‘Great Escape’ veteran Eric Dowling dies at 92

IT HAS emerged that Eric Dowling, nicknamed “Digger” for helping excavate tunnels used in the breakout from a World War II German prison camp that became known as the “Great Escape”, has died aged 92.

His son, Peter Dowling, said his father died at a nursing home near Bristol in south-west England on July 21, a day before his 93rd birthday.

Dowling played a key role in planning the 1944 escape by 76 prisoners from Stalag Luft III prison near Sagan in eastern Germany — now Zagan, Poland. He forged documents, made maps and helped dig three tunnels code-named Tom, Dick and Harry.