The Tunnel

by Eric Williams

This book traces Peter Howard, who was to become one of The Wooden Horse escapers, from his being shot down, through his capture, interrogation and first two POW camps. It gets into the mind of a man determined to escape his captors. It shows that for all the many schemes dreamt up, very few ever got started and of those only a tiny handful ever came to fruition - and of those a 'home run' was as rare as a lottery win. But none of this could suppress the determination, ingenuity and courage of those who were driven to try.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, World War II, Adventure, Autobiography

220 pages

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Eric Williams, MC was a former Second World War RAF pilot and prisoner of war who wrote several books dealing with his escapes from prisoner-of-war camps.
At the end of the war, on the long sea voyage home, Williams wrote Goon In The Block, a short book based on his experiences. Four years later, in 1949, he rewrote it as a much longer third-person narrative under the title The Wooden Horse. He included many details omitted in his previous book, but changed his name to 'Peter Howard'.

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat misleading title, the bulk of Eric Williams's The Tunnel describes everyday life in a POW camp during the Second World War in all its mundanity.

The escape attempts take the role of a dangling carrot symbol of the possibility of freedom. From the routine morning drills to the obsession over limited food supplies, the book offers very few thrills following the protagonist's capture after several days on the run through enemy territory; instead, it is a detailed study of characters finding their own unique methods of coping with increasing claustrophobia.

What is especially interesting about the characters is the way that they challenge conventional perspectives on imprisonment, managing to convey the positive outlook of being liberated by the lack of responsibility and freedom to devote time to their interests.

The portrayal of camp life is vivid and the characters are very well crafted, the book is particularly personal as a biophical account of the authors own war experiences, allowing himself creative licence by implementing fictional character names.

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting bit of background / scene-setting for The Wooden Horse, but it doesn't really come together as a story in its own right. For that reason it's not quite worthy of being called a prequel - more an extended introduction perhaps? Still, it does give valuable insight into the daily life of POWs and if you're a fan of The Wooden Horse then it's essential reading that will provide a deeper understanding of the context of that escape. One thing I found particularly good was the recognition that other prisoners (in this case the Russians) had a much tougher time than the British POWs. It gives the story a maturity that's welcome and sobering. Ditto the focus on the POW with mental health problems, again showing us that POW life that wasn't all boy-scoutish ingenuity in the face of the enemy. If Williams' goals were to provide context for the events at Stalag Luft III and to pitch the tone with a little more gravity, I think he achieved them admirably.

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a prequel to the authors earlier book, The Wooden Horse, made into a film in 1950 and which I read years ago. The author changed his name to Peter Howard for the purpose of this book, written in 1951, which describes his parachuting from his Wellington into Germany, his successful attempts to get into Holland but his eventual capture and his time in the previous prison camp to the Wooden Horse.

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enthralling tale of life in a second world war prisoner of war camp in Germany. The narrative focuses on a single protagonist and his coming to terms with imprisonment, attempts to escape, and the general day to day passage of time. Quite gripping. Imprisonment for an unlimited term must be soul destroying one imagines.

[Mike Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boredom, frustration, fear and danger. And true, to boot.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave a real insight into being captured. Definitely worth reading as a precursor to The Wooden Horse.

[Goran Remborg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sån där bok som jag slukade i mina bokslukartonår ! Kanske inte ett litterärt mästerverk, men en historia från de då ganska nyligen avslutade världskriget

[Red Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same author as The Wooden Tunnel - same author (which is, IMO, the better of the two), it is a fairly accurate portrayal of humour when in captivity...not to mention dedication and determination

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WWII history. Real characters. Well written.
Now to track down the next book.

[Malcolm]

If the title of a novel should be a guide to the reader of its subject then this title will suffice. As the author of the popular The Wooden Horse, Eric Williams is well known as a writer of escape stories. The novel however is about a lot more than digging a tunnel. It is an authentic account of what it was like for airmen who parachuted into Germany in the war. As such it deserves to be read.
It is not particularly exciting. The events have not been arranged in a compelling plot hurtling towards a climax and as such the novel asks a lot of patience from the reader.

[Johnny]

Peter Howard’s plane was shot down to the point where he had to jump off the plane during the second war. His crew and him had a rendezvous in the woods of Germany, which is also enemy territory, except Peter did not cooperate and meant up with the crew he landed on the ground and started running so he couldn’t get caught. His run went for days and nights sleeping in the woods during the day and running during the nights. He eventually found farmland and villages, It was quite hard for him to pass them because he had to get around the land without being spotted by German officers. He hid a ditch not to far from a prison camp known as POW, he was spotted by a few German officers. He was sent to Jail, he met other prisoners who went to war and held hostage when were captured.

Eric Williams the author of this book made a good impression of Peter who was hot down from his plane and parachuted in German territory, he was brave enough to run alone but he did say he had a reason, that “it would me down to be with my crew”. After all, it wasn’t all just about making a tunnel.

I’d rate this in 8 stars because I read most of the 197 page book and I recommend this book to War lovers, or just anyone who want to know about the second war and what happened at Germany.

[Jan Stiernelof]

2 out of 5