Jock Hamilton-Baillie

Jock Hamilton-Baillie
Nickname(s)	HB
Born	1 March 1919 Carlisle, Cumberland, England, UK
Died	16 April 2003 (aged 84) Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Engineers
Years of service	–1974
Rank	Brigadier
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Military Cross

John Robert Edward "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.

John Robert Edward Hamilton-Baillie was born at Carlisle, Cumberland on 1 March 1919. A scion of the noble Hamilton family, he was descended from the sixth Earl of Haddington. He was educated at Clifton College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, following which he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and posted to the 26th Field Company.

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 Line. With the advance of the German forces, Hamilton-Baillie was wounded and captured at Saint-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.

...
Wikipedia