On Friday, 24^th March 1944, 76 prisoners escaped from Stalag Luft III, a German “escape-proof” Prisoner of War camp. Of those 76, three made it home, while 50 were shot and the remaining 23 were recaptured and returned to PoW camps

It became known as “The Great Escape”, made famous in the 1963 Hollywood movie, starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, and many other famous actors, most of whom were American, despite there being no American involved in the actual escape!

One of those escapees, was Dick Churchill. He was one of the ‘lucky’ 23 who were not shot having been recaptured. He avoided being shot because of his surname. Although unrelated to Winston Churchill, the German Command were wary of his name, believing he was related to Winston Churchill and eventually returned him back to Stalag Luft III instead.

Just a few months later, in early 1945, the High Command ordered around 80,000 prisoners of war to march 100s of miles westward to prevent them falling into the hands of the advancing Russians.

Subsequently known as the Long or Death March, this little-known episode of WW2 history took place in the worst winter in Europe for 50 years. Many prisoners, along with German soldiers, perished due to exhaustion, malnutrition, and the inescapable cold, or indeed strafing from Allied aircraft believing them to be columns of German troops.

(Personal effects of Stuart Green’s father including his PoW Camp Registration card; his Red Cross issued address book from the PoW containing addresses of some of those in the Great Escape; his parachute harness used when his Stirling aircraft was shot down over Holland; a photo of his Stirling aircraft taken 3 days beforehand.)

The Long March stands as a stark testament to the cruelty of war and the indomitable spirit of those who survived.

Dick Churchill was one who survived. He was the last survivor of the Great Escape and endured the Long March. His story, though remarkable, is largely unknown, like many of those who made it home.  

However, his son, Roger Churchill – a friend and supporter of the Brewery, along with Stuart Green the son of another Stalag Luft III POW Alan Green, a navigator in Wellingtons and Stirlings shot down in 1942 – is organising a cycle ride to commemorate his father, who died in 2019.

The charity bike ride is retracing as near as possible the route the PoWs took from Stalag Luft 3 on The Long March.

Starting on 5th May 2025 from the site of the Stalag Luft III in Poland, the ride will traverse 300kms through scenic countryside, small towns, and relevant sites of interests, ultimately reaching the Neue Wache Memorial in Berlin (which commemorates all victims of war and tyranny) on 8th May 2025 (VE Day 80th Anniversary).

The cycling team is made up of RAF veterans, friends and relatives of PoWs including, of course, Roger. They will ride collectively to symbolise unity of purpose and shared remembrance.

The ride is a powerful act of remembrance and solidarity. In contributing to this ride, individuals and organisations can honour the past while making a tangible difference to the present, supporting those who have served and ensuring that their history is not forgotten.

This ride offers us all an opportunity to pedal for a purpose and be part of a memorable experience with a positive outcome.

If you would like to support the charity cycle ride directly, please use the link to Roger Churchill’s sponsorship page: Long March 80th Anniversary Charity Cycle Ride – GiveWheel

Details of the route and riders can also be found there, with regular updates.