Lt Cmdr 'Billie' Stephens - Op Chariot, Colditz and Escape across the Pyrenees
Allan Hunn
- Regions:
- South East, South West, East of England, London, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Semi-Professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £60 plus expenses.
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 14th October 2026
- Tagged:
- World War 2 | Colditz | Operation Chariot | Escape Lines
Discover the Colditz “home run” of hero Lt Cmdr ‘Billie’ Stephens, who after capture at St Nazaire and incarceration at Colditz bypassed German security to reach neutral Switzerland. His journey continued through occupied France, eventually using the Françoise network to navigate the treacherous Pyrenees. As we follow his escape routes, we can appreciate the extraordinary bravery required to escape Colditz to Switzerland then France to cross the mountains and reach neutral Spain. Experience and commemorate the inspiring history of Billie and those with him who defied the Third Reich.
Views: 11 | Enquiries: 0About Allan Hunn
International Mountain Leader, Battlefield Guide and Tour Manager
A former aircraft maintenance engineer with 25 years RAF service and 18 years civil aerospace experience.
The last 12 years have been spent researching WWII Escape Lines including the retracing and walking of arduous routes of a significant number of named soldiers, sailors, airmen and SOE agents. This also includes the identification and recognition of citizen ‘helpers’ who risked everything to ensure the safe passage of escapers & evaders.
Typical escaper & evader subject knowledge includes escapers & evaders of Dunkirk, St Valery-en-Caux, St Nazaire, Dieppe, The Great Escape, Colditz, Bombing campaign (including the 8th Air Force), SOE infiltration and exfiltration. Overtime a huge database has been assembled which allows for queries on the rapid identification of the history of escapers & evaders and their individual routes.
Talks include the individual/group, battle context, helpers, route taken and outcome.
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