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cover art for The Great Escape - Richard Anthony Bethell

For You The War Is Over

The Great Escape - Richard Anthony Bethell

Season 8, Ep. 74

We were joined by Rafe Bethell, the son of Richard Anthony 'Tony' Bethell, to tell us about his life as a pilot, Great Escaper, Rugby 'Barbarian' and his life in Canada after the war. Rafe also shared about his father's legacy through the Bethell Hospice, which bears his name, and cares for people in their days of life. If anyone wishes to support the work of the Bethell Hospice, you can do so here: https://bhf.akaraisin.com/ui/bhfdonations/donations/start

For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. 

If you would like to follow us, you can find us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com


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  • 79. The Great Escape - Brian Evans

    31:02||Season 8, Ep. 79
    Brian Evans had a short but very eventful operational career, but he was to utilise his pre-war surveying skills for the Great Escape, helping to estimate the length required for the tunnel digging. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com
  • 78. The Great Escape - Albert Hake

    56:45||Season 8, Ep. 78
    Although Albert Hake was an NCO, as a Spitfire pilot the Germans assumed he must be an officer, and so they promoted him to an officers rank when they captured after being shot down. His main contribution to the Great Escape was producing hundreds of hand-made compasses for his fellow escapers, stamping on each compass “Made in Stalag Luft III - Patent Pending”. We were joined by author and historian, Kristen Alexander, to share with us Hake's story.For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com
  • Bonus Episode - L/Cpl. George Arnold (Special Guest: Damien Lewis)

    38:41|
    For the launch of his new book, "SAS: Great Escapes Five" we were re-joined by author and historian, Damien Lewis, to share with us the story of Lance Corporal George Arnold of the SAS, who was deployed behind enemy lines in Italy to rescue and exfiltrated escaped prisoners-of-war who had left the camps following the Italian Armistice. For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com
  • 77. The Great Escape - Harold Milford

    45:14||Season 8, Ep. 77
    Harold Milford managed to survive a bad crash landing in Northern France, from which his pilot managed to make a ‘Home Run’ back to the UK, while he ended up being taken prisoner and sent to Stalag Luft III. Following the Great Escape, he was told during his interrogation that he would never see his wife, Marion, again; a threat which sadly came true. Stacey Astill, a POW historian, joined us to share his story as well as some of her research into the mental health aspect of being a POW.For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com
  • 76. The Great Escape - John Francis 'Jack' Williams

    29:08||Season 8, Ep. 76
    The second John Williams to take part in the Great Escape, Jack, as he was known, was a keen amateur actor who took part in 'amdrams' and musical theatre plays before the war. He joined the Great Escape team a little late due to an appendectomy he had to have while in camp, but he was to be a member of the dispersal team for the Great Escape.For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com
  • Bonus Episode - W.O. Ralph Corps (Special Guest: Malcolm Gaskill)

    26:29|
    Ahead of the paperback release of his book, "The Glass Mountain", we were joined by Malcolm Gaskill for this bonus episode to discuss the escape of his uncle, Ralph Corps, which he covers in his book. Malcolm's book is as much about his discovery of his uncle's adventure as it is about Ralph's escape through Italy. For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War.If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com
  • 75. The Great Escape - James 'Cookie' Long

    36:44||Season 8, Ep. 75
    We were joined by the current Commanding Officer of 9 Squadron, Wing Commander Chris Pearson, to share the story of James 'Cookie' Long. Long was a crewmate of John Shore, whose escape we covered in Episode 1 of Series 5, when they were both shot down. He would earn his nickname from his skill at brewing 'kriegie hooch', becoming a tunneller for the Great Escape, and he was to be the last of 'The Fifty' to be murdered.For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com
  • 73. The Great Escape - Michael Casey

    34:18||Season 8, Ep. 73
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