Escape Fever: An Airman's Escape from the Kaiser s Germany

During World War I, Lieutenant Harding of the Royal Flying Corps was taken captive and imprisoned in Germany. He and Roy FitzGerald, another officer, attempted to escape from captivity, but FitzGerald was killed before the war ended. Harding's memoir provides a unique perspective on life in a Prisoner of War camp and the ingenuity and bravery required to escape.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

This remarkable memoir, penned by a Royal Flying Corps officer who managed to escape captivity during the autumn of 1917, was published in the early thirties, marking a significant contribution to the flood of personal war accounts that emerged in the years following the Armistice. Among the approximately twenty-five officers from the British air services who successfully evaded capture, Harding stands out as one of the fortunate few. Out of the staggering 1,700 officers taken prisoner, his remarkable journey stands as a testament to his courage and determination. Harding served as an observer in a Bristol FE2b of 25 Squadron RFC, a role he had previously held for eighteen months with the 1st Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment. His bravery in leading a successful trench raid near Mametz, on the Somme, in December 1915, earned him the prestigious Military Cross. His aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant Gerald French, was tragically shot down by a member of the renowned "Flying Circus" led by the legendary Manfred von Richthofen. Despite his relatively short tenure with the squadron, Harding's determination to escape was unwavering. He joined forces with Roy FitzGerald, a New Zealand-born officer who had been captured while serving with the 12th Glosters, in his quest for freedom. Despite the relatively short length of this book, like many memoirs of escaping officers, Harding's account is meticulously observed, capturing the essence of life in a Prisoner of War camp. The monotony is punctuated by the schemes and efforts undertaken to break free, showcasing the extraordinary ingenuity and resourcefulness of the prisoners. It is important to note that Harding's account does not represent the typical experience of a Prisoner of War. Many individuals, driven by a desire to see the war to its conclusion, were willing to endure the hardships and challenges of captivity. Harding's story, therefore, stands as a unique and inspiring testament to the indomitable human spirit and the unwavering determination to overcome adversity. No matter how many accounts one reads of escapes back to the United Kingdom, the striking impression of extraordinary ingenuity in orchestrating an escape and sourcing necessary materials from the most unexpected sources remains unwavering.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526796363