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Here is an obit for one who just recently passed away.
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Thanks Ed for the update. There were probably many people involved, if not most of the camp, in this escape. One of my close friends here in Vancouver is a fellow by the name of Anthony "Tony" Cowling. Tony was captured at the fall of Singapore and spent 4 and half years in a Japanese POW Camp. He wrote his autobiography entitled "My life With The Samurai". Can't tell you if the books on line or whether you can buy it at any book stores, but a fascinating book to read from a boy of 17 years of age, when captured. If any of the forum members would like to purchase a copy, I can arrange it, at cost.
The ironic part of this story was that Tonie's brother was shot down over Germany and ended up at Stalag Luft 111 POW Camp and partook in being a " Penguin" in the digging of the tunnels. As Tony says from "Down Under", all is lost if our generation doesn't record and keep the history alive. An interesting note on Tony Cowling.... during the time I've known Tony, I've tried to help him out marketing his book, even bought a couple of dozen books and sent off copies for Christmas prezzies, only to be complimented by friends, family and military buffs. I've helped him build and accent his display and made sure he got prominent display in any event we were involved in. There was a point when I took him for lunch in Richmond BC and as he asked for, we ended up at a Thai Restaurant. At that point, I was ready to eat the arse out of skunk....I was so hungry! Rather than ordering a selection of dishes of various delights, as would of being my choice, Tony opted for a small bowl of rice and a extremely small bowl of condiments....and that was Lunch! Chopsticks and all. And to watch this man.... carefully and so cautiously eat this tiny bowl of rice....and I,m talking Tiny, just made me realize what this guy had gone through and who bears that scar till this day. I know I've digressed from the original topic of this discussion, but because of Tony and his brother, I'd thought I'd share this with the Forum Members. Robert Morrison ( Canadian Military Remembrance Society ) Last edited by r.morrison; 05-01-12 at 08:48. |
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Just a little more on Stalag Luft 111. There was a fellow named John Colwell who lived in Parksville that donated his diary to our museum. Every day a page is turned to let people read what life was like in camp. Here's a link to the site.
http://www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca/exhibits.html Sadly, John is no longer with us, I had the pleasure of talking to him and he was a great person. Rob. |
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Hi Ed, Rob and Robert
Thank you guys for posting your updates to the Great Escape story, When I posted the original information of the finding of tunnel "George" I did not realise how much interest there would be. I have always been interested in the personal stories of veterans involved in historic events and as I stated earlier I do not think enough is done to interview and record invividual veterans stories for future generations, The dialy turning of the pages of the John Colwell diary is a terrific idea. Keep the stories coming. ![]() ![]() ![]() Cheers Tony ![]()
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Anthony (Tony) VAN RHODA. Strathalbyn. South Australia |
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Too bad i was not aware of Toy Cowling, as the December anniversary of Hong kong has just passed...although i certainly did discuss the battle on air at the time.
Also had a very interesting report just before Remembrance Day on the establishment of the Wall of Remembrance As the March anniversary of the Great Escape is approaching, perhaps if you could find out who the survivor is and send me contact info, i might be able to talk to him to give his story national and international exposure.
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I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot! |
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Well Marc and Tony and fellow members....my man seems to be out of town. As soon as I get a hold of him, I'll follow up with a report. I called Tony Cowling tonight, but he is out. His wife has been in the hospital since October or November and I haven't spoken with him since November. When I get a hold of him, I'm going to see how many books he has left and if he wants, I'll sell them on the forum. As I said earlier, I don't think you can buy them on line. But a fascinating book!
But till then....AND ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOPIC.... not military related, but none the less....I was reading in the Globe and Mail Newspaper this week, that the 100th year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is this April. An auction is to be held in New York of 5000 artifacts they brought up from the wreck. The auction is for the whole lot and valued at just under 2 million dollars US. One of my clients in Vancouver, who heads up a legal firm, had their offices repainted last year. That's what my company does here in Vancouver. While we were negotiating the project in his office, I couldn't help notice all the Maritime Bric a Brac in his office, including some great paintings of Ocean Liners. After business was completed, and we got the project, I quizzed him on the collection of Maritime artifacts in his office. He informed me that his grand father worked for the White Star Line in the early 1900's. As soon as he he said White Star Line....I said "The Titanic". And he responded "Yes". Turns out this gentleman's grandfather, while working for the White Star Line was based in New York at the time of the sinking, and was put in complete charge of the Survivors when they arrived in New York aboard that glorious ship....The Carpathia. I'm going to take him to lunch in the next few weeks and try and do an interview with him and hopefully set some thing up with Canadian Television. His grandfather, after leaving the White Star Line, went on to work for the Guinness family and was the head engineer handling the the building of the Lions Gate Bridge from Vancouver to North Vancouver (The British Properties). Funny the people you meet along the way in life.....Robert (Keep you posted) |
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