Chapter 18

??Whaletale Lockdown ??

Dear Inmates, have you ever heard the real story behind the 1963, War Drama Movie ”The Great Escape”- starring Steve McQueen? The true hero, Roger Bushell, a Spitfire pilot captured during World War II, masterminded and led the famous ‘Great Escape’ of British officers from the German ?? Stalag Luft III PoW camp, in the spring of 1943. Squadron Leader Bushell, commander of the escape committee, declared: – “Everyone here in this room is living on borrowed time. By rights, we should all be dead! The only reason that God allowed us this extra ration of life is so we can make life hell for the… Three bloody deep, bloody long tunnels will be dug – Tom, Dick and Harry. One will succeed!” The simultaneous digging of these tunnels would become an advantage. Because if the Germans discovered any one of them, the guards would scarcely imagine that another two could be well underway. ?

Squadron Leader Roger Bushell
They used this escape as a basis for the film mentioned above. In true Hollywood style, loaded with fiction, humour and lots of action, it turned out to be a blockbuster. The character played by Richard Attenborough was modelled on Roger Bushell. And although the movie depicts him as a plummy British officer, he was indeed a South African.

Of the 200 officers lined up to escape via the three tunnels, 76 managed to escape. However, 73 of them were sadly captured again. And 50 of the 76 escapees were executed by the Gestapo on the personal orders of Hitler, including our hero Roger Bushell and two other South Africans. Far be it from a Hollywood; – ”and they all lived happily ever after” ending, these heroic, brave young men sacrificed their lives for Queen and Country, and our freedom.?

On the base of our local Cenotaph in the centre of Hermanus, is a plaque in honour of Roger Bushell’s life. It’s the only tangible memorial for him other than his headstone in Poland. In Hermanus, his parents Ben & Dorothy lived and contributed so much to our village. The local High School still has a Trophy named in honour of him, rewarded to the highest achieving learner each year. How cool is that?

Remaining on this war theme, I will conclude. Beirut struggles to come to terms with her recent devastating 9-11 experience. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, looting, anarchy, racism, terrorist activity, famine, corruption, pandemics, COVID victims, oil spills, unemployment, bankruptcy and most scary, total lawlessness, is now the order of the day in almost every nation—some, to a lesser degree than others. The word of the Psalmist comes to my mind:- “The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved, He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge”. My dear friends, I trust we can all find comfort and refuge in His Word.?

Aren’t we all looking forward to our ”Great Escape” from this conundrum lockdown war we still find ourselves in⁉️”Oom Cyril, dis nou genoeg man”!! ?

Let’s take a moment as I play us out with ‘The Last Post’, melancholy song, performed at all military funerals. We have all heard the haunting trumpet sound, that touches the heart, gives us that lump in our throats and tears in our eyes.??

My friends, chin up and let’s continue to march on to gain our victories. May the Lord bless and keep you; may the Lord make His Face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace in Jesus’ name.?

I salute you all, till we speak again in the next whaletale, SHALOM!?