195 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca Tunneling was dangerous below and above ground. The sand could come down at any time without warning. 4000 bed boards were removed to form shoring and prisoners became used to sleeping on the barest of support. The teams dug out large chambers at the foot of the shaft for air pumps, and storage. The Germans were aware of something major was going on, but all attempts of discovering a tunnel failed. Even a wooden railway was built to truck back small amounts of sand, and later to transport the men for escape. Electric wire had an important use - the tunnel was wired for lighting so diggers could see. Much of the materials used were got from cleverly bribing the guards. Some of the materials used were spoons, forks, knives, shovels, water cans, bed boards, all kinds of tables, ropes, linens and electric wire. Those who could speak German, and were experienced Escapers, were thought to have a better chance at getting ‘home free’; and also the people who contributed most to the constructions of the tunnel, had a higher exit place, and were given priority with forged papers and civilian clothes. They had to also carry aircrew badges and brevets in a secret place while escaping in order to prove that they were not a spy. Being able to produce evidence being. an escaped POW was vital. Two hundred men were prepared to escape on March 24/25 1944. At night all the men gathered in hut 104 and into the tunnel. They were in the tunnel when an air raid struck and all the electricity was turned off. When the far end of the tunnel was opened, they discovered that it was well short of the tree line, and within 30 yards of the nearest watch tower. With snow lying on the ground, they left a trail as they crawled out of the exit and into the cover of the trees. These things greatly slowed down the passage of escapers. Out of 200 men going to escape only 76 did, and only 3 got home free. Fifty others were murdered and the rest sent to other prison camps. Back at the camp, both the men and Luftwaffe were horrified from the outcome. A memorial was allowed to be built and the ashes of the 50 who were men killed were buried there. Very few traces of the camp are now left. Although my grandfather died 9 years ago to this day, my mother thinks that a part of him died on March 24, 1944, in ‘Harry’ - Hut 104. SANGSTER, Edward M. (continued) Top left: Edward M. Sangster. Bottom left: Wally Floody (chief tunnel engineer).
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