Thread: Real life 'Cooler King'

Army captain was real life 'Cooler King' from The Great Escape - Telegraph

A British army captain tried to escape four times from German Prisoner of War camps leading to comparisons with Steve McQueen's 'Cooler King' character in The Great Escape.

Capt Richard Carr's attempts to make his way to freedom included one effort to burrow his way out and another that involved disguising himself as a French worker, it has been disclosed.

He first made his name at Dunkirk for which he won the Military Cross but it was his escapology that led to the award of an MBE.

A prisoner of the Italians and Germans in World War Two, he modestly described his escapes as "four real breaks and a few minor ones."

He used a variety of techniques including tunnelling, disguise and leaping from a train - but was always recaptured.

His story, echoing that of 'Cooler King' Hilts in the 1963 film The Great Escape, came to light after research carried out when his five medals sold at auction for £20,000.

The medals would normally fetch about £2,000, but because of the story behind them a bidder paid £18,760 pounds, three times the estimate of £5,000.

After Dunkirk where he was bombed, Capt Carr spent time in hospital before volunteering for the Commandos, joining 11 Commando in August 1940 and serving with No.1 Troop.

He went to north Africa to take on Rommel and one day after a long range patrol returned to his camp unaware it had been taken by the Germans.

After his capture in January 1942 he was sent to a PoW camp in Italy and until the end of the war he made escaping his raison d'etre.

His first break for freedom came later that year when he spent six weeks digging a tunnel from which he and 13 others escaped.

A week later Capt Carr and a colleague took shelter at a farm house in the hills near Titopotenza while on the long journey to Switzerland, but were captured.

His second attempt was made after the Germans took over that camp and were preparing to move it.

Capt Carr and a friend secreted themselves in a small hideout beneath the stairs and sealed themselves in.

After a search that lasted all day and most of the night, Capt Carr was eventually dragged from his hiding place.

He was beaten up then taken by train to another PoW camp in Germany from which he escaped in October 1943.

Having walked out of the camp disguised as a French worker, he went to Munich where he boarded a train for Strasbourg but was eventually captured.

Taken to yet another camp, he helped dig a tunnel but before he could use it he was moved by train with more than 100 other officers to Stalag VIIIF.

During the train journey, the captain made another bid for freedom when he leapt from the carriage as it travelled at high speed.

He was captured by the Gestapo.

In May 1944 he was moved to Stalag 79 at Brunswick and almost immediately walked out through a partially finished sewer, but was again captured.

He remained a prisoner - some of it in solitary confinement - until the camp was liberated at the end of the war.

After that he returned to work for the family firm that produced biscuits - which are still sold today and include Capt Carr's water biscuits.

Steven Bosely, the auctioneer who sold the medals at Bosley auctions, Marlow Bucks, said the high price paid was because of the incredible story of the hero.

"He was a quite remarkable man. It was an officer's duty to try and escape and he was always trying once he was captured. And often he was put in solitary confinement and became the "cooler king" like Steve McQueen. He used a variety of methods to escape."

Capt Carr died in 1977.

Lot No 591 - the-saleroom.com - Bosleys Military Auctioneers - Medals & Militaria

