Jimmy Buckley
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Commander
James 'Jimmy' Brian Buckley DSC
(c.
1905 – 21 May 1943) was a Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm
pilot who became a notable prisoner of war
during the Second World War, and died during an escape attempt on 21 May 1943.
with seniority from 15 June 1926. He then spent much of his early career attached to the Royal Air Force
(which then controlled the naval aviation
requirements of the British Armed Forces), interspersed with periods of other naval duties. He continued to receive regular promotions within the RN during this period, to lieutenant
on 1 December 1928, and lieutenant-commander on 1 December 1936. Control of naval aviation returned to the Admiralty
in 1939.
He assumed command of No. 825 Squadron
Fleet Air Arm
in January 1940 which was equipped with Fairey Swordfish
aircraft. With the squadron, Buckley operated from HMS Glorious and from RAF Hal Far
on Malta
. When the ship was recalled for the operation in Norway, the squadron was disembarked at Prestwick
and the squadron then operated from Worthy Down, Detling and Thorney Island in operations against the advancing German forces in the Low countries and France.
Buckley was shot down on a bombing raid during the defence of Calais
on 29 May 1940 and was captured by the Germans on the same day.
Command of the squadron was taken over by Lt Cmdr Eugene Esmonde
, who was later to be decorated with the Victoria Cross
during an operation with the squadron.
Buckley was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
in July 1940 for "daring, endurance and resource in the conduct of hazardous and successful operations by the Fleet Air Arm working with the Coastal Command in France and over the Channel". His citation appearing in the London Gazette
on 5 July 1940.
transit camp, where he became a member of the permanent British staff at the camp. He arrived at the camp with Squadron Leader
Roger Bushell
who had also been shot down near Calais on 23 May 1940. Bushell also became a member of the permanent staff.
The Senior British Officer of the camp was Wing Commander
Harry Day. Day appointed Buckley as his adjutant and in October 1940 appointed him as head of the escape committee.
Buckley, with numerous others, participated in building of three tunnels, which one was completed and used for an escape in June 1941. Buckley, Day and 16 others escaped but were all recaptured within a few days. Buckley was caught trying heading towards the Baltic
on a train near Hann Minden. All the recaptured escapers, including Buckley, Bushell and Day, following a brief period in solitary confinement were transferred to Stalag Luft I
at Barth.
Buckley took charge of all escaping operations, and was instrumental in a number of escape attempts, including numerous tunnel projects, although he only made one unsuccessful attempt to escape himself.
The compound at Barth was becoming overcrowded, and due to the number of escape attempts made, the German authorities, under directions from Goering
decided to transfer all Air Force prisoners to a newly built camp at Sagan
.
in April 1942. The escape organisation remained unchanged with Buckley at is head. To improve security and provide anonymity from the Germans, Buckley became known as the 'Big X' - a term later becoming famous by its use by Roger Bushell
and the character based on him, played by Richard Attenborough
in the film 'The Great Escape'
.
He again helped organise numerous escape attempts, including a daring daylight attempt, when two officers cut through the wire under the noses of the sentries. Buckley had organised elaborate diversions, allowing the escapes to cut through to freedom. Unfortunately both men were recaptured within a few days.
By October 1942, the Compound at Stalag Luft III was becoming overcrowded, and the Germans transferred a number of officers to Oflag XXI-B
at Schubin in Northern Poland
. Buckley was among the men transferred there. Day also went too. Buckley handed over command of the escape organisation at Sagan to Roger Bushell
.
Following a disagreement between the camp commandant and Day (the Senior British Officer) over camp conditions, Day instigated several tunnel schemes which a mass attempt could be made, with the sole objective of having the commandant removed by the German authorities for failing to prevent a mass break out.
Several tunnels were started, the first was finished in March 1943. Buckley, as head of the escape organisation, was given a place in the tunnel.
The escape took place on the night of 5 March 1943. Buckley, with 34 others (including Day, future MP/journalist Aidan Crawley
, journalist/author Robert Kee
and Chancellor of the Exchequer
Anthony Barber
) crawled through the 150 ft tunnel, which started from the camp abort (toilet block). All were recaptured within a few days, except for Buckley and his travelling companion, a young Danish officer Jorgen Thalbitzer
(who was using the name Flying Officer
Thompson to hide his real identity from the Germans).
Buckley and Thalbitzer were known to have travelled to Copenhagen
before attempting a crossing by canoe
to neutral
Sweden
. They never arrived, and their fate is not completely understood. Thalbitzer's body was washed ashore sometime later, however Buckley's body was never found.
