Horned Pigeon

by George Millar

George Millar's classic World War II prisoner-of-war escape story brilliantly conveys the terrifying experience of life on the run in wartime Europe, one step ahead of the Gestapo. Captured in the Libyan desert by the German Afrika Korps and held in various prison camps in Italy, Millar was transferred to Germany after several unsuccessful escape attempts. Escaping once more, this time from his train, Millar set out to reach London and freedom. Speaking fluent French (he had been the DAILY EXPRESS Paris correspondent at the beginning of the war) he was able to pass himself off as a French labourer on his hazardous journey. But when he returned to London, decorated for his bravery, it was to discover that his wife was in love with someone else and wanted a divorce. He joined the Special Forces there and then, and began training for operations behind enemy lines in France - but that is the subject of his second book, MAQUIS, also to be published as a Cassell Military Paperback (July 2003).

Genres: World War II, Memoir, History, France

Paperback

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

George Reid Millar, DSO MC, was a Scottish journalist, author and soldier who was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his escape during the first part of the Second World War which he wrote about in Horned Pigeon.

Millar was awarded the DSO, the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre avec Palmes for his service in France in 1944 fighting behind the lines with the local Resistance. He recorded this experience in his most well known book Maquis.

Reviews

[Claire]

This reads a like boys-own adventure novel for grown ups, but it's a fascinating autobiographical true story of escape and evasion in occupied Europe. Very dark in places, and perhaps slightly romanticised in others (some characters seem to be either fictionalised or composites, which is understandable), this is a dramatic tale told well by an author who knows how to write, and how to hold the reader's attention and interest until the very last page.

[Patti Flanagin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this true story of imprisionment and escape during WWII. The details about prison life, food, other prisoners, guards are fascinating. During Millar's escape and journey to freedom, he was helped by many and hindered frequently by his fellow escapees. This book makes a good counterpart to "Love and War in the Appenines" by Eric Newby (which had a much happier ending).

I am looking forward to Millar's sequel, "Maquis," in which he returns to France and works for the resistance.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

George Millar wrote a number of interesting books, starting with his rather extraordinary experiences as a prisoner of war. Captured during the desert campaign, he was taken into Italian hands (from which he almost escaped), before being moved to Germany and a much more serious sort of imprisonment at the hands of the Nazis. Yet he managed to escape, jumping from a train on the final leg of a transfer and then making his way from the heart of Germany into France. There he undergoes still further adventures with all sorts of folk that he hopes are in the Resistance, but is never quite sure. It's a mad tale, that only a war could provide, and it is well told by this future writer who went on, in the latter stages of the war, to act as an agent for the Maquis, the much-feared French underground movement based in the south of France. He has written a number of novels recounting his wartime experiences and several of them, notably this one and "Road to Resistance," tend to repeat the same story overmuch. Nevertheless, the experience is authentic, the writing extremely competent and the action informative and entertaining at the same time.

[Lee Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story that defies belief! The history of covert actions and of prisoners of war in WWII is the stuff of countless novels and motion picture plots. This story is all the more gripping because it is NOT fiction.
The resilience and determination of POW’s in any war are always inspirational and a great life lesson for anyone dealing with a challenging situation. The stories from the WWII generation are always amazing tales of survival and patriotism. This story is a great example and will be enjoyed by any fan of the genre.

[Evert Eliasson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time-Life Books. Classics of World War II: The Secret War.

[Grandadinmypocketno1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that I would highly recommend to everyone to read. Slay George 🫶🏻