Jock Hamilton-Baillie
Encyclopedia
Jock Hamilton-Baillie MC
(1 March 1919 - 16 April 2003), was a British Royal Engineers
officer famed for numerous escapes from German prisoner of war camps during World War II
. During his later life he was a founder of the Fortress Study Group
, a prominent member of the Concrete Society, and a dedicated fund raiser for the Red Cross
.
and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Following this he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and posted to the 26th Field Company.
. With the advance of the German forces, Hamilton-Baillie was wounded and captured at St Valery-en-Caux. After recovering from his wounds he was moved to a prison camp at Peronne from which he and another officer escaped but were recaptured after three days. Hamilton-Baillie was moved again to Oflag VII-C
at Laufen from which he attempted to escape via a tunnel, but the exit was discovered before the escape could be made.
As a result of his efforts, Hamilton-Baillie was moved to Oflag VII-D
at Tittmoning
, a medieval castle on an isolated plateau in Bavaria, Germany. Making his next escape alone in spring 1941 he let himself through the wire and walked on foot a distance of almost 200 miles in ten days towards the Swiss border. Unfortunately his map was inaccurate and he was recaptured a matter of yards from freedom.
Shortly after his return to Tittmoning, Hamilton-Baillie was moved to Oflag VI-B
at Warburg. In conjunction with the men there a mass escape was planned involving hinged ladders to cross the wire and a tunnel, the escape being covered by fusing of the camp lights and a diversion. Forty one prisoners escaped, three of which managed to get back to England, although one escapee died when the tunnel collapsed.
Hamilton-Baillie was next held in Oflag VII-B
at Eichstatt in Bavaria. Here he joined a group of tunnelers in a well-organised escape group, helping to build a long well-supported tunnel with forced air ventilation and electric lighting. In June 1943 Hamilton-Baillie and 64 others staged a mass breakout but all were recaptured within two weeks.
Finally, Hamilton-Baillie was moved to Oflag IV-C
(Colditz Castle
) from which he made a number of attempts to escape but remained incarcerated until liberation by the 69th Infantry Division (United States) in April 1945. In December 1945 he was awarded the Military Cross
for his many escape attempts and assistance to other prisoners.
during which he was Aide-de-Camp
(ADC) to the Queen between 1972 and 1974.
in 1975 and served as chairman for a number of years. He was also a firm supporter of the Red Cross and a prominent member of the Concrete Society.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1 March 1919 - 16 April 2003), was a British Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
officer famed for numerous escapes from German prisoner of war camps during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During his later life he was a founder of the Fortress Study Group
Fortress Study Group
The Fortress Study Group is an international organisation based in the UK, which aims to further the understanding of military fortifications, particularly those designed after the introduction of gunpowder artillery.-History:...
, a prominent member of the Concrete Society, and a dedicated fund raiser for the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
.
Early life
John Robert Edward Hamilton-Baillie was born at Carlisle on 1 March 1919 and was educated at Clifton CollegeClifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Following this he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and posted to the 26th Field Company.
World War II
Hamilton-Baillie's company was mobilised with the 1st Division and sent to France at the start of the war. Shortly afterwards the company was transferred to the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division and stationed in the Saar region to gain experience on the Maginot LineMaginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
. With the advance of the German forces, Hamilton-Baillie was wounded and captured at St Valery-en-Caux. After recovering from his wounds he was moved to a prison camp at Peronne from which he and another officer escaped but were recaptured after three days. Hamilton-Baillie was moved again to Oflag VII-C
Oflag VII-C
Oflag VII-C was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Laufen Castle in south-eastern Bavaria from 1940 to 1942. Most of the prisoners were British officers captured during the Battle of France in 1940. To relieve overcrowding, some of the officers were transferred to...
at Laufen from which he attempted to escape via a tunnel, but the exit was discovered before the escape could be made.
As a result of his efforts, Hamilton-Baillie was moved to Oflag VII-D
Oflag VII-D
Oflag VII-C/Z, later renamed Oflag VII-D was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Tittmoning Castle in south-eastern Bavaria from 1940 to 1942. It existed only a short time...
at Tittmoning
Tittmoning
Tittmoning is a town in the district of Traunstein, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the border with Austria, on the left bank of the river Salzach, 38 km northwest of Salzburg. Population 6,151 . Postal code 84529....
, a medieval castle on an isolated plateau in Bavaria, Germany. Making his next escape alone in spring 1941 he let himself through the wire and walked on foot a distance of almost 200 miles in ten days towards the Swiss border. Unfortunately his map was inaccurate and he was recaptured a matter of yards from freedom.
Shortly after his return to Tittmoning, Hamilton-Baillie was moved to Oflag VI-B
Oflag VI-B
Oflag VI-B Dössel was a World War II German POW camp for officers located SW of the small town Dössel in north-western Germany.- Timeline :In 1940 the camp was built on what had been originally intended to be an airfield...
at Warburg. In conjunction with the men there a mass escape was planned involving hinged ladders to cross the wire and a tunnel, the escape being covered by fusing of the camp lights and a diversion. Forty one prisoners escaped, three of which managed to get back to England, although one escapee died when the tunnel collapsed.
Hamilton-Baillie was next held in Oflag VII-B
Oflag VII-B
Oflag VII-B was a World War II German POW camp for officers, located 1 km from Eichstätt, Bavaria.- Timeline :The camp was built in September 1939 to house Polish prisoners from the German September 1939 offensive...
at Eichstatt in Bavaria. Here he joined a group of tunnelers in a well-organised escape group, helping to build a long well-supported tunnel with forced air ventilation and electric lighting. In June 1943 Hamilton-Baillie and 64 others staged a mass breakout but all were recaptured within two weeks.
Finally, Hamilton-Baillie was moved to Oflag IV-C
Oflag IV-C
Oflag IV-C, often referred to as Colditz Castle because of its location, was one of the most famous German Army prisoner-of-war camps for officers in World War II; Oflag is a shortening of Offizierslager, meaning "officers camp"...
(Colditz Castle
Colditz Castle
Colditz Castle is a Renaissance castle in the town of Colditz near Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz in the state of Saxony in Germany. Used as a workhouse for the indigent and a mental institution for over 100 years, it gained international fame as a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II for...
) from which he made a number of attempts to escape but remained incarcerated until liberation by the 69th Infantry Division (United States) in April 1945. In December 1945 he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his many escape attempts and assistance to other prisoners.
Post War Service
After the war Hamilton-Baillie attended Cambridge University, graduating from Sidney Sussex College with a First in Mechanical Sciences. In 1950 he attended Staff College in Camberley and was then posted to the 44th Parachute Brigade as Brigade Major. This was followed by a series of BAOR postings starting with the command of 5 Field Squadron RE in 1953. In 1959 he became chief instructor of the Army Apprentices School in Chepstow. After a series of senior administrative roles in the Middle East and Germany his final appointment was as Brigadier Engineer Plans in the Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
during which he was Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
(ADC) to the Queen between 1972 and 1974.
Later life
Hamilton-Baillie retired from the army in 1974 and spent the following 10 years as lecturer in soil mechanics and geology at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham. He was one of the founding members of the Fortress Study GroupFortress Study Group
The Fortress Study Group is an international organisation based in the UK, which aims to further the understanding of military fortifications, particularly those designed after the introduction of gunpowder artillery.-History:...
in 1975 and served as chairman for a number of years. He was also a firm supporter of the Red Cross and a prominent member of the Concrete Society.
Honours and awards
- 20 December 1945 - Lieutenant John Robert Edward Hamilton-Baillie (85553), Corps of Royal Engineers is awarded the Military CrossMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field.