His date of death is recorded as 21 March 1943. He was 38 years old when he died, and is commemorated on the Lee on Solent Memorial (Bay 3 Panel 4).
He was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches for his services as a POW. This award was recorded in the London Gazette
dated 4 June 1946.
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
James 'Jimmy' Brian Buckley DSC
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(c.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1905 – 21 May 1943) was a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
pilot who became a notable prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
during the Second World War, and died during an escape attempt on 21 May 1943.
Fleet Air Arm
Buckley's naval career began in the mid 1920s. He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenantSub-Lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is a military rank. It is normally a junior officer rank.In many navies, a sub-lieutenant is a naval commissioned or subordinate officer, ranking below a lieutenant. In the Royal Navy the rank of sub-lieutenant is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army and of...
with seniority from 15 June 1926. He then spent much of his early career attached to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(which then controlled the naval aviation
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
requirements of the British Armed Forces), interspersed with periods of other naval duties. He continued to receive regular promotions within the RN during this period, to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 1 December 1928, and lieutenant-commander on 1 December 1936. Control of naval aviation returned to the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
in 1939.
He assumed command of No. 825 Squadron
825 Naval Air Squadron
825 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier-based squadron formed on 8 October 1934 from the aircraft and personnel of 824 Naval Air Squadron...
Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
in January 1940 which was equipped with Fairey Swordfish
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
aircraft. With the squadron, Buckley operated from HMS Glorious and from RAF Hal Far
RAF Hal Far
The RAF Hal Far airfield in Malta, titled HMS Falcon during the Royal Navy base, was constructed and opened on 1 April 1929, and was used by Royal Navy air crews. It was the first permanent airfield to be built in Malta. It was transferred to the Maltese Government and redeveloped as from January...
on Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. When the ship was recalled for the operation in Norway, the squadron was disembarked at Prestwick
Prestwick
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south...
and the squadron then operated from Worthy Down, Detling and Thorney Island in operations against the advancing German forces in the Low countries and France.
Buckley was shot down on a bombing raid during the defence of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
on 29 May 1940 and was captured by the Germans on the same day.
Command of the squadron was taken over by Lt Cmdr Eugene Esmonde
Eugene Esmonde
Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde VC DSO, F/Lt, RAF, Lt-Cdr RN was a distinguished pilot who was a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to members of Commonwealth forces...
, who was later to be decorated with the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
during an operation with the squadron.
Buckley was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
in July 1940 for "daring, endurance and resource in the conduct of hazardous and successful operations by the Fleet Air Arm working with the Coastal Command in France and over the Channel". His citation appearing in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 5 July 1940.
Dulag Luft Oberursel
Buckley, as an aircrew prisoner, was taken to Dulag LuftDulag luft
thumb|right|Sgt. Edward Hill of [[Manchester, England]], freed from five years of captivity at Dulag Luft, by the American Seventh Armored Division, First Army, circa 29 March 1945...
transit camp, where he became a member of the permanent British staff at the camp. He arrived at the camp with Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Roger Bushell
Roger Bushell
Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell RAF was a South African-born British Auxiliary Air Force pilot who organised and led the famous escape from the Nazi prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III. He was a victim of the Stalag Luft III murders. The escape was used as the basis for the film The Great...
who had also been shot down near Calais on 23 May 1940. Bushell also became a member of the permanent staff.
The Senior British Officer of the camp was Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Harry Day. Day appointed Buckley as his adjutant and in October 1940 appointed him as head of the escape committee.
Buckley, with numerous others, participated in building of three tunnels, which one was completed and used for an escape in June 1941. Buckley, Day and 16 others escaped but were all recaptured within a few days. Buckley was caught trying heading towards the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
on a train near Hann Minden. All the recaptured escapers, including Buckley, Bushell and Day, following a brief period in solitary confinement were transferred to Stalag Luft I
Stalag Luft I
Stalag Luft I was a German World War II prisoner-of-war camp near Barth, Western Pomerania, Germany, for captured Allied airmen. The presence of the prison camp is said to have shielded the town of Barth from Allied bombing...
at Barth.
Stalag Luft I, Barth
At Stalag Luft I, Day again assumed the role of Senior British Officer, and again appointed Buckley as head of the escape committee.Buckley took charge of all escaping operations, and was instrumental in a number of escape attempts, including numerous tunnel projects, although he only made one unsuccessful attempt to escape himself.
The compound at Barth was becoming overcrowded, and due to the number of escape attempts made, the German authorities, under directions from Goering
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
decided to transfer all Air Force prisoners to a newly built camp at Sagan
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
.
