also find it unlikely that he could overule a decision to repatriate (on whatever grounds), that the Nazis supported. I can imagine however that Ross would have turned down an offer of repatriation to stay with him, he did after all request a transfer to Colditz with him in the first place. Keith |
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"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message ... "L'acrobat" wrote in message ... From what I have read of Bader, it seems unlikely. Given his own constant attempts to escape, I cannot imagine he would do anything to keep someone else prisoner of the Nazis. It also seems unlikely given his hatred for the Nazis that he would prevent someone returning to the UK, where they might make a contribution (however slight) to the fight. As a practical matter I also find it unlikely that he could overule a decision to repatriate (on whatever grounds), that the Nazis supported. I can imagine however that Ross would have turned down an offer of repatriation to stay with him, he did after all request a transfer to Colditz with him in the first place. Keith Didn't mean to slander DB earlier, just remembering what Reid had said. I think you're quite right to suggest that Ross may have turned down the prospect of repatriation, but his respect for Bader must've been quite considerable given the circumstances he left himself in having turned-down a ticket home. Colditz by all accounts was far from hospitable. Jim |
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