LRDG. Long Range Desert Group Layforce Escapers MBE., MC Group of Five, with original Paperwork. Awarded to Captain Richard Phillip Carr MBE., MC. who had won the Military Cross during the retreat to Dunkirk 1940 with the Royal Artillery and then volunteered for Commando service with 11 Commando, Layforce and was taken prisoner when leading a section of the Long Range Desert Group in 1942. As a POW of the Italians and then the Germans he made in his words "Four real breaks and a few minor ones". These resulting in the award of the MBE. Comprising: Officer's breast badge of a Member of the British Empire (Military Division), Military Cross (1940), 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, War Medal. All medals are contained in their case or box of issue. The last three boxed and addressed to "Capt R.P. Carr MBE MC 32 Egerton Crescent Kensington SW3". GC. . The group is accompanied by a quantity of original paperwork, including a photograph of Capt Carr, Original letters sent from Carr including one dated "3.7.1941. C battalion Layforce". Original Confidential debrief report on his time as a POW including details of his escapes etc. . Also included is a draft for a booklet written by Carr about his time as a POW. . 9ct Gold RA Sweetheart brooch. Citation for the Military Cross "2nd Lieutenant Richard Phillip Carr (901212) Royal Regiment of Artillery. 2nd Lieutenant Carr was left in command of his Battery on the 28th May 1940, when his Battery Commander and Battery Captain became casualties, and he showed great qualities of leadership and initiative during that day and during the subsequent withdraw from Ypres Comines Canal. 2nd Lieutenant Carr has throughout displayed great powers of leadership and by his coolness under fire and contempt of danger has set a high example to all ranks". Citation for the award of the MBE. "Captain (Temporary) Richard Carr MC (901212) Royal Regiment of Artillery. Captain Carr was captured at Msus on the 26th January 1942 At Camp 35 Padula on 13th September 1942 he and thirteen others escaped through a tunnel which had taken them 1 1/2 months to construct. Outside the camp the party split up and Captain Carr with one other started out in the direction of Switzerland. They were recaptured by Carabinieri 7 days later when forced to seek shelter at a farmhouse in the hills near Titopotenza. As a result of his escape Capt Carr was sent to Camp 5 Gavi and did one month's cells as punishment. His second attempt was made after the Germans took over camp 5. In September 1943. He and another Officer had prepared a small hideout beneath the stairs and were sealed in an hour before the camp was due to move. About 58 others had also hidden themselves and at the last moment their absence was noticed. After a hunt lasting all day and most of the night, during which the German guards threw hand grenades indiscriminately, Captain Carr and his companion were dragged out of their cramped and airless quarters at 3 am and beaten up before being taken to Mantua and thence with others by train to Stalag VII A Moosburg. On the 5th October 1943 Captain Carr and an American Officer walked out of this camp dressed as French workers and walked to Munich, where they parted and Captain Carr with the assistance of French workers, boarded a goods train bound for Strasbourg. He had been given the address of a helper at Vendhelm but was unable to get in touch with him and while trying to find him in one of the barges on the cannel at Detweilie, was arrested by a German Policeman. Taken to Oflag VA Captain Carr took part in digging a tunnel, but before they could use it 120 Officers including Capt Carr were moved by train to Stalag VIIIF. On the second day of the journey (6th January 1944) while the train was going fairly fast Captain Carr and another Officer escaped through the netted window of their truck and jumped from the train. Captain Carr broke a finger and was completely winded but his companion's face was so badly cut that he had to give himself up at Neurode next day. Captain Carr who was wearing his battledress was arrested at Oppeln and after an unpleasant interview with a Gestapo agent in Neurode and time in the cells at Gorlitz, he was returned to Stalag VIIIF, given five days hospital treatment and a week in the cells. In May 1944 all the prisoners were loaded onto trucks, handcuffed together and taken to Stalag 79 at Brunswick. Almost immediately Captain Carr walked out of the camp through a partially finished sewer but was caught when he returned to fetch his kit. He remained in this camp until his final liberation in April 1945". The accompanying booklet and official debrief gives greater detail of these escape attempts. Captain Richard Phillip Carr MBE., MC served wit the BEF with 206/52 Anti tank regiment RA. his letters tell of being bombed by German aircraft prior to his evacuation from Dunkirk, where he was left with just what he stood up in. Following a period at the 42nd General Hospital, he volunteered for service with the Commandos and joined 11 Commando 28th August 1940 serving with No.1 Troop. Posted to the middle East it is believed he took part in the Litani River Raid of the 9/10 June 1941. It was during this raid that his commanding Officer Lt Col Pedder was killed and is revered to in his letter of the 3 July 1941. The address C Battalion Layforce being 11 Commando. He appears to have Layforce during September and transferred to the Long Range Desert Group. and was appointed Adjutant. In January 1942 Rommel's Africa Corps made a surprise attack, gaining ground very quickly, resulting in a rapid withdraw of the British forces. Capt Carr was given command of a seven vehicle patrol ordered to Msus to collect valuable stores and reconnaissance the area. So swift was the German advance that the Germans had capture Msus and Carr's patrol drove straight into them. Carr's outstanding citation for the MBE (LG 29.1.46) details his time as a POW and accompanying paperwork gives even grater detail. Leaving the army after the work he joined his family business, Carr's Biscuits and became a keen sailor and a member of the Royal Yacht Club. He died in 1977 after a short illness.