Jimmy Keddie
James "Jimmy" Keddie DFM | |
|---|---|
Withington Hospital, Manchester | |
| Allegiance |  UK |
| Service/ | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–1946 |
| Rank | Flight lieutenant |
| Service number | 659018 and 147703 |
| Unit | No. 61 Squadron RAF No. 97 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War II
|
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Medal |
James Keddie
War service
Jimmy Keddie was born in
Prisoner of war
As bomb aimer aboard Pathfinder
'Great Escape'
Keddie was a well known character in Stalag Luft III for his ability to distract the guards as other prisoners distributed earth dug from the tunnels into the camp garden areas. For the Great Escape operation he frequently took part in the tunnelling with Henry Birkland.[12]
When the alarm was sounded and shots fired as the 77th escaper was sighted running from the tunnel mouth to the woods Keddie was preparing to enter the main tunnel. His prisoner of war debriefing document completed in England on 3 May 1945 confirms his participation in the "mass break at Saga on 24 March 1944".[13] He spent the remainder of the war in prison camps or marching away from the advancing Russian Red Army.
Post-war career
Keddie left the RAF after war service and settled at Hawick to work on the construction of waterworks in Galashiels. When the movie The Great Escape was released he and another Hawick resident, Norman Martin (also a former prisoner at Stalag Luft III), were invited to the Hawick Odeon cinema as guests of honour making front page of the Hawick Express. In 1968 he moved to Manchester as a car salesman and died in 2000 in Manchester.
Keddie is seen for a brief moment smoking a pipe behind Liam Gallagher, in the Oasis (band) video for Shakermaker, at the 3:17 mark.[14]
Notes
- ^ "Pongo" is a traditional affectionate Royal Navy and Royal Air Force nickname for a soldier, no doubt acquired because of Keddie's service in the Territorial Army. "Where the army goes, the pong goes", is the alleged source of the sobriquet.
References
- Notes
- ISBN 978-0-935-55347-5.
- ^ National Archives, London, document Air 2/8964
- ^ Tavender (1992), p.114
- ^ Musgrove (1992), p.50-51
- ^ "No. 36089". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 1943. pp. 3158–3159.
- ^ Kinrossshire Advertiser, 17 July 1943
- ^ "No. 36116". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 July 1943. pp. 3487–3488.
- ^ "No. 36271". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 November 1943. pp. 5289–5290.
- ^ "No. 37131". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1945. pp. 3130–3131.
- ^ Chorley (1996), p.302
- ^ National Archives, London. Document Air 20/2336
- ^ Andrews (1976), p.52
- ^ National Archives, London, document WO 344/170/1
- ^ Elis James and John Robins BBC Radio 5 Live Podcast, #282 - Oldroyd Sorbet, #Biceps and A Macchichatiato
- Bibliography
- ISBN 978-0-593-05408-6.
- ISBN 978-0-393-32579-9.
- ISBN 978-1-59114-097-9.
- ISBN 978-1-55591-536-0.
- Arthur A. Durand (1 January 1989). Stalag Luft III: The Secret Story. Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 978-1-85260-248-2.
- William R Chorley (1996). RAF Bomber Command Losses, 1943. Midland Counties. ISBN 0-904597-90-3.
- Allen Andrews (1976). Exemplary Justice. Harrap. ISBN 0-245-52775-3.
- Gordon Musgrove (1992). Pathfinder Force, a history of 8 Group. Crecy. ISBN 978-0947554231.
- Ian T Tavender (1992). The Distinguished Flying Medal, a record of courage. Hayward and son. ISBN 0903754479.
External links
- Project Lessons from the Great Escape (Stalag Luft III), by Mark Kozak-Holland. The prisoners formally structured their work as a project. This book analyses their efforts using modern project management methods.