Stalag Luft III, Sagan
Buckley, with all other POWs from Barth, was transferred to Stalag Luft IIIStalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II that housed captured air force servicemen. It was in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan , southeast of Berlin...
in April 1942. The escape organisation remained unchanged with Buckley at is head. To improve security and provide anonymity from the Germans, Buckley became known as the 'Big X' - a term later becoming famous by its use by Roger Bushell
Roger Bushell
Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell RAF was a South African-born British Auxiliary Air Force pilot who organised and led the famous escape from the Nazi prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III. He was a victim of the Stalag Luft III murders. The escape was used as the basis for the film The Great...
and the character based on him, played by Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
in the film 'The Great Escape'
The Great Escape (film)
The Great Escape is a 1963 American film about an escape by Allied prisoners of war from a German POW camp during World War II, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough...
.
He again helped organise numerous escape attempts, including a daring daylight attempt, when two officers cut through the wire under the noses of the sentries. Buckley had organised elaborate diversions, allowing the escapes to cut through to freedom. Unfortunately both men were recaptured within a few days.
By October 1942, the Compound at Stalag Luft III was becoming overcrowded, and the Germans transferred a number of officers to Oflag XXI-B
Oflag XXI-B
Oflag XXI-B and Stalag XXI-B were World War II German prisoner-of-war camps for officers and enlisted men, located at Szubin a few miles south of Bydgoszcz, in Pomorze, Poland, which at that time was occupied by Nazi Germany.-Timeline:...
at Schubin in Northern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. Buckley was among the men transferred there. Day also went too. Buckley handed over command of the escape organisation at Sagan to Roger Bushell
Roger Bushell
Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell RAF was a South African-born British Auxiliary Air Force pilot who organised and led the famous escape from the Nazi prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III. He was a victim of the Stalag Luft III murders. The escape was used as the basis for the film The Great...
.
Oflag XXI-B Schubin
The camp at Schubin was administered by the German Army, and had recently held French POWs. It was dirty and conditions were poor, however under Day's leadership morale was very high, and immediately escape attempts were under way, once again under Buckley's command.Following a disagreement between the camp commandant and Day (the Senior British Officer) over camp conditions, Day instigated several tunnel schemes which a mass attempt could be made, with the sole objective of having the commandant removed by the German authorities for failing to prevent a mass break out.
Several tunnels were started, the first was finished in March 1943. Buckley, as head of the escape organisation, was given a place in the tunnel.
The escape took place on the night of 5 March 1943. Buckley, with 34 others (including Day, future MP/journalist Aidan Crawley
Aidan Crawley
Aidan Merivale Crawley, MBE was a British journalist, television executive and editor, and politician...
, journalist/author Robert Kee
Robert Kee
Robert Kee CBE is a British broadcaster, journalist and writer, known for his historical works on World War II and Ireland....
and Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
Anthony Barber
Anthony Barber, Baron Barber
Anthony Perrinott Lysberg Barber, Baron Barber, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician who served as a member of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords....
) crawled through the 150 ft tunnel, which started from the camp abort (toilet block). All were recaptured within a few days, except for Buckley and his travelling companion, a young Danish officer Jorgen Thalbitzer
Jorgen Thalbitzer
Flying Officer Jorgen Billy Thalbitzer , was a Danish pilot who joined the British Royal Air Force during the Second World War, became a prisoner of war and died following escape from prison.-Royal Air Force Service:...
(who was using the name Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
Thompson to hide his real identity from the Germans).
Buckley and Thalbitzer were known to have travelled to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
before attempting a crossing by canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
to neutral
Neutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. They never arrived, and their fate is not completely understood. Thalbitzer's body was washed ashore sometime later, however Buckley's body was never found.
His date of death is recorded as 21 March 1943. He was 38 years old when he died, and is commemorated on the Lee on Solent Memorial (Bay 3 Panel 4).
He was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches for his services as a POW. This award was recorded in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
dated 4 June 1946.
Sources
- 'Wings Day' by Sidney Smith
- 'The Great Escape' by Paul BrickhillPaul BrickhillPaul Chester Jerome Brickhill was an Australian writer, whose World War II books were turned into popular movies.-Biography:...
- 'Moonless Night' by Bertram JamesBertram JamesSquadron Leader Bertram Arthur "Jimmy" James, MC, RAF was a British survivor of The Great Escape.-Early life:James was born in India, the son of a tea-planter, and was educated at The King's School, Canterbury...
- 'Under the Wire' by William Ash
- WO 208/3296 – Official Camp History - Oflag XXI-B Schubin (Oflag 64) – from the Catalogue of The National Archives
- WO 208/3269 - Official Camp History - Dulag Luft (Oberusel): RAF personnel – from the Catalogue of The National Archives