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Lot Essay
Unusually, the original Rolex guarantee and Rolex receipt have survived with this watch.
Stalg Luft 111 was situated in Sagen, 100 miles south east of Berlin. It was opened in 1942 and was an officers-only camp, security was strict but life was not intolerable except for those for whom escape was a restless itch. Luft 111 grew to hold 10,000 prisoners and covered 59 acres.
The "Great escape" from Stalag Luft 111 on March 24th/25th 1944 was a tremendous feat and had been planned for some time, the prisoners dug three tunnels known as "Tom", "Dick" and "Harry" and it has been calculated that they moved over 200 tons of sand during the excavation without being detected by the guards. Between the night of 24th March and the morning of 25th 76 men had made their escape, of these 76, only three made it to safety. This heroic story was immortalised in the 1963 film "The Great escape".
It is interesting that Lt. Douglas was allowed to receive this watch whilst held in the camp and that it was sent to him free of charge by Rolex.
Stalg Luft 111 was situated in Sagen, 100 miles south east of Berlin. It was opened in 1942 and was an officers-only camp, security was strict but life was not intolerable except for those for whom escape was a restless itch. Luft 111 grew to hold 10,000 prisoners and covered 59 acres.
The "Great escape" from Stalag Luft 111 on March 24th/25th 1944 was a tremendous feat and had been planned for some time, the prisoners dug three tunnels known as "Tom", "Dick" and "Harry" and it has been calculated that they moved over 200 tons of sand during the excavation without being detected by the guards. Between the night of 24th March and the morning of 25th 76 men had made their escape, of these 76, only three made it to safety. This heroic story was immortalised in the 1963 film "The Great escape".
It is interesting that Lt. Douglas was allowed to receive this watch whilst held in the camp and that it was sent to him free of charge by Rolex.