“Everyone in this room is living on borrowed time. By rights we should all be dead! The only reason that God allowed us this extra ration of life is so we can make life hell for the Hun… three bloody deep, bloody long tunnels will be dug – Tom, Dick, and Harry. One will succeed!”

With those words the chief escape officer in Stalag Luft III, Squadron Leader Roger Bushell RAF, announced his plan for perhaps the most daring escape attempt of the war – the mass breakout of 200 men through the digging of three long tunnels (nicknamed Tom, Dick, and Harry), an audacious feat of tunnelling that would be long and dangerous. Just after 22.00hrs on the night of 24/25 March 1944, the first escapee broke through to the surface – only to find it well short of the surrounding trees. The escapees would have to crawl to the cover of the trees under the noses of the patrolling sentries.

Richard Taylor’s masterful new piece captures the scene as POWs escape into the cool night air and realize, to their dawning horror, that their planned exit has fallen short of the woods.

PRINT DETAILS

Joining the artist, every print in this exclusive edition has been individually signed by veterans from Stalag Luft III who were involved in The Great Escape.

The Limited Edition

Flight Lieutenant WILLIAM “TEX” ASH

The Escapers Edition & Remarque Editions

The Escapers and Remarque Editions are additionally signed by a further Four veterans from Stalag Luft III who were involved in The Great Escape.Making a total of Five signatures in this edition.

Squadron Leader DICK CHURCHILL
Flight Lieutenant JACK LYON
Wing Commander KEN REES
Warrant Officer RON WADE

Matching numbered certificate of authenticity included.

Overall Print Size 22" x 17" (inches) Printed in lightfast inks on acid free archival paper.

The Great Escape
Folio Drawings

The Railway Richard Taylor

A tiny wooden railway, operated with rope-pulled trolleys, was constructed along the entire length of the tunnel Harry to carry men and equipment,and remove earth. On the night of 24/25 March 1944 it ferried the escaping POWs rapidly through the tunnel to the exit shaft.

Only available as a pair with "Coming Up Short"

Coming Up Short Richard Taylor

As the first POWs break through to the surface from the tunnel Harry on the night of 24/25 March 1944, the dreadful realisation is made that the exit has come up 10 feet short of the woods surrounding Stalag Luft III.

Only available as a pair with "The Railway"

This specially released Folio set by Richard Taylor features Seventy Six pairs of limited edition Graphite proofs, The Railway & Coming Up Short, released in memory of the Seventy Six men that managed to escape the camp.

The Proofs are individually signed by veterans who, as POWs in Stalag Luft III, played a part in the most memorable escape attempt of World War II.

THE RAILWAY SIGNATORY
Flight Lieutenant JACK LYON

COMING UP SHORT SIGNATORY
Wing Commander KEN REES

Matching numbers of the Folio Drawings are available. It may also be possible at the time of ordering to supply matching numbered editions of "The Great Escape" making this a fantastic opportunity to acquire a trio of matching numbered sets from the legendary Great escape. Please contact us for further information regarding availability.

Overall Print Sizes: 12” wide x 8¾” high

Print Prices - The Great Escape

The Limited Edition
UK £75.00
Edition Size - 200

The Escapers Edition
UK £150.00
Edition Size - 76

The Escapers Edition Remarque
UK £265.00
Edition Size - 10 (subject to availability)

Print Prices - The Great Escape Folio Drawings

The Great Escape Folio Drawings (The Railway & Coming Up Short)
UK £75.00
Edition Size - 76

Currency converter xe.com

When ordering remarque and artist proof editions, we recommend you email us first to advise on delivery details.

The Aviation Art Gallery accept most major credit and debit cards. Place your order online, or by telephone. If you wish to pay by cheque, or fax your order, please download our printable order form here.

info@aviationartgallery.co.uk

Tel: (01423) 867986 Overseas (44) 1423 867986

Helpful information regarding our Limited Edition Prints

Limited edition print:

An edition of identical prints, numbered sequentially and individually signed by the artist, having a stated limit to the quantity in the edition. Following publication the printing plates are destroyed. Almost all the aviation art and aircraft prints featured on this website are authenticated with the original signatures of distinguished military personnel.

Artists Proof:

An old tradition of reserving a quantity of prints for the artist's use, usually equal to about 10 % of the edition. In the early days of printing, these prints were the only remuneration the poor artist received. Proofs are signed by the artist and numbered showing the quantity of Artist's Proofs issued in the edition. Because of their highly restricted number, Artist's Proofs are sold at a higher value than the regular prints in the edition.

Publishers Proof:

A quantity of prints, not always announced or issued at the time of publication, usually equal to no more than 10% of the edition. These are reserved for the publisher's use, mostly for donation to Museums, Service establishments, Service Associations, and the like. Quantities of Publishers Proofs, sometimes issued with a supplementary print, may be made available to collectors either at the time of publication, or at a later date, depending upon availability.

Remarqued print:

A print issued with an original pencil drawing by the artist in the margin, each numbered out of the quantity of individually remarqued prints in the edition. The quantity of remarqued prints in any one edition generally is between 25 and 50. Each remarque drawing made by the artist is slightly different, thus making each print totally unique. Remarqued prints may be available at the time of publication, or announced at a later date, depending upon the artist's work load at the time .Please be aware that Remarque prints can take up to six weeks for delivery. An artist remarqued print is the ultimate collector item in terms of reproduced work.

Companion print:

An additional print, usually issued with smaller dimensions, published to compliment a limited edition, and usually issued at the same time.

Matted (or mounted) print:

A print fitted into an acid-free or conservation matt (or mount), ready for framing.

Original drawing:

An original work individually drawn by the artist, completed in pencil, ink, or other medium, and personally signed by the artist. Being an original work each drawing is unique and different.

Certificate of Authenticity:

A certificate issued by the publisher stating the total quantity of prints issued in the edition, confirming authenticity of the signatures, and in the case of a limited edition, inscribed with the matching unique number inscribed on the individual print. Collectors are advised to keep certificates safely as a future means of provenance. All our aviation art and aircraft prints are issued with a certificate of authenticity.

 

BACK TO TOP

Site map