Rest In Peace, Wing Commander Rees

Wing Commander Henry “Ken” Rees passed away on Saturday at the age of 93. He was an inspiration and a legend, even though few of us would know him by name, and his passing marks the end of an era. Via The Telegraph (UK):

Wing Commander Ken Rees, who has died aged 93, was the last surviving member of the digging team that constructed the tunnel used during the “Great Escape” from Stalag Luft III in March 1944.

…

When Hollywood filmed the escape from Stalag Luft III many drew parallels between Rees and the character of Hilts, the “Cooler King” played by Steve McQueen. “It’s always said that he was based on me,” said Rees late in life, “apart from him being a 6ft tall American and me a Welshman of about 4ft 3in who can’t ride a motorbike.”

…

Rees spent long hours digging Harry, much of it at the face of the tunnel. There was the constant risk of collapse and being buried in the soft sand and there were numerous roof falls, which had to be shored up with bed boards. For the stocky, powerfully built Rees, the tunnelling in Harry became an occupational therapy to alleviate the boredom and hunger through one of the coldest winters of the past century.

Read the whole thing when you get a chance. No wonder Hollywood came